CALLS for Bolton to withdraw from a controversial housing blueprint were defeated at Wednesday’s meeting of full council.

Liberal Democrat leader, Cllr Roger Hayes, brought forward a motion demanding the the council pulls out of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework.

He said that the plans were not “fit for purpose” and urged the council to focus on developing brownfield sites rather than greenbelt land.

The motion was supported by all three opposition parties, but voted down by the ruling Labour group.

Labour’s Cllr Peel said to go into consultation on the Spatial Framework and pull out before the plans have been finalised would not be right.

Cllr John Walsh was among the Conservatives who backed the motion, and said that Bolton’s infrastructure was not capable of dealing with thousands of new homes.

Cllr Andrew Martin said the council should be marketing the town centre as a place for young professionals to live.

Two other motions on the development of former mills and a pilot voter ID scheme at polling stations were deferred to the next meeting due to time restrictions.