RESIDENTS and town councillors in Westhoughton are not being listened to by Bolton Council, it has been claimed.

Cllr Lynda Winrow-Baker said that Bolton Council had granted permission for a development on a former farm, despite town councillors asking for a site visit before a decision was made.

Residents were not notified of any visit taking place — at Edge’s Farm in Leigh Road — and did not see any councillors visit the site prior to approval being given for the 13-home development in July.

Cllr Winrow-Baker told Westhoughton Town Council: “There seems to be a lot going on that’s not right at the moment with planning.

"Things are getting passed and we are not getting answers. It is always in favour of the applicant.”

Cllr Kevan Jones, the Mayor of Westhoughton, said he believed that a site visit would have been carried out at Edge’s Farm, as it had been decided by the planning committee and not officers.

Cllr David Wilkinson, for Hoskers and Hart Common, said there was no legal obligation for councillors on site visits to speak to members of the public, although added that they normally did.

Planning officers in Bolton recommended that the Edges Farm plan be approved subject to conditions, despite the town council having raised concerns.

Councillors said the application would create additional traffic problems and require speed bumps to be laid.

The applicant is providing an off-site contribution of £22,500 to Bolton Council to fund enhancements to the mini-roundabout at the junction of Hindley Road and Hartford Road.

The town council agreed to ask Bolton Council whether their request to a site visit was met.

A Bolton Council spokesman said: “West-houghton Town Council raised a number of issues about the planning application which were detailed in the officer’s report, and considered by planning committee.

“A site visit took place in 2011 when outline planning permission was granted by members of the planning committee for a previous application.

"As the conditions at the site had not changed since 2011 it was considered that another site visit by members was not necessary.”