CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating today after planning bosses threw out plans to move Dunscar war memorial to make way for a housing development.

Members of the planning committee unanimously rejected proposals to create 11 luxury homes and a six apartment block on land between Blackburn Road and Darwen Road.

Councillors decided the plans were an "unjustified and inappropriate" development within the greenbelt.

They also felt the development would neither preserve nor enhance the character of the Dunscar conservation area.

Around 20 campaigners attended the meeting to oppose moving the monument from its home of 80 years 50 yards to the south. Afterwards, they were jubilant.

Roy Axford, of Darwen Road, Dunscar, said: "People in this village were adamant that this development should not go ahead."

Joan Bowes, of Kings Avenue, Bromley Cross, added: "We have fought hard against these plans which have outraged so many people."

More than 280 letters were sent to the committee opposing the development and around 200 people signed a petition calling for it to be rejected.

Earlier this year 400 people attended a meeting at Walmsley Church Hall to voice their anger at the plans, including Bolton North-east MP David Crausby and war veterans.

A spokesman for developer Stephen Fitton told the committee that the development could still go ahead without moving the memorial.

But she added: "The relocation and refurbishment of the memorial would provide a safe and more attractive environment for people to enjoy it in the future."

Cllr Nick Peel said proposing to move the monument was a "red herring". He said: "The crux of what this application is about is developing greenbelt land and for that reason alone it should be stopped."

Bromley Cross councillor Norman Critchley added: "There is no justification for an intrusion into the greenbelt or the Dunscar conservation area.

"It is a very special open space and no special circumstances exist."

After the meeting, 85-year-old D-Day veteran Cecil Rogers, of Windsor Road, Bromley Cross, said: "I am delighted, to move this memorial would have been an insult to our fallen heroes."