A NEW system which allows residents and developers to submit planning applications at the push of a button has saved Bolton Council £500 a month on paper.

Bolton Council's new online planning web page includes a feature giving people the chance to apply for planning permission at any time of the day or night.

Applicants are alerted to any errors in their submission or missing information by a centralised planning portal and can also track the progress of their application.

Details of all current planning applications are available and residents can email comments on developments which affect their area directly to the planning department.

Cllr Ebrahim Adia, Bolton Council's executive member for development, said: "This is good news for the council as in the first couple of months, with around eight per cent of applications submitted online, the system has saved the authority £500 per month in paper costs.

"It is also great for residents as it saves time filling in paperwork.

"Hopefully it will save people the time and cost of having to travel to the town hall to register their planning applications or comments."

Advice about using the system is available from staff at the planning reception on the third floor of Bolton Town Hall, where there are two personal computers.

The webpage can be viewed at www.bolton.gov.uk/planning