MORE than 100 people braved the pouring rain to protest against plans to build 98 homes next to a luxury hotel.

Bromley Cross residents and councillors held a candlelight vigil on Monday night to demonstrate their opposition to development proposals for the Last Drop Village site, which will be decided by Bolton Council’s planning committee tomorrow.

The plans, submitted by Jones Homes, have led to a huge backlash from residents, who believe the area’s infrastructure cannot cope with almost 100 new houses.

If approved, the homes will be built on two parcels of land either side of Haydock Lane, which is the road approaching the hotel.

Bromley Cross councillor David Greenhalgh, Conservative group leader, arranged the vigil and was delighted with the huge turnout.

He said: “Despite the horrendous weather, the turnout was fantastic and demonstrates the strength of feeling that exists locally.

“We are not anti-house building in our area, but our roads and infrastructure and local services simply cannot cope.”

Bolton Council has received 611 letters of objection to the plans, in which local residents have raised fears about traffic, school places, public transport capacity, and drainage, among numerous other issues.

In November, a public meeting for people objecting to the plans had to be split across two venues because of the huge number of residents that turned up.

Campaigner Janet Bentley added: “It is vital that local people stand together on this, and if possible attend the site visit and planning committee to show how opposed we are to these proposals.”

Under the developer’s plans, 35 homes on the western part of the site will be designated as accommodation for the over-55s.

Planning officers have recommended that councillors delegate the decision to the director to secure a Section 106 Agreement.

When contacted by The Bolton News, Jones Homes declined to comment.