A CONTROVERSIAL Westhoughton housing scheme has been turned down by Bolton's planning councillors.

They refused developers Bellway permission to build 95 homes on land off Collingwood Way.

The site is part of the larger Bowlands Hey site where planning permission for a "super estate" of more than 1,000 houses was turned down in 1992.

This decision was later upheld by the Secretary of State who said that there was no need for the land to be released for housing for at least five years.

Members of Bolton's planning control sub committee yesterday refused the new application on the grounds of that it would bring extra traffic into the area and there was still no need to release the land for housing.

Vice chairman Westhoughton Labour Cllr Peter Finch, said: "There have been massive objections from local residents."

Westhoughton Liberal Democrat Cllr David Wilkinson added: "Bellways are trying to have a nibble at this site and we should refuse it."

A total of 69 letters of objection were sent in to Bolton Council along with a petition containing 203 signatures.

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