THE benefits of a proposed new housing estate would not outweigh the harm to the infrastructure and the green belt, a ward councillor has claimed.

Yesterday's comments from Cllr Zoe-Kirk Robinson, Westhoughton North and Chew Moor, came at the second day of an inquiry into a 129-home application for land at Bowlands Hey, Westhoughton.

Bellway Homes' application was refused by Bolton Council on the grounds of increased traffic and highways safety.

Cllr Robinson said: "The appellant (Bellway) has shown in their traffic statements that the road network will face further over-saturation if this development is allowed to go ahead.

"I do not see a sufficiently strong argument that the benefits of this development would outweigh the harm to both the infrastructure of Westhoughton and the green spaces Bolton’s housing plans are designed to protect."

Bellway argues the homes would help Bolton Council meet the shortfall in its housing land supply.