PROTESTERS last night vowed to fight plans to build a massive new housing estate at Westhoughton.

More than 100 people packed into the Red Lion Hotel in Wigan Road to discuss the impact the proposed 1,000-home estate at Lee Hall would have on the town.

Among those present were local councillors Eric Hyland and David Chadwick, and speakers included two members of the Green Party.

Issues raised by speakers included the traffic congestion the resulting extra vehicles would cause and the health implications, especially the effect of pollution on people who suffer from asthma.

Part way through the meeting Cllr Hyland left, saying he felt the meeting was becoming dominated by Green Party politics.

"We have tried to keep party politics out of this," he told the BEN.

People attending the meeting later elected a committee to co-ordinate opposition to the housing scheme.

Westhoughton town councillors have already voted unanimously to recommend rejection of the development plan when it goes before Bolton Council in the next few months.

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