LAST Friday a second heated public meeting was held to discuss a planning application submitted to the Council by the owner of the disused Taylor Nicholson lodge off Mather Road in Bury. He is proposing to in-fill part of his picturesque lodge to reduce its water depth to a safe level.

This, he says, will take away the strain on the dam wall and, as a side issue, give it back to nature.

After work has been completed the lodge will become a haven for wildlife and will have new roosting areas for birds.

This time Springside School, Walmersley, was used as a "neutral" venue instead of the "politically insensitive" Walmersley Conservative Club.

The meeting was again chaired by Tory Prospective Parliamentary Candidate Bob Bibby.

Borough planning officer Jim Metcalfe was there, and so too was lodge owner Patrick Robert Slattery.

During the meeting Mr Bibby had to call for calm as angry residents opposing Mr Slattery's plans raised their voices.

Mr Bibby warned "Let's not turn this into a shouting match otherwise we are going to get absolutely nowhere. I really want everyone's points of view to be heard and put across in an orderly manner."

Alistair Burt MP was also invited to the meeting but was otherwise engaged.

He sent a letter of apology and support to Mr Bibby and all the residents, wishing them well with their campaign against the lodge in-fill.

Mr Slattery stood his ground against an onslaught of questions and accusations thrown at him by more than 50 disillusioned residents who branded him "a money-grabbing environmental vandal."

"I have never denied that I will make some money from in-filling part of my lodge," said Mr Slattery.

"However, after inspecting its perimeter walls it is absolutely vital that some immediate repair work must be carried out in the near future.

"As I keep saying the lodge is my responsibility. That means in every way from the safety aspects to the dam wall."

Mr Slattery was also verbally attacked by residents concerned about several heavy goods vehicles a day using Mather Road for access both to and from the site.

They demanded that the Council should do something about it.

Several suggested that weight restrictions should be imposed to deny Mather Road being used as an HGV route.

A site visit by the town's Planning Committee has now been requested.

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