A TOWN council wants to ban residents from asking certain questions at public meetings.

Proposals have been drawn up to stop people asking questions relating to issues already addressed by Westhoughton Town Council in the previous six months.

Residents would also be banned from asking questions about matters over which the town council has no direct control.

The new regulations — already labelled farcical by one councillor — will be debated by town councillors at a meeting tonight.

Cllr David Wilkinson, for Hoskers and Hart Common, said: “It makes a mockery of everything that a council stands for.

“What we seem to be doing is saying that we are not interested.”

The move came after residents asked questions about a proposed 99-house development on Roscoe’s Farn in Westhoughton at several town council meetings.

On each occasion, frustrated members of the public were told the information was available on Bolton Council’s website.

Legally, the town council can only deal with matters within its power, and the authority could lose its quality status if it does not stick to the rules.

Cllr Wilkinson added: “It is a farce.

“Roscoe’s Farm is the largest housing application we have had for some time and is an example of when residents would think the town council would be able to help them.

“The idea that we are going to be breaking the law because someone has come to ask the council to assist is ridiculous.

“That tells them ‘go away, we are not listening to you’.”

Council leader Cllr David Chadwick said the proposals were not designed to “stifle debate” or to stop discussions on particular topics.

He added: “We have had the same person come and ask virtually the same question and he has been told the same answer.

“We are also getting questions we have no jurisdiction on and therefore we are not in a position to answer.

“We are trying to tread a fine line while not stifling discussion.”

The proposals will be discussed at tonight’s council meeting.