What are they conserving?

I have been a Nangreaves resident for some 23 years, during which time I have seen many changes. When I moved to the village in 1980 it was a friendly community and a pleasant place to live. The mill was just about still in use and the mill lodge was a picture, full of fish and a haven for wildlife.

The village had a slightly run-down look about it but, even so, it oozed character and was largely unspoilt.

With the closure of the mill in the 1980s came the decision by our friends at the town hall to allow Northern Counties to completely change the village and its village life beyond recognition. At that point, to all intents and purposes, the Conservation Area status of the village was done with. The most historic buildings, the mill and its weaving sheds, were either demolished or significantly changed (and stripped of their listed building status) and replaced with something completely out of character with the rest of the village.

The developers appeared to have a free hand, and buildings which were "listed" were knocked down and not reinstated; buildings which had stone roof tiles were re-built using blue slate; the weaving shed behind my property was raised in height; and the pitch and style of the roof were both changed: I believe without planning permission and with the full knowledge of the planning department.

Has anyone else been allowed to do this in Bury, Conservation Area or otherwise? The village became a planning-free zone, effectively with the approval of town hall planners.

The truth of the matter is that there is very little left to "conserve", and that which remains is not particularly special.

Your article refers to the Mount Pleasant Conservation Group. In my 23 years in Nangreaves I have neither heard of this particular group, nor have they sought my views, or for that matter the views of many others in Nangreaves. They are, of course, entitled to their opinions but it is important that the views of all residents are fairly represented in these matters.

The many changes which have taken place in Nangreaves over the last 15 years or so have transformed the village into something which looks more like a pretty Cotswold village than the original Nangreaves. This is fundamentally not "conservation" and should not be described as such. The village may look more attractive, but that is a different point altogether.

If Mr Nightingale, Bury Council's conservation officer, is so anxious to see Nangreaves restored to how it was in the 1970-80s, might I suggest he visits the Lord Raglan, where at the end of the bar he will see an aerial photograph of how the village was then.

He should look at the photograph, have one of Brendan's excellent beers, then go outside and have a look at how the village has changed. Then maybe he could go back inside for some more beer to help overcome the shock!

The use of plastic windows, or the erection of garden sheds and outbuildings, is not the issue. Nangreaves has changed beyond recognition. I am always amazed at how skilled our town hall friends are at spending other people's money. Would they be so keen to try and enforce these changes if they had to foot the bill? I think not.

The cobbled lanes of Nangreaves referred to in your article have not been maintained by Bury MBC in the 23 years I have lived here; in fact, last I heard, the council would not even adopt them. The road leading up to Nangreaves is a disgrace and not safe. Do the council maintain it? No!

If, as would seem to be the case, there are people employed by Bury MBC with nothing useful to do, then might I suggest that redundancy is the appropriate course of action. This is generally what happens outside the safe haven of town hall life and something which, in the long run, may help stem the inflation-busting council tax increases and allow the majority of Nangreaves residents to get on with their lives peacefully.

GEOFF BAGGOTT,

lifelong president,

Leave Nangreaves Alone Society.