AN ONGOING dispute over a new housing estate has taken another twist, as furious residents fear being unable to access their homes for four weeks.

A section of Park Road, in Little Lever, was due to close from July 10 to allow a new sewer to be installed for a controversial 25-house estate being built by the Great Places Housing Association.

The developer now says the closures will not take place as planned, because the construction is behind schedule, but will have to go ahead in the future.

A meeting will be held between local councillors and the developer today to discuss the project — which has come to a halt after anti-social behaviour on the site.

Denise Williams lives in Park Road with her son Alex Austin — who requires round-the-clock care since a car crash in 2005 left him with severe brain damage — and is worried about the impact the closure will have.

She said: “We have a motability vehicle that we will not be able to park anywhere near the house — and the roads suggested as an alternative are too far away for us.

“We will effectively be imprisoned in our own home.

“I won’t be able to get shopping delivered and the emergency services, who we have to call regularly, won’t be able to get to us.”

In a letter sent to residents, Cllrs Sean Hornby, Paul Richardson, and Rees Gibbon said: “It took a little while to ascertain that the purpose of the closure was the installation of a new main sewer running along the front of the development around the corner meeting up with the existing sewer at Third Avenue to provide drainage for the new development.”

They added that alternative parking areas proposed by the developer are “completely and utterly impractical and unacceptable”.

The councillors are also pressing for a public meeting to be arranged at which residents can air their concerns.

Great Places says it wants its contractor, Galliford Try, to get back to working on the site as soon as possible and will strive to keep disruption to a minimum.

Peter Bojar, executive director of growth and assets at Great Places Housing Group, said: “We are keen for the contractor to get back on site as soon as possible.

“We have arranged for a meeting between Great Places, Galliford Try and the local councillor to discuss the best way forward to allow construction to start again.

“We will be looking at ways to keep disruption to a minimum for residents while these much-needed family homes are built.

“Although a road closure order was applied for by the contractor, as we are currently not back on site, these works will not be taking place from the date advised on the notice.

“When a road closure is required Galliford Try will re-apply to Bolton Council and any concerns about access for emergency vehicles will be considered as part of the application.”

A Bolton Council spokesman said: “We are aware of residents concerns and we are in regular contact with Great Places to try and resolve any issues.”

Residents have previously complained about noise from the building site and having their cars blocked in.