AN application for 129 homes in Westhoughton, which caused fury among councillors when submitted, has been refused by town councillors.

At a town council meeting tonight councillors unanimously recommended refusal on the development by Bellway Homes, for land off Collingwood Way and Old Lane.

Councillors stated that the towns infrastructure could not handle the extra homes and additional families.

A nearby resident, to where the houses could be built, spoke at the meeting to raise his concerns.

He said: "The infrastructure is not able to support the additional traffic that this development will cause and I am concerned about the effect of surrounding wildlife."

Town Councillor Gill Williams agreed with the residents concerns.

She added: "First of all this is green open space, it is not green belt but it is one step down from it.

"Green space should not be a first resort for development it should be a very last resort if there is desperate need for housing.

"We are not in desperate need for housing.

"We do not need these houses on our green land.

"The infrastructure, doctors, dentists, schools are already jam packed.

"There are probably about 10 school places left in Westhoughton.

"Doctors and dentists- our health care and of course traffic cannot cope with this development."

In its application Bellway Homes said it expected that 60 additional cars will be added to the roads.

Cllr Williams questioned where the figure had come from in regards to 129 family homes.

Councillor David Chadwick said it would be "more like 258 cars calculated on two cars per home" meanwhile town Councillor Derek Gradwell said he thought the developer was living in "cuckoo land" with the 60 cars figure.

Cllr Gradwell added: "My major concern is that very few residents have been notified about this development.

"30 leaflets have gone out but what about residents in Wesley Street, Peel Street and Grundy Street- they will all be affected.

"I propose that the town council should write to Bolton Council to ask for a public meeting to advice all the people affected.

"Bellway said that it will provide traffic measures which I'm sure is great for the developer but not so great for resident who will have double yellow lines in front of their houses and won't be able to park.

"I think the developer is living in cloud cuckoo land or being very optimistic believing that everyone in those homes is going to walk or use public transport because the development is "close to public transport links".

"It will have a major impact."

Cllr Chadwick moved refusal on the application.

He said: "Bellway have said that the site has pour drainage and has been a long term grassland or paddock.

"The developer is trying to paint the picture that this site is scrub land so needs housing.

"Westhoughton's road are already chocker block, traffic already backs up on to the motorway itself, it is dangerous.

"And the infrastructure.

"We already have a problem with schools and most people buying these houses will have one or two children and that is a problem for our schools.

"It is extremely difficult to get into doctors and dentists."

Cllr Chadwick also said he was annoyed that blame was being pointed at the Labour Party.

He added: "I am extremely annoyed that certain political parties are blaming this development on the labour council.

"Those certain parties were in coalition and they removed the planning guidance notes.

"So now it's open season for developers.

"But we shouldn't be blaming one party we should be working together to stop green space development.

"I've spent 16/17 years defending greenfield sites and I would move that we reject this application."

Councillor Jack Speight agreed he added: "People walk on this site and want the sense of freedom and the feel that they have the countryside on their door step.

"We are losing the character of Westhoughton.

"It is a tragedy and is destroying our community.

"I also think we should reject it."

The town council recommended refusal on the application and asked for a public meeting to be organised to make residents aware of the plans.

The application will be heard before Bolton planning committee in the coming weeks.