Fears Bob the horse could lose his home of 28 years
Proposals for 500 homes and industrial park put local grazing land at risk
Land used by dozens of horses for decades is under threat from a massive housing and industrial project in Atherton.
Horses from a livery yard at Hindley’s Farm, off Wigan Road in Atherton, have delighted passers by and walkers over the years and can often be seen from nearby main roads.
Bob, 28, is one such horse who enjoys spring and summer time out on the land. He has lived most of his nearly three decades at Hindley’s Farm.
But now Bob the cob may lose his home. Peel Land Group has published proposals in to put industrial buildings and warehouses on the land he has grazed on since he was a foal.
Still in the pre-planning application stage, Gibfield Park, between Daisy Hill and the Wigan Road area of Atherton, would see 500 homes and an industrial park built on the green land.
Peel Land said the area in question had long been earmarked for development and that if the community had any queries or concerns, they would be ‘addressed through the consultation process’.
Bob’s owner Diane Orrell, who currently leases the land for the horses from Peel Land, is concerned about what the future holds for Bob who she has looked after for 24 years.
“I am so worried about what is going to happen,” she said “He has only really known this as his home and now they are threatening to take it away from him and his friends.
“I’m so lucky to still have him as he had laminitis really badly a few years ago. It cost me thousands to get him back right with the help of a great vet and brilliant blacksmith and lots of hard work.
“I was going to the farm crying, coming home crying, worrying sick we got him through it.”
After his illness, Bob had special shoes a controlled diet and bounced back.
Diane added: “He is such a character with not a bad bone in his body.
“Everyone loves Bob. All the children around here have grown up with him, and their first words are usually ‘mum, dad or Bob’.
“I moved to be close to him 18 years ago and have enjoyed taking him out for a walk around the area. I have even seen bats flying between his ears in the evening.”
Bob was even a guest at Diane’s wedding in 2005. Among his tricks Bob likes to take people’s hats off and to let himself out through the gates.
For the moment Bob is looking forward to the spring and getting back into the field with Diane hoping it’s not for the last time.
The outline proposals for the land can be found at https://www.gibfieldpark.consultationonline.co.uk/ Consultation is continuing until March 9, 2026.
Peel Land spokesperson said: “Hindley Farm has a licence to use some of the land owned by the Peel Land Group for horse grazing.
“This land has been identified for future development in the Greater Manchester Places for Everyone Plan, which was approved by Wigan Council in 2024.
“The development of this land will not be immediate as we are currently consulting on a masterplan, which is at an early stage, and a planning application has not yet been submitted.
“Future plans will be subject to further engagement with the local community and any queries or concerns, will, of course, be addressed through the consultation process.”