A CAMPAIGN to stop a housing development being built on a hospital site is being backed by a Bolton MP.

Bolton West MP Ruth Kelly is throwing her weight behind residents opposed to the building plan at Fall Birch Hospital in Horwich.

Housebuilders Wilson Connolly Northern has submitted plans to Bolton Council to build 65 luxury houses on the hospital site where women are treated for dementia.

The plans came as a shock to the Bolton NHS Hospital Trust. Despite the future of the hospital being uncertain, the land has never been put up for sale.

Ms Kelly said: "I am particularly concerned about the impact this proposal will have on growing levels of traffic congestion in the area and by giving this application the go-ahead it will only add to this problem.

"A further 65 houses would mean more than 100 extra cars and the fact that the company has not taken the width of the road into account throws up more concerns."

Plans from the developer showed that the width of the road, including a pavement, leading to Fall Birch Hospital was 9.1metres. But, on investigation, residents found that parts of the road were much narrower.

More than 300 people have signed petitions and many letters of objection have been written in an attempt to stop the plans going any further.

Chairman of the Fall Birch Action Group, Bernard Travis, said: "We are not just self-satisfying residents who don't want this. We believe the plans are totally inappropriate and if the site is going to be re-developed for anything, it should be for something medical, rather than for houses.

"There are enough houses and enough traffic on Chorley New Road already."

Ms Kelly said she would be asking Bolton Council to look at traffic management in the area, particularly with the extension of the football academy at the Reebok stadium.

She was due to meet with concerned residents today and make a site visit of the hospital before the planning and highways committee meeting where a decision on the plan will be made.