A CONTROVERSIAL social housing scheme which would mean building on a children’s play area will go before Bolton Council’s planning committee tomorrow.

More than 300 people have objected to the proposed development of 20 affordable houses on the green field behind Manchester Road in Blackrod — arguing that it would destroy one of the last remaining green spaces in the village which has continually been used as a safe area for children to play on.

The plans have been submitted by social housing provider Bolton at Home.

The development would also mean demolishing an end terrace property in Manchester Road to create a way into the development.

Bolton at Home has argued that the development would address an “established shortfall” of affordable housing in the wider Bolton area, but residents say other options should be considered.

Blackrod resident, John Price, aged 70, has been one of the people leading the campaign, he said: “There have now been more than 250 letters of objection submitted and one petition which had 100 signatures on it, people feel very strongly about this.

“We are not NIMBYs, we fully understand the need for social housing — I was brought up in social housing, but we just feel there are other options in the village that should be considered.

“The main grievance is the taking away of a green play area, which is an extremely safe place that children of Blackrod use to play.”

Mr Price said there are a host of other issues surrounding the plans, including the need to demolish a property and the fact that some of the land in question will need to be removed because four different gases have been located in it.

He added: “We are just asking if the net gain is worth everything they will have to go through and should another option not be considered?”

Blackrod Town Council has also registered a number of concerns on the issue and cllr Stephen Laycock will speak on the matter at Thursday’s committee meeting.

A statement from the developers accepts that the building on green space has represented a “difficult decision” for Bolton at Home.

A spokesman said: “There is an established shortfall of affordable housing in the wider Bolton area. Both the Core Strategy and Allocations plan have been through the process of identifying sites and shaping the policy to encourage development — this includes for 20 per cent of new affordable housing which will have to be developed on informal green space due to a shortfall in brownfield development sites.

“These are difficult decisions which should not be taken lightly but we feel that the scheme will have a positive impact in this area as a direct result of its design and appearance.”

Planning officers at Bolton Council have recommended that the plans are approved by committee members tomorrow.”