A COUNCILLOR has objected to plans by Bolton Council to sell off land in Westhoughton.

Bolton Council propose to dispose of a site at Church Street, which is between James Street and Wellington Street.

Cllr David Wilkinson, a member of Westhoughton Town Council, feared selling the land would result in a loss of open space, if subsequently developed on, and could cause traffic problems. He accused the council of doing a “sell cheap exercise”.

“When this land was cleared many years ago and grassed, it created an open space in this part of Wingates for local residents and the council also added to the area with the creation of wild flower meadows. “It would mean the loss of an important area of open space, said Cllr Wilkinson.

“The proposal gives no indication of the future use of the site, such as residential or industrial, and then there is the problem of traffic generation, which following the failure of the council to gain the road improvement on James Street, does not bode well for any future development.” He added: “I would like to know why the council is selling the land with no planning permissions in place on the site and therefore a much reduced value. It appears to be a sell cheap exercise.”