There is “huge interest” in building a new junction to relieve one of Bolton’s busiest road areas rather than new traffic lights, an MP claims.

This comes after Bolton West MP Chris Green hosted a public meeting on a major £23m plan to add a new traffic light systems to roundabouts on De Havilland Way, notorious as one of the most congested junctions in the borough.

Mr Green has previously claimed that the scheme needs “major improvements” including the addition of a new junction 7 on the M61, between Horwich, Chorley and Westhoughton, sentiments he says were echoed at his meeting at the Beehive pub.

He said: “The strength of feeling against these proposals was clear and I’ll be taking your points into consideration as part of my conversations with the council.

“It was clear that there was huge interest in the campaign for a Junction 7 and I’ll update you on my work on this as it progresses.”

The “standing room only” meeting was also attended by Cllrs Marie Brady, Kevin McKeon and Richard Silvester while Mr Green also thanked Cllrs David Grant and Peter Wright for their contributions.

The Bolton News:

Proposed changes to the area around De Havilland Way

The scheme is currently set to add a new traffic light systems to roundabouts on De Havilland Way, with signalled junctions added to the Beehive Roundabout, the Spirit of Sport Roundabout, the A6 De Havilland Way Roundabout and at Junction 6 of the M61.

This could also include possible changes to Austin’s Lane and will be paid for with £23m worth of government “Levelling Up” funding, which is aimed at reducing congestion for cars and buses at peak times as well as improving walking and cycling facilities.

But many of the area’s residents having already voiced concerns that this will not reduce traffic as hoped and have argued instead that a new junction 7 on the M61 would be a more viable alternative.

The public consultation on the scheme has now closed but Mr Green says that as MP for the area he will continue to raise the matter.