Save The Bell: Green Belt Battle Heats Up

0:00On April 28th, folks up in Wigan near the M6, a patch of green belt land called the Bell is facing a big threat from industrial development. This spot includes Latham House Farm, where Blackpool's famous beach donkeys retreat every winter for about 25 years. Wigan Council's draft local plan was to turn around 600 acres into factories and logistics hubs delivering about 150,000 square meters of employment space. The plan, still not approved, targets land north of M6 Junction 26, and could pave over that donkey haven, managed by Jimmy and Jillian Morris. It also calls for a new link road from Oral Road to connect with nearby areas like Hines and Martin Park. Locals aren't taking this line down. The Save the Bell group rallied supporters on site, showing serious community unity to protect this green space from getting zoned for heavy industry. This isn't the first scare back in 2016, similar development ideas got scrapped. Now, with transport upgrades tied in, the stakes feel higher for the donkeys and the environment.

1:04The full council were review the plan for the future through 2040 soon, so the fight is just heating up. Keep an eye on how this green bell, battle plays out.