PLANS to change the use of a residential property on a housing estate to a private children’s home have been rejected by councillors.

The council’s planning committee heard claims that children were being ‘shipped to Bolton from across the country for profit’ as the matter was debated.

The application sought to change the use of a detached two storey house on Brodick Drive, Breightmet, from a dwelling house to residential unit for two children, aged eight to 16.

The plans stated that two members of staff would be on site at any one time, including overnight and a third during the day.

The meeting heard that 13 local households had objected to the proposals.

Ward councillor Adele Warren, said: “Currently we have 30 private children’s homes in Bolton and Bolton children account for 20 per cent of the placements.

“Including this proposal there will be an additional eight to 12 private children’s homes planned for our borough.

“The Bolton way is to try and place vulnerable children in foster homes as we see this as a more nurturing environment for the vast majority of children in our care.

“Eighty per cent of placements are out of borough, children from as far away as the South East of England.

“These children in my opinion are being shipped across the country for profit with providers not even required to have any understanding or qualifications in the care of vulnerable children.

“I strongly feel we are setting these children up to fail.

“Bolton children’s services say we require no further provision. We have more supply than demand.”

She argued that the committee should refuse permission based on the amenity fo nearby residents.

Fellow Breightmet ward councillor Debbie Newall, said: “This is not nimbyism.

“That isn’t why I’m objecting. Our ethos is that children are looked after in a family environment.

“This house is certainly not that.

“We don’t know where these children are coming from. We our setting our services up to pick up the consequences of this dwelling being approved.”

But Cllr Nick Peel said: “I think this is nimbyism. Cllrs Warren and Newall are representing some of the worst attitudes in our society.

“I have dealt with these applications on many occasions and it’s always exactly the same story.

“People objecting to other people’s children coming living near them for the simple fact that they are in the unfortunate position that they are looked after.

“Some people would prefer us to go back to monolithic Victorian mansion type children’s homes. Putting children in settings away from them.

“We’ve moved away from that for the betterment of society.

“The best settings to bring children up are in family units.

“This seeks to house two children with three member of staff during the day, two in the evening, which is either average or more than a lot of families.

“These children deserve exactly the same life chances as their neighbours.”

The committee voted by eight votes to seven to refuse the change of use application due to the effects on nearby residents.