CAMPAIGNERS and developers are set to come head to head when councillors decide the fate of a treasured patch of land in Ramsbottom.

Plans to build controversial retirement flats in the town centre were revived by developers Astim Ltd after being refused earlier this year.

The company have re-applied to build 24 apartments on the former bowling green behind the Grant Arms in Market Place.

Bury Council planning committee previously ruled it was inappropriate for a conservation area and had insufficient parking arrangements.

The firm’s amended application, with a different design and 19 parking spots compared with 13 in the original proposal, will go before Bury planning committee at 7pm on Tuesday (September 1).

A report from Astim to the council said: “The use of the site at present is a disused bowling green. The land is overgrown.

“The scheme is for a retirement home in a central location of which there is none at present, and will make use of the central location allowing access to the town centre on foot.

“The development will change the parcel of land from being an overgrown burden of undergrowth to an aesthetically pleasing outlook from the car park across towards the unit, and the building will use materials that are sympathetic with the surrounding properties.”

The application has received 89 formal objections and three petitions against the plans.

Campaigners want to preserve the green which was recently designated an Asset of Community Value.

Andrew Todd, president of Ramsbottom Heritage Society said: “The green is almost as old as the town itself.

“It appears on the 1842 map of Ramsbottom and has been in continued recreational use until four years ago.

“When the rent was quadrupled and the players in all four teams found it too expensive, the club had to close.

“Since then the site has been utterly neglected.

“However Government guidelines suggest that the fact that a heritage asset has been neglected should not be used as a lever to get planning permission.”

Cllr Luise Fitzwalter who campaigned to get the bowling green nominated as an Asset of Community Value, said: “If we allow this, we are driving a coach and horses through the protections we have for this conservation area now enhanced by registering the bowling green as an Asset of Community Value.

“Ramsbottom is a tourist destination with a vibrant economy of small businesses. Protecting our heritage is essential to our economy.”