BOLTON councillors say they rejected the Hulton Park 'Ryder Cup' golf course plan because of concerns around the environment, congestion and the quality of jobs.

Councillors gathered at Bolton Town Hall to vote on the £200million proposal, one of the biggest the borough has seen in recent decades which would have built a luxury golf course and more than 1000 houses.

All but one councillor, Cllr Robert Allen of Heaton and Lostock, voted against the plans.

Cllr David Wilkinson, representing Westhoughton South, said: "The golf course devastates a large area of land and brings a thousands plus house and some of the issues if they're not dealt with at planning level brings more problems to us as Westhoughton people."

He added: "The Ryder Golf tournament is window dressing, I'm sorry it's a vanity project."

Over the course of the three hour meeting, the committee heard from both supporters and opponents of the plan.

Independent Cllr Martin McMulkin said the plan "is not going to address the levels of deprivation in that part of the borough" while golf is "not and never will be a sport of the working class."

Council leader Martyn Cox said it would "too impactful" on greenspace, while Labour leader Nick Peel said that the council's lack of "corporate" support for a Ryder Cup bid also undermined the proposal.

The company now says it will discuss whether the project can still be brought forward with its partners.

Peel L&P director of planning and strategy Richard Knight said: "Bolton has quite possibly missed out on the biggest investment in its history.

"Bolton Council had approved the previous scheme and encouraged us to make positive changes, it has done a U-turn at the last hurdle.

"It is hard to comprehend, but evidently very localised opposition has taken priority over all of the potential benefits for Bolton.

"Since 2018, we have worked hard with local residents and stakeholders in order to adapt our proposals to reflect the community’s aspirations for the site with less homes on greenbelt land and a range of facilities including a new school, health and wellbeing hub public trails and transport improvements."