QUESTIONS have been asked about how Westhoughton will cope after two large developments were approved on appeal last year.

Some members of Westhoughton Town Council have proposed to seek a meeting with officials at Bolton Council to find out whether there is a plan in place to improve the town's infrastructure.

It follows recent victories for developers at Bowlands Hey, where 129 homes will be built, and Lee Hall, 300 homes.

Both were originally refused by Bolton Council on the grounds of impact on highways but then they were overturned after the developers appealed.

These are on top of the 106 homes that were approved for land near Roscoe's Farm a couple of years ago.

Cllr David Wilkinson, Westhoughton town councillor representing Hoskers and Hart Common, said: "We have had some major applications approved and we are faced with other applications including the Hulton Estate.

"The thing that is being mentioned to me all the time is infrastructure in terms of school places, roads and doctors.

"Westhoughton is barely able to cope with the volume of people we have got now, nevermind for the people who will be moving into the homes that have permission.

"The people want to know how the town is going to have the facilities to cope.

"Bolton Council needs to be looking at having a plan for Westhoughton."

He also pointed out that Bolton Council had committed to a £1billion project to develop Bolton town centre.

He added: "There must be money for Westhoughton."

The item has been placed on the agenda for the town council's meeting on Monday.

The agenda item reads: "Given the decision of the planning inspector’s decisions for Bowlands Hey and now Lee Hall together with approval of Roscoe’s Farm by Bolton Council and the impact on the town’s infrastructure of these developments and other developments that Westhoughton Town Council request a meeting with Bolton Council officers to be informed of infrastructure proposals to sustain the community."

A Bolton Council spokesman said a business case for the Westhoughton Bypass was being developed and would come forward in the summer.