APARTMENTS will replace a Westhoughton social club despite opposition from residents.

The Wingates Sports and Social Club in Chorley Road will be demolished to make way for 36 two-bedroom flats, each with a parking space.

Bolton Council's planning and highways committee narrowly approved the Romor Group scheme, which also includes part of the La Scala restaurant car park.

Residents claimed the parking provision was inadequate and that the extra traffic would cause them problems accessing their homes.

They also said the development would remove a pick-up and drop-off point used by parents of toddlers at the Happy Tots nursery, putting its future in jeopardy.

Objector Mark Hart told councillors: "Chorley Road is congested at the best of times but this would make it worse. Given the young business professionals likely to be living in these apartments we think 36 parking spaces is too few."

Westhoughton Town Council had opposed the scheme but borough planners passed it 10 to eight.

Cllr David Wilkinson said: "Flats aren't selling and we need more family accommodation in the Wingates area so people can retain their roots there."

But Cllr Norman Critchley said: "I don't see a great problem with this. The proof of the pudding is in the eating and people are buying these flats in other parts of Bolton."

After the meeting, nursery owner Diane Swift said she believed parents would be able to use the parking area provided by the flats to drop off their children.

"That's something I will have to speak to the developer about," she said. "But I can assure parents we will not be closing."

A spokesman for C&A Leisure, the owner of the social club, was not available for comment.