A large part of the Conservative Party manifesto is to build on Green Belt. This has to be one of the most worrying aspects of modern times.

Six years ago it was estimated that by 2030 the UK would have a population of 79 million and that there would be a shortfall in land for food production, of some two million hectares - a staggering figure and that is before all this building started.

The UK is the second most densely populated country in Europe, it also has the lowest level of agricultural output per capita, hence the highest reliance on food imports.

Places like Bolton, continue lose Green Belt at an alarming speed. If The Ryder Cup bid on Hulton Park is successful and the public inquiry for Wingate’s Industrial Park goes against the residents, couple this with the Bowland Hay site and Logistics North, the Green land lost for food production to building will be some 1,500 acres in the Westhoughton area alone.

All this land is going out of production and none of it is for social housing for which Bolton has a 25,000 waiting list.

Once land passes to building it cannot be replaced. Our farming community have been in trouble for some time; over 20 per cent have had to leave farming due to bad debt, much of it through prices dictated by supermarkets. A further 40 per cent have died or retired during the past few years.

With the loss of farming land goes much of our wildlife, flora and fauna. We now have some 7,000 native species on the verge of extinction, one seventh off all species.

Owing to these continued wildlife losses, I am calling for a public inquiry on the Government Petition website, under the heading, Habitat Protection, I hope many of you able to join me in the quest by signing the petition.

Peter German