A CONTROVERSIAL scheme to build 95 new homes in Westhoughton has been turned down after public inquiry. Westhoughton councillor Peter Finch, vice chairman of Bolton's planning and environment committee, said today it was "an excellent victory," for local residents. It is the second big housing scheme to bite the dust in Westhoughton in two days. Last night's BEN reported how a plan by Redrow to build 128 new homes at Daisy Hill had been turned down by the council.

The application by developers Bellway to build the homes on land off Collingwood Way, had been rejected by Bolton planning councillors, last September.

Bellway has now learned that it has lost its appeal following the two-day public inquiry in May conducted by a Government nspector.

The site is part of Bowlands Hey, the largest single potential housing site in the borough, although it is not now earmarked for development under Bolton's Unitary Development Plan.

A delighted Cllr Finch, who heard the result of the planning inquiry from the BEN, said: "I am delighted, it is excellent news for the people of Westhoughton.

"We have to say 'enough to enough' to the threat of these housing developments.

"Initially Bellway wanted to build 1000 homes on the site. When that was refused they tried to nibble away at the site with this scheme for 95 homes."

Cllr Finch added that a Department of the Environment inspector had previously said that the Bowlands Hey site should be protected for at least the next ten years because there was no need for it to be developed.

He said: "We have already lost a number of green areas in Westhoughton. It is important to safeguard what is left."

The people of Westhoughton were united in their fight against the proposal. They wrote letters of objection, collected a petition and attended the public inquiry.

Department of the Environment inspector Brian Sims, announcing his decision to dismiss the appeal, said: "The proposed development would be in conflict with the UDP and would unacceptably harm the process of urban regeneration it seeks to foster in Bolton."

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