Laser clinic 'will be noisy'

Laserase want to build a private skin clinic on land at the Royal Bolton Hospital in Minerva Road, Farnworth, but local residents say the plans will cause noise and light pollution.

The clinic is currently in the hospital and moving it would free up vital space in the orthopaedic outpatients department.

Seven letters of objection have been sent to Bolton Council, saying there would be more traffic, residents would lose their privacy and crime would increase.

There is also concern about the clinic being built on a greenfield site.

The clinic, which treats some NHS patients, uses laser equipment to treat conditions such as severe acne, but can also be used for fine lines and wrinkles.

The clinic's owner, Denise Leslie, said: "Various concerns were raised at the last planning meeting and we have worked hard to address these. We have worked with our architect and have rectified those problems.

"We do not intend to upset any residents but can understand their concerns. We would always be aware of our neighbours and help out wherever we can."

But local councillor Margaret Clare, who is also chairman of the Health, Overview and Scrutiny Committee, is not happy about the clinic's chosen site.

"I have no problem with transferring the clinic because I believe it takes up prime clinical space in the hospital, but I am not happy about where they want to put it," she said.

"Residents will have a car park within spitting distance of their houses with lights on and it was said at the last planning committee that the clinic would be open until 9pm on some nights."

The private clinic has had a 95 per cent success rate in using lasers to treat skin conditions since it opened last year.

The application will be put before Bolton Council's planning committee for a decision on Thursday.

Bolton is one of a handful of places in England to have the specialist machine. A session costs from £50 to £300 and the laser light destroys the bacteria that create acne.