MP IVAN Lewis has called on Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott to step in and investigate a decision to allow the building of two enlarged entrances at Heaton Park.

The controversial plan, given the go-ahead by Manchester City Council planners two weeks ago, has angered scores of residents on St Margaret's Road and Sheepfoot Lane, who fear their homes will be blighted by a massive increase in traffic.

The scheme involves widening the existing St Margaret's Road entrance to increase vehicle access while the Sheepfoot Lane project will create a new entrance.

The entrance proposals are in line with a scheme to build new car parks within the park boundaries, and are part of a £6.5 million restoration programme for the park.

But the decision to approve the plans, subject to certain conditions, has left residents claiming the impact on the local area had been totally ignored. Parishioners at St Margaret's Church also fear it will lead to a greater safety risk along the short stretch of road where church, music, mum and toddler, and playgroups are based, and where a youth centre and Scout HQ operate within a few yards of the entrance. Val Pimblott, a parochial church committee representative, said some church services, including weddings, christenings and funerals, meant cars lined much of the road, and encouraging more traffic would only make matters worse.

This week Mr Lewis, MP for Bury South, wrote to Mr Prescott, the Secretary of State for Environment, Transport and the Regions, asking him to "call in" the planning consent for review and investigation.

He wrote: "We fully support the long overdue redevelopment of the park but oppose the applications because of the impact of increased traffic on two residential areas and the consequential loss of amenity for residents."

He claimed the planning process was flawed, including the fact that no site visits took place despite the large number of objections, and the applications were contrary to the city council's own unitary development plan. Mr Lewis said the increase in traffic, volume, noise and pollution would be unacceptable. He added: "They will increase the likelihood of road traffic accidents in areas where there are currently too many accidents.

"In St Margaret's Road there have been 14 reported accidents and a total of 21 injuries during the past five years.

"In Sheepfoot Lane, excluding its busy junctions with Middleton Road and Bury Old Road, there have been eight reported accidents and a total of 11 casualties in the past three years."