ROADS engineers have been blasted by councillors after they recommended putting an access road near the brow of a hump-backed bridge.

Planning vice-chairman Cllr Peter Finch hit out as plans for flats on Highfield Road, Farnworth, were turned down.

Developers Johnston Homes wanted to build eight flats and a car park on land next to Highfield Hall Farm with an access road running onto Highfield Road where it crosses an old railway line.

Cllr Finch said: "I just don't believe our engineers sometimes. Would you really consider putting an access to a road on a hump-backed bridge?

"They suggested a similar thing on Slack Lane in Westhoughton. But you just can't see what's coming over the bridge."

Outline permission at the site for two semi-detached houses was allowed on appeal in 1987.

And Cllr Laurie Williamson said: "To put eight flats on there would compound what is not a happy situation already."

In a report to the planning sub-committee yesterday, Bolton's engineering department said that visibility from the access onto Highfield Road was acceptable.

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