WESTHOUGHTON residents turned out in force to inspect plans which could see 300 homes built on open protected land in the town.

A public consultation was held on behalf of Persimmon Homes who want to create the large housing estate on the 45-acre site at Lee Hall, between Platt Lane and Manchester Road.

Local councillors have already expressed their objections to what they have described as an “unnecessary” application and residents at the consultation had similar feelings.

Bernard Doyle, who lives in Bank Side in the town said: “I am shocked by what I have seen today, I had heard a bit about what was being proposed but this really is shocking.

“I went down to the site at the weekend to have a look and the developers have already put a board up, they are not waiting around.

“I am totally against it, it is just totally in the wrong place.

“Traffic is a big worry for me, I fetch four kids to school in that area and it is already totally gridlocked, so just imagine what 300 extra houses might do.”

The issue of traffic is something concerning Geoffrey O’Shea, who lives near to the proposed housing site in Park Road.

He said: “I have no objections to building houses and I know that they need to be built but I have come here today and there is no mention of traffic congestion and that has deeply annoyed me.”

The land on the Lee Hall site is owned by Peel Holdings but Persimmon have an option to build upon it.

As well as housing, the outline application includes plans for public open space, a children’s play area and access routes at Platt Lane and the Chequerbent Roundabout.

Also incorporated within the proposal is a corridor of “safeguarded land” which is intended to protect a route for a potential future link road between Westhoughton and Atherton.

Adele Snook, strategic land director for Persimmon Homes North West, said: “It is a logical and sustainable location and one which we believe has good accessibility to public transport, shops and services in Westhoughton.”