PLANS to develop the former public toilets site in Blackrod have been described as “criminal” — and residents are concerned their calls for necessary services aren’t being heard.

Around 20 people attended the town council meeting on Monday to discuss the application to develop the site into 13 three and four-bedroom homes.

The proposal is due to go before Bolton Council’s planning committee tomorrow, and officers have recommended it for approval.

Cllr Graham Farrington said: “It’s clear the residents don’t want that development to take place and quite right, it shouldn’t .

“The village is growing and it’s growing rapidly and it needs more services. So it needs somewhere to put them.

“Bolton’s planning has completely gone. They are not planning for the future whatsoever. Where are they going to put a dentist, shop or bank? There is nowhere you can put such a thing apart from that site.

“It’s criminal to develop this site into properties that aren’t wanted.”

The land is behind Blackrod House Nursing Home and north of Blackhorse Street.

Villagers were hoping to get a decision on the application deferred as they don’t believe enough time was allocated to allow their views to be put forward. But resident John Price received a letter in response that stated there would be no deferment as they don’t consider it appropriate.

Mr Price said: “I just find it astonishing that this council is being ignored, the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Committee has been ignored and residents have been ignored.

“I got the response at the 11th hour and it just typifies how Bolton Council lacks respect for Blackrod Council residents.

“I think it’s about time we should get some respect and get Bolton Council to start listening to Blackrod.”

Cllr Alan Bury (senior) is currently working on the town’s neighbourhood plan, which will outline preferred sites for housing and services once completed.

But Bolton Council officials told residents that an emerging neighbourhood plan doesn’t carry any weight in terms of making planning decisions.

Cllr Bury said: “It’s really disappointing that it isn’t proposed for deferment.

“It’s a shame that we don’t seem to be represented in Bolton with the same vigour that other places are.

“The neighbourhood plan hasn’t got any teeth yet but with legislation going through to revise that, I would have thought Bolton would regard that but clearly they haven’t. I’m just really disappointed.

“We’re clearly not getting our voice heard in Bolton the way we should be.”

Questions were also raised about the role of the ward councillors in terms of representing the views of Blackrod residents.

Cllr Scott Batchelor said: “We aren’t being heard. We’re not being shown any respect at all and I do feel we need to step forward. Are our ward councillors able to do so?”

Following the meeting, 46 letters of objection to the plans were delivered to Bolton Council.

In a planning statement, developer Nicol Thomas, acting on behalf of the applicant, said: “The definition of community should extend to the very heart of the development with the architecture forging friendships and a sense of belonging.

“The developer’s aim is to create a sympathetic high quality, bespoke residential development.

“This has been achieved after many design reviews, redesigns and rethinks, discussions with regulatory authorities, design team members and feedback from local housing professionals to achieve this well-balanced project offering much needed diverse housing supply to the area.”

The proposed development will be discussed by Bolton Council’s planning committee during its meeting at 2pm tomorrow at Festival Hall.

More information on the application can be found by searching for reference number 97995/16 on the Bolton Council website.

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