Paintball centre in green belt woodland set to be approved by council planning bosses

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A paintball centre launched in 2014 on green belt woodland in Eccles looks set to get backdated planning permission. Councillors on Salford's planning and transportation regulatory panel which meets on Thursday (September 1) are being advised by their officers the approve the application from Delta Force Paintball at Grange Road.

The centre is on a 12.5-acre parcel of land in Botany Bay Wood and is part of Worsley Moss. It is the largest single block of woodland in Greater Manchester and has been designated a site of biological importance and is also recognised as a "potential site of special scientific interest" (pSSSI) by Natural England.

The dense woodland is home to one of the UK's largest colonies of herons, although it has "contracted" in recent years. Two other outdoor sports and recreation centres are neighbours - Manchester Clay Shooting Club and the Adventure Now facility.

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The paintball centre operates in eight zones with a registration and area base camp in the centre with car parking at the front. Its entrance area is made up of shipping containers and tents.

A report to the panel says the paintball site "does not fail to preserve the openness of the green belt and does not conflict with the five purposes of the green belt". It goes on: "The scheme is generally considered to be sensitive to the prevailing appearance and character of the surroundings."

Councillors are being advised to approve the application with conditions that the paintball activities are carried out adhering to the approved plans. "Paintball activities shall only be undertaken within established zones/activity areas of gaming as set out on