Westhoughton town councillors are planning to hold a referendum of local people to gauge support for housing development opposition.

Town councillors have voted unanimously to look into the legal requirements for holding a ballot of the area's 16,000 electors on the issue.

And if they get the go ahead the vote could be held within weeks. The council hopes that a good turn out and a large majority of voters opposing further large scale building in the area will send a clear warning to developers pressing for the massive Lee Hall development.

The planning application for the 1,000-house site is due to be discussed by Bolton planning councillors in early April so, if a ballot is given the go ahead, it will need to be held before then.

Westhoughton town mayor, Cllr Bernard Ramsden, put forward the referendum idea after it was suggested by a constituent.

"If we get a good turn out from the electorate it will add weight to the feelings of Westhoughton Council and local people that we don't want the development," said Cllr Ramsden.

The referendum idea has also gained the support of the opposition on Westhoughton Council.

Liberal democrat Cllr David Wilkinson said that a vote would give the battle against further development in the town the "ultimate democratic legitimacy".

"It shows that the people of Westhoughton are not prepared to accept this build, build mentality," he said.

The council is waiting to obtain legal advice from the Lancashire Association of Town and Parish Councils before going ahead and organising the ballot.

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