THE views of Leigh’s MP Andy Burnham in the Journal, ‘HS2 rail depot would be a monstrosity’, will surely have been welcomed by most readers, not only those in Lowton and Golborne who are convinced that the construction of a huge depot on their doorstep would be an inappropriate intrusion, but those from further afield.

The importance of Lightshaw and Pennington Flash would certainly be compromised by the proposed line and the planned depot, for both are integral parts of Wigan Council’s ‘green heart’ and deserve to remain intact and unscathed by national initiatives of debatable, and some would argue dubious, merit.

Unfortunately, but not irredeemably, Mr Burnham sails into choppy waters when he states that ‘surely the preferred option (for the huge rail depot) should be a brownfield site, not an area designated by Wigan Council as its green heart.”

It’s now time that the label ‘brownfield’ received detailed consideration.

The word describes land which was previously used for industrial purposes or some commercial uses, and by implication is expendable and only fit for development.

This simplistic interpretation is highly misleading, for brownfield sites contain some of our most precious wildlife habitats and offer free, and largely unrestricted, public access.

Less than 50 years ago, Pennington Flash would have been dubbed a classic ‘brownfield’ site.

Over time, nature, with considerable assistance from man, has transformed the site into one of the north west’s most important wildlife sanctuaries and popular visitor destinations.

Other brownfield sites in the Leigh area continue to evolve slowly, but naturally.

Bickershaw, for example, still displays some of the scars of past tipping, but the greater part is flower-rich grassland, scrub, small wetlands and copses – a diversity of habitats which has disappeared almost everywhere. In truth, most brownfield sites are actually greenfield sites, and some parts of them deserve a measure of protection equal to that already afforded to parts of the green belt.

They are vitally important ingredients of our environment which deserve to be retained and enhanced as wildlife havens.

Our open spaces – be they green belt, greenheart or green brownfield – are part of our birthright and deserve to be saved from political meddling and detrimental decision-making.

We owe it to posterity to speak up for what we believe is worth defending and preserving, and it is hoped that our MP is successful in his protestations.

DAVID WILSON
Leigh