FORMER district council leader John Rothwell has turned back the clock 38 YEARS to hit out at a controversial planning decision. Bolton Council gave outline permission last month for a giant superstore in Kearsley - sparking residents' fears of serious car congestion in neighbouring streets. Now Mr Rothwell, an opponent of the scheme, has unearthed a council decision way back in 1960 which refused a much smaller development on the same site - on grounds it would create too much traffic.

He told the BEN: "In the words of a famous TV character: 'I don't believe it'. How can they refuse something on traffic grounds in 1960 and then say it wouldn't be a problem in 1998?"

Mr Rothwell, a former leader of Kearsley Urban District Council, combed town hall archives to find the old decision as Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott considers whether to give the green light to current proposals.

The scheme has already been agreed to by Bolton councillors but has had to be submitted for final approval to Mr Prescott.

The 1960 application was lodged by Astley Bridge firm A and G Melia for a petrol station, car showroom and garage near the junction of Old Hall Street and Bolton Road.

But Lancashire County Council, in the days before St Peter's Way was built, decided the move would add too many traffic troubles to the already busy A666.

They rejected the plan concluding it would "result in further interference to the flow of traffic."

Today's developers, Widnes-based Morbaine, have proposed road improvements and many Bolton councillors believe the plan will bring economic benefits to Kearsley and Farnworth. But local residents, including Kearsley-born Mr Rothwell, fear neighbouring residential streets will be turned into rat runs.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.