FRUSTRATED Westhoughton residents will have to wait until the New Year to find out if proposals to build 300 homes in the town will go ahead.

Developer Persimmon Homes wants to build the housing estate on 45 acres of open, protected land at Lee Hall — between Platt Lane and Manchester Road.

The plans received widespread criticism from residents and local councillors and were unanimously rejected by Bolton Council’s planning committee last year.

Persimmon chose to appeal that decision and the case was due to come before the planning inspector in Bolton this past week.

However, the residents, councillors and legal professionals who gathered at Bolton Library were told that the appeal had been adjourned until the New Year.

The delay comes after Persimmon asked for more time to create adequate traffic modelling — requested by the council — in a bid to show the effect the scheme could have on the busy local road network, particularly around the Chequerbent roundabout and Junction five of the M61 motorway.

It is hoped a new appeal date can be found in January — but concerned residents will have to wait until the end of the year before any resolution is found.

Westhoughton North and Chew Moor Cllr Martyn Cox said local people are frustrated at the delay.

He said: “A lot of people are waiting for a decision on this issue and this delay is very frustrating for everyone.

“Quite a few members of the public had turned up for the appeal only to be told it was not happening and won’t do now until next year.”

Cllr Cox said that residents are particularly worried that a successful appeal for the 300-home scheme could lead to more development of the wider area.

He said: “We know that the whole site holds space for 1,700 homes and that these 300 are just the first phase.

“We understand that developers will build where they can but you have got to have the infrastructure in place first.

“Anyone who has driven up the M61 at rush-hour and tried to come off at junction five will know that it is standing traffic already, before any extra houses are built.”

He added: “This delay just leaves a big cloud of uncertainty for people.”