WESTHOUGHTON is bearing the brunt of efforts to correct Bolton’s housing shortage, councillors have warned.

An inquiry into plans to build 300 homes on land at Lee Hall, next to the Chequerbent Roundabout, was told yesterday that the area was taking an unfair share of new housing estates planned for the Bolton borough.

Cllrs David Chadwick, Martyn Cox, Christine Wild, and Zoe Kirk-Robinson all addressed the town hall hearing on Tuesday morning.

Cllr Cox admitted that the £28 million Persimmon project would be a “shot in the arm” for Bolton’s economy, but added: “Housing developments provide short-term benefits, but have little long-term legacy in terms of jobs or continued growth.

“Westhoughton residents are also aware of a statistical sleight of hand when figures for the town’s housing need are assessed.

“While 1,100 homes may be required every year in Bolton and may sound relatively modest, the reality is that many of those homes are planned within just a few of Bolton’s wards. As such, pressures of services, roads, and infrastructure are more acute.”

Giles Cannock, representing the developers, replied that the requirement of 1,100 homes each year “is not modest — it in fact requires a step change”and that it would be a “significant task” for the council.

The appellants argue that the development should be approved to help correct the borough’s housing shortfall.

Cllr Cox responded: “There are 20 wards in Bolton and much of the proposed development is concentrated in a few of them.

“The reason residents in Westhoughton and Horwich and Hulton are concerned is that this figure is not modest to them. It is not so much a step change as a leap.”

Cllr Kirk-Robinson told the inquiry, which began on Monday, that shops, schools, and public transport is not within close walking distance of the proposed housing estate.

She also criticised developers for land banking, saying: “The planning department has granted planning permission on enough developments to adequately meet our housing demand, if not surpass it.”

The council’s view is that traffic issues around the Chequerbent Roundabout are already so bad that the estate should not be built.

Cllr Chadwick, who pointed out that the roundabout has the fifth worst accident record in Bolton, added that the development would destroy plans for a Westhoughton Bypass — which he says is the “number one priority” for the council.

He said: “In my opinion it would be sensible to protect the line of a potential bypass. If the houses were built this would effectively rule out the possibility of a bypass in this location forever.”

The inquiry is expected to last until Thursday.