KEEN green council chiefs have come under fire for turning down a plan at a waste recycling factory.

Planning councillors have refused permission for Frank Mercer and Sons to put up a storage building and weighbridge office at Chequerbent Works, Manchester Road, Westhoughton.

But Liberal Democrat Westhoughton Cllr David Wilkinson said: "This council says it cares for the environment and then it does something like this.

"There are 26 jobs at stake here which I understand are at threat by this not going through."

Councillors turned down the application at a planning control sub committee because it is on green belt land.

But Cllr Wilkinson hit out: "The site at the moment is an eyesore, it is a hideous blot on the landscape. This gives us the chance for it to be tidied up.

"It may be green belt land, but it is a mess."

The site has formerly been used as a coal storage depot and adjoins railway sidings.

But Westhoughton Labour Cllr Peter Finch said: "If we allowed this, it could leave the floodgates wide open for development on green belt land."

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