Alternative sites are being sought for a new secondary school which is earmarked to to be built on a beloved Bolton park.
Haslam Park in Deane is currently the preferred site for a new high school for the area.
Last year, a large area of the public park and nature reserve was agreed in principle to be replaced by a new high school after Bolton Council agreed to release ownership to the Department for Education.
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At that time, cabinet member for regeneration, Coun Adele Warren, entered into an agreement for lease of the 12-acre park with the Secretary of State for Education to develop the site with Great Schools Trust.
At the annual budget meeting of Bolton Council, Labour lost an amendment pledging up to £1m to buy a plot of brownfield land in the area for the school, and to guarantee that Haslam Park would not be lost.
However, Conservative leader of the council, Martyn Cox, said that the DfE was undergoing a process to try and identify a site for the new school and if a suitable one was found they would pay for it.
He said: “The Labour amendment cannot be accepted by our group.
“Nobody doubts the need for school places and pressures require us to expand our provision.
“I can assure members alternative options are being explored in order to preserve this green space.
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“If it is the case that a new school is to be built on an alternative brownfield site the DfE have confirmed that they would pay for the site.
“In supporting the Labour amendment we would in effect be spending money needlessly, which was one of the habits of the previous administration that this administration is determined to break.”
Along with the nearby Deane Clough and Middlebrook Valley, the park has been designated as a local nature reserve.
The decision to potentially dispose of the park came 100 years after the land was sold to the Bolton Corporation in 1921.
The news that the search for an alternative site is ongoing will give hope to hundreds of campaigners fighting to keep the park.
A petition on the site Change.org entitled ‘Stop the plans for building on Haslam Park’ currently has 1,724 signatures.
Labour leader Nick Peel said: “Labour presented a budget amendment that would guarantee that Halsam Park would not be built on for a new school.
“The Conservatives announced without informing any members beforehand that they were in discussions with the DfE looking at alternative options.
“This is welcome news, anything which saves the park is welcome. We stuck with our amendment for a case of belt and braces.
“We wanted the council to commit the million pounds. If it turns out it isn’t needed then brilliant, it could be spent on something else.”
