PROTESTERS have won the latest round in the battle to stop a huge Westhoughton housing development.

A Government inspector has dismissed an appeal from developers Redrow homes for 134 homes to be built at Edges Farm, between Leigh Road and Woodward Road, Daisy Hill.

But he has given the go ahead for a smaller development of 46 houses on a part of the site.

He has also said that the larger scheme should not go ahead "at this stage " because he did not accept proposals for a new junction on Leigh Road.

However, he said he accepted a development plan which said that the site should be allocated for housing.

Planning councillors turned down the scheme because they felt that Westhoughton's already jammed roads could not cope with the extra traffic.

But the inspector says he was not satisfied that the proposals would cause such severe traffic problems to turn the scheme down.

Westhoughton Labour Cllr Peter Finch said: "Obviously, it is good news that the larger scheme has not been allowed at this stage. But we will have to have a closer look at the report to determine exactly what this means in the long term.

Westhoughton Liberal Democrat Cllr David Wilkinson added: "I welcome the decision. But to me, it seems to be saying that if traffic lights were put at the junction, another application could be allowed."

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