RESIDENTS have won a battle to stop a coal storage and distribution yard being built near their homes.

Family-run business Dickinson and Sons Ltd has withdrawn support for the controversial planning application and will not be leasing land off Station Road in Blackrod to CMR (Estates) Ltd.

Residents in Station Road were furious about the plans which, they claimed, would bring 4,000 heavy goods vehicles a year on to the site, cover their homes in dust and spoil their view.

A 100-strong group of demonstrators brought rush hour traffic to a standstill in a protest over the plans, and residents formed a committee to persuade Bolton's planning committee to refuse the application.

The Dickinson family, well known as transport contractors in Horwich and Blackrod for more than 70 years, has shown its support for the residents.

James Dickinson, operations manager, said: "The directors very much regret the controversy and wish to place on record that the extent of the final submission by CMR (Estates) Ltd far exceeded Dickinson's initial understanding of the limited scale and innocuous nature of the development.

"As a long established and environmentally sensitive company, Dickinson's has been extremely embarrassed by the depth and ferocity of the adverse reaction from residents."

Sue Dickinson, who runs the company with husband Ken and son James, said: "We had been told that it would be a supplies depot and it came as quite a shock when we found out exactly what they wanted to do."

Eileen Jackson, a resident of Station Road, said: "This is good news and I am very relieved.

"I'm surprised that Dickinson's has withdrawn its support, but obviously everyone will be very, very pleased."

Cllr Pat Barrow, Mayor of Blackrod, said: "It seems an unusual step to take, but it is good news and I am very pleased.

"The residents around there have had to put up with enough problems already with heavy traffic, so they will all be thrilled."

However, the application is still likely to go before Bolton's Planning Committee for a decision after Blackrod town council refused it.

A spokesman from Bolton Council's Planning Department said: "In theory, anyone can apply for planning permission to build anywhere.

"I would be very surprised if the application is withdrawn at this late stage as CMR (Estates) Ltd will probably try to get planning permission before it renegotiates with Dickinson's.

"Even if it does get planning permission, it cannot build on the land without the owner's permission."

CMR (Estates) Ltd is a world leader in coal distribution.

Nobody was available for comment at the firm today.