RESIDENTS in Boothstown have mounted a campaign to stop a series of footpath closures on fields close to the junction of Chaddock Lane and the East Lancs Road.

Local residents are being leafleted to write to protest against a public path order which intends to shut off footpaths, while allowing wagons access across land owned by Hall Waste.

Protesters believe if the order gets the go ahead, it will open access for hundreds of extra vehicles using Chaddock Lane to get onto the road.

Their leaflet proclaims: "Chaddock Lane is already gridlocked for two hours each morning and night during the rush hour. The additional traffic will mean permanent gridlock day and possibly night.

"It will make Boothstown a no go area for residents and visitors. It will devalue all properties within a several mile radius and ruin wildlife within the area, not to mention the freedom to use the public footpaths."

Neighbours are urged to write with their objections to the Borough Solicitor at Wigan Council.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.