LEIGH councillors are considering legal action against a government decision to allow a housing estate to be built on a Pennington wildlife oasis.

Councillors Brian Jarvis and Mark Hale are furious Government Inspector Norah Ball from the Department of Environment approved outline planning permission for a 10 acre housing estate on Greenfield land at Taylor's Hole in Pennington.

"The decision is completely barmy," said Cllr Hale. "It completely flies in the face of government guidelines. They can't put out guidelines and then not follow them."

The two councillors are now seeking legal advice with a view to pursuing a judicial review.

Cllr Brian Jarvis has been vehemently opposed to any development on the nature haven for years.

"I was the councillor for the Hope Carr Wards when the application was first made. I have been consistently opposed to any development at Taylor's Hole. I have endeavoured to prevent over the past couple of years any application being approved."

Cllr Jarvis said the council had made legal representation when Milnes Gaskell Estate appealed.

"I'm amazed and disgusted the inspector has upheld the appeal to allow this development which is contrary to PPG 3 regarding Greenfield sites. I have asked the director of planning to challenge this decision legally by requesting a judicial review."

Cllr Jarvis added that on this issue at least he is in union with Chris Maile, chairman of the Campaign for Planning Sanity who has slammed the decision as "perverse".

A "devastated" Mr Maile said: "The wildlife corridor will be reduced to 10 feet. There are at least two protected species on the site -- there are Kingfishers and water voles.

"Dragonflies might also be there -- and they are also a protected species. And of course there is the ordinary wildlife."

He also fears if the multi million pound snow dome Xanadu goes ahead the only fields left in the area will be at Taylor's Hole.

Local resident Alan Whittle, 65, of Overton Street, who lives within half a mile of the proposed development said he "was not impressed".

Mr Whittle said: "It's not the best place to build on at all.

"They are building on Greenfield land when there are plenty of other places they could build."

Milnes Gaskell Estate had appealed to the government last summer to make a decision on their planning application after Wigan Council failed to reach a decision within a certain time limit.