Public parks in Bolton are to be given greater protection with a charity working on agreements so that they can never be sold for development.

There are 69 public parks within the borough, ranging from the grand Victorian formality of Queens Park to the beautiful natural setting of Moses Gate and the sports fields of Leverhulme Park. Bolton council said that ‘these neighbourhood parks play a vital role at the centre of their communities’.

A proposal to the council’s cabinet member for the environment, Coun Richard Silvester, set to be agreed this week, outlines working with Fields in Trust, a charity which aims to protect individual parks and green spaces, so that they can never be sold for development and remain available in perpetuity for the benefit of Bolton’s residents and visitors.

Fields in Trust will now ensure selected parks can only be used for sport or recreational activities. Fields in Trust, established in 1925, have a mission to ‘champion and support parks and green spaces by protecting them for people to enjoy in perpetuity’.

They also undertake research and produce evidence to make the case for parks and green spaces and play a leading role in lobbying policy-makers to recognise their importance. The report, said: “To protect Bolton’s parks, the council would enter into a unique and binding legal commitment with Fields in Trust, which means that the relevant green space will be protected for the benefit of local communities and nature forever.

“Fields in Trust does not charge landowners to protect parks and green spaces. Any parks which are subject to existing charitable status are already adequately protected from further development and the Fields In Trust protection would therefore be unnecessary.”

Parks eligible for the protection are where the council own the space by having a freehold interest or a leasehold interest of at least 99 years. Bolton Council will work to identify suitable parks for protection and implement this through a deed of dedication with Fields in Trust.

It is anticipated that Queens Park would be the first park in the borough to be put forward for protection.