PLANNERS in Bury are recommending that Patrick Slattery, the owner of the controversial Taylor Nicholson Lodge, should be refused permission to lower its water depth by partial in-filling. Located off Mather Road, the picturesque lodge has so far been the subject of two meetings by local residents, who are opposed to a plan to 'provide roosting areas for wildlife'.

Yesterday as the Journal went to press members of the planning control sub-committee were meeting to discuss the plan and reach a decision.

They discovered that there have been 68 individual letters of objection along with a petition signed by a further 197.

Most say that Mather Road is unsuitable for heavy lorries, and the lodge is already a useful recreational amenity and a refuge for a variety of animals, fish and birds.

Tipping operations, they claim, will destroy the amenity and disturb and damage existing wildlife and habitats.

And they say that the reduction in water level would seriously damage the ecology of the lodge and destroy much of the wildlife, particularly the fish population.

Another objector is the Borough Engineer on the grounds of highway safety.

But with reservations the Greater Manchester Ecology Unit welcomes the idea.

It says that proposals to reduce the lodge's potential to flood downstream areas are welcomed, but fill materials should be inert only.

The Environment Agency also agrees in principle to the scheme but says the proposed water depth of 900 mm appears to be insufficient. It recommends a minimum depth of 1200 mm to provide the best habitat for fish.

But the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has opposing views.

The charity says: "It is difficult to see how the reduction of water depth will benefit wildlife as the in-filling operations will undoubtedly affect the existing life in the lodge.

"The construction of islands may encourage birds to roost but it might also discourage the use of the lodge by grebes and diving ducks."

Objecting, too, is Transparent Angling Club and the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, and there are observations from Bury Sports Advisory Council.

It argues that as far as angling is concerned the planned reduction in water depth would effectively preclude any such recreational use in the future.

The Advisory Council also observe that existing deposits of natural silts under the footpath viaduct arches already provide some nesting sites which could be further developed without disturbing the ecological balance provided by the water area.

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