ANGRY residents have branded two temporary classrooms next to their homes as "Cell Block H."

The classrooms are in an elevated position and overlook bedrooms and bathrooms near Stocks Park School, Horwich.

Horwich town councillors have now taken up their case and are demanding Bolton's planning chiefs visit the site because the blocks have been put in the wrong place and they have led to a loss of privacy.

Horwich Town planning committee has refused to approve a working amendment to the original planning consent to allow the buildings to remain in their present position. The application will now go before Bolton's planning control sub-committee on October 3.

Residents say there are other locations in the school grounds where they could be sited without causing harm to neighbours, and it was claimed that the amendment should have been submitted as a fresh planning application because it is different to the original scheme.

Mr Ian Blackmore, who acted as spokesman for the residents said at the Horwich Town planning committee: "There are a lot of angry people and I hope the committee will have the courage to refuse it."

Planning officer Wendy Fox, said that it was not until the buildings arrived on site that it was realised they would have to be moved because of health and safety reasons.

But Mr Blackmore argued that the pillars on which the buildings stand were put in position at least three or four weeks prior and at no stage was their position altered.

Cllr Mrs Barbara Ronson said she was stunned when she returned from holiday and saw the classrooms.

She said: "If something is not done, we will be giving carte blanche to any private developer to do something similar."

Cllr Kevan Helsby was appalled when he saw the buildings.

"If we had been presented with this in the first place we would not have approved it," he added.

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