A CONTROVERSIAL by-pass will not go ahead if green spaces must be sacrificed to fund it, residents have been told.

At a packed meeting at Westhoughton High School, Bolton Council deputy leader Cllr Guy Harkin said the A5225 scheme would not receive their backing if it meant developing open spaces in the area to fund it.

The road has been in the pipeline for nearly 40 years and would link the M6 at Orrell to the M61 at the Chequerbent roundabout.

Ruth Duckworth, of Save Westhoughton Act Now, said: "Road schemes like this bring advantages and disadvantages.

"The A5225 passes through the Lee Hall site, an area of protected open space.

"It has been evident from past experience that improvement in the road infrastructure tends to open up an area for housing, industrial and commercial development.

"Are there any guarantees that can be given that the open space will not be developed?"

Cllr Harkin said: "We would not allow development in Westhoughton to fund that road.

"It would be helpful if there was a road to take away some of the Wigan traffic but further development would be a betrayal.

"The only way it can be built is by selling land and we won't do that.

"The A5225 would spend more money than allocated to the council for a decade for all development. Why would we spend it?"

Other issues raised by residents included public transport, plans for a park and ride at Dobb Brow Station and road maintenance.

Bolton West MP Ruth Kelly, who attended the meeting, said: "I think the majority of people were in favour of the by-pass but they all have very different views.

"Some people need to be convinced.

"They are very keen to have a proper assessment of traffic across the whole area. Councillor Harkin made it clear it would be very expensive to build the road but the council does have the necessary borrowing operation if need be."