Public inquiry plea for £100m racecourse

Backers of a new £100m racecourse in Greater Manchester are calling for a public inquiry to speed-up the planning process for the scheme.

Local opposition to Peel Holdings' plan has been intense following fears over traffic congestion caused by the Salford Forest Park scheme.

Plans for the new racecourse were first submitted in 2001 before being withdrawn and replaced by new proposals in 2004 which Salford City Council has still not made a decision on.

The development is planned on an area of greenbelt close to the M60 and Bridgewater Canal. Peel has now asked the Secretary of State to hold a public inquiry to speed up the decision.

A Peel spokesperson said: "We do not underestimate the size of the scheme or the concerns of local residents but we feel that adequate information has been provided and a decision needs to be made.

"Even if the Councils wished to approve the scheme it is almost certain that the proposal would have been called in for determination by the Secretary of State.

"Effectively, all we are doing by appealing now is bringing forward the public inquiry that will have to be held."

Plans include a floodlit oval racetrack with a 6,000 capacity grandstand, a four-star hotel and an 18-hole golf course.