A PUBLIC meeting for people objecting to plans to build nearly 100 homes in Bromley Cross had to be split across two venues because of the huge number of residents that turned up.

The meeting, organised in opposition to plans to develop land around the Last Drop Village hotel, was scheduled to take place in the Bromley Cross Village Hall.

But after close to 500 people crammed into every inch of space within the hall, approximately 200 more residents had to take part in a separate meeting in the Birtenshaw Methodist Church next door.

The volume of people, which led to queues along Darwen Road, goes to indicate the fierce opposition that there is to the plans from Jones Homes, who want to build the development on the open protected land near to the hotel complex - which is owned by its parent company the Emerson Group.

The main meeting was chaired by local councillors David Greenhalgh and Alan Wilkinson, with Cllr Norman Critchley forced to take charge of the second meeting next door.

Residents were united in their passionate objections to the proposed housing scheme, with the key concerns raised focussing on the strain on an already struggling local transport network as well as drainage issues and the effect on local schools and health services.

There were also fears raised that the Last Drop plan could just be the start of development proposals for that area.

Hospital Road resident Angela Neal told the meeting: "98 houses is just phase one, really I think they are going to put about 500 houses on that site.

"Surely what will happen is the developer will decrease the number by a small amount and it will go through - that it what has happened in the past."

Fellow resident Brian Fairclough said he is very concerned about the proposals being put forward.

He said: "The infrastructure is just not there, the schools are already overcrowded and so are the local health services.

"As for the roads, I am am retired and if i want to leave the house in the morning I have to wait until at least 20 past nine before I can even make it onto Darwen Road."

The three local councillors, who are all firmly against the plans, urged every person present to write an individual letter of objection to Bolton Council before the planning committee meeting, which is due to be held on December 15.

Cllr Greenhalgh said: "The strength of feeling here tonight is huge, we all know that Bromley Cross is at breaking point and we simply cannot cope with any more traffic on our roads.

"But don't just sign a petition or attend a meeting, you must all write to the council and show them how you feel - if we are going to win this battle we all have to fight it together."