BLACKPOOL GAZETTE & HERALD—FEBRUARY 4th, 1956.
Corporation and farmer object
MARTON LAND WANTED FOR HOUSING .
IT was revealed at a Ministry of Housing and LocalGovernment
inquiry at Blackpool Town Hall this week that Clifton Estate want land at
Midgeland-road, Marton, on which to build 327 houses. Mr. R. C. Liddell
objecting to the application on behalf of Blackpool Corporation said it was a
question of agriculture and horticulture versus housing. He said that when the
development plan was drawn up the area concerned, which was just over 27 acres,
was earmarked as an open space so that agriculture and horticulture could be
continued. At that time no one raised any objection to the land being left as an
open space.
Mr. Liddell said the corporation also objected to houses being built on the land
because they would present a big sewage disposal problem. Although a new sewage
scheme was being built at Marton it would not be practicable even when completed to
accommodate the proposed houses.
RUIN A FARM
Mr. Liddell added that if the land were taken over for houses it
would virtually ruin a perfectly good farm Mr. Smith Widdup, tenant of Midgeland
Farm, which is owned by Clifton Estate, said his farm covered 115 acres. It was
a good farm with 80 head of cattle, 250 sheep, 150 pigs and 1.200 head of
poultry. Each day it produced 100 gallons of milk.
Mr. Widdup said the application concerned the highest land on the farm which was
good refuge for his cattle when flooding threatened. If it was taken away the farm
would be ruined. Mr. John Kennedy, Clifton Estate agent, said that septic tanks
could be used for sewage disposal if the houses were allowed.
So far as Mr. Widdup was concerned the estate would give him other land which could
be farmed as an economic holding. Inspector R. A. Hudson closed the inquiry,
announcing that the result would be made known later.
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