TOWN hall chiefs say they are not to blame for the approval of a controversial housing estate plan, hitting back at an MP's 'simplistic' criticism.

Bolton West MP Chris Green said last week that the Government's decision to overturn Bolton Council's rejection of plans for the Bowlands Hey area in Westhoughton was down to the local authority not having 'any realistic plan for house-building'.

In giving the green light for Bellway Homes' proposed 129-property development, planning inspector Hayden Baugh-Jones referred to Bolton Council's lack of a five-year housing land supply.

However, Cllr Ebrahim Adia hit back at a town hall meeting tonight, saying that the blame lies with the Government.

Cllr Adia, the executive cabinet member for regeneration and resources, said: “Chris Green has clearly taken a view that Bolton Council is to blame. That is a fairly simplistic view and he should spend a bit more time trying to understand why Bolton and many other councils find themselves in this predicament.

“Perhaps he should start by asking why the Government said our housing allocation was sound in 2014, but not now.

“He also needs to examine his own Government’s policy and why there is a lack of funding from the Government to make some sites viable for development.

“The Government’s housing policy fails to recognise the complexity of the housing market north of Watford.

“I think the MP will find that the housing market problem in Bolton is not created by us, but in Westminster.

“If he wants to make a serious contribution then I would be happy to meet with him.”

Cllr Adia also agreed with concerns raised by UKIP’s Cllr Paul Richardson, who said that the Government’s reversal of planning decisions like this risked undermining local democracy.

Mr Green said last week: "Because the council can’t show it’s got any realistic plan for house building, the independent inspector has had to allow this completely inappropriate development to go through.

"I said after the council withdrew their objections to the Hill Lane development in Blackrod that they were setting a dangerous precedent and now it looks like this is becoming true.

"Bolton West is steadily becoming a cash cow for Bolton Council without any investment going to us for our congested roads, creaking public transport and over-flowing schools."