I AM writing to give my support to the 121 residents of Sutton Estate and Wigan Road, who signed a petition objecting to the forthcoming development of 14 apartments on the site of 530-532 Wigan Road.

I read with great disappointment the comment made by Cllr Nick Peel to Bolton's Council Planning Committee, "some people sign petitions without knowing what they are signing". Mr Peel is councillor for Tonge with Haulgh Ward, an area not associated with Wigan Road. Therefore I fail to understand why he felt the need to make such a dismissive comment, which only served to negate the very real concerns and objections of these residents.

The development in question is a proposed three-storey block consisting of 14 apartments, which are to be built on the existing site of a one-storey petrol station. It is generally felt that the height of this building will not be in keeping with other properties in the area, and will be very overwhelming, especially for those people living nearby. The extra traffic this will generate coming on to Wigan Road will affect the junctions at both Sutton Estate and Chip Hill, making this already very busy road even worse, especially for pedestrians trying to cross.

I have lived in this area for many years and have seen the amount of property that has been built; it is hard to understand how anyone can say that this extra development will regenerate the area. In fact, Deane is nothing like the beautiful area it once was, and soon the wonderful view of Winter Hill will also be lost to those people living opposite the proposed site, including my elderly mother, who, having lived in this area for over 30 years, has only the back view of a three-storey block of apartments to look forward to.

I am saddened that Bolton Council's planning committee, and all those concerned who have so tenaciously pushed this project through, could not have shown a little more sensitivity and consideration to the opinions of the local residents, many of whom are elderly. The people who signed the petition knew exactly why they were signing. The apartments are not welcome, they are not needed, and they certainly will have no place in the regeneration of the area.

(Name and

address supplied)