Westhoughton Council ask for meeting with Andy Burnham over golf club

The decision was made in a Westhoughton Town Council meeting on March 30, as members expressed confusion over some aspects of the scheme, including a planned £70m for a new link road.

Councillors also wanted to know what made the Metro Mayor so confident the Ryder Cup was going to come to Bolton, despite the number of other – already completed – golf courses vying for the same rights.

Cllr Arthur Price and Cllr Neil Maher at the plot of land in Westhoughton (Image: MyWesthoughton)

Cllr Arthur Price said: “We couldn’t have a crossing on Manchester Road because there was no money, but now Peel want a golf course they’ve managed to find £70m.

“I want to see confirmation that we have actually been shortlisted for the Ryder Cup – do they have it in writing?

“How is he guaranteeing £70m for something nobody knows anything about?

“It will never happen, it’s just a red herring.”

Councillors also expressed concern that, despite previous indications that a plan for the Ryder Cup golf course would be submitted in January, nothing no plans have yet been made public.

Cllr David Wilkinson said: “As far as I’m concerned, the golf course plans are dead in the water until Peel submit something.

The road is long and straight, which increases the likelihood of speeding, according to Cllr Price (Image: Dan Dougherty)

“And why should the taxpayer fund £70m for a road for Peel which hasn’t been confirmed?

“We need to speak to the mayor to ask him what he was doing when he backed the plans.

“If the new roads and trains he has promised for the Ryder Cup are good enough for those three days, why aren’t they good enough for the people who currently use those lines to commute?”

On the topic of Westhoughton’s rail lines, town councillor Jack Speight said: “We’d need to upgrade the line first, it’s not even electrified.

“Where is that money going to come from?”

The impact of the Ryder Cup on Westhoughton’s roads and amenities was also discussed, alongside the potential impact of the Platt Lane Development and the Lee Hall development.

(Image: NQ)

Cllr Martin Tighe said: “Park Avenue, near the development, is an avenue in the truest sense of the word.

“There’s nothing in the plans about widening it – it’ll cause more congestion in what is already one of the most congested areas.”

Tighe also expressed concern that the new course would harm the golf courses that already exist in the area, Westhoughton Golf Course being one.

Westhoughton Mayor Gillian Wroe, alongside the councillors, decided to write to Mr Burnham to invite him to a meeting during which they could discuss the plans.