A COUNCILLOR has warned that Lostock is being swamped by bland housing estates after a scheme to transform a derelict warehouse into luxury flats was rejected.

Plans to develop the "brownfield" site in Rumworth Road next to Lostock Station into 18 apartments designed to attract professionals were rejected by councillors who claimed the area was being overdeveloped.

But the decision was blasted as "small-minded" by Cllr Laurie Williamson.

Some 191 Lostock residents objected to the "yuppie" flats in the face of mounting demand for homes in the sought-after suburb.

Cllr Eric Hyland said: "This part of Bolton is coming under increasing stress. We have to be careful about any application."

He added that the existing roads could not cope with extra traffic.

Council leader Cllr Bob Howarth also said he thought the proposed development was too much.

He said: "I thought in the main we were trying to keep the renovated sites in housing areas to a maximum of two floors and I think this goes quite against what we are saying."

But Cllr Laurie Williamson stood up for what he described as an "interesting" scheme.

"I think the objections are a little bit small-minded," he said. "If the Sistine Chapel had come before this committee we would have wanted it painted magnolia.

"Areas shouldn't be carpeted with boring semis and boring bungalows. This would give back Lostock a bit of character which it has been losing." Cllr Bob Howarth