A town hall meeting that had been due to decide a series of high-profile planning decisions was forced to be postponed for technical reasons.

The meeting of Bolton Council’s planning committee had been due to take place on Thursday June 15, with councillors, officers and members of the public all having gathered at 2pm.

But the meeting was abandoned after just a few minutes after members of the public where unable to hear any of the details of what was said due to sound issues.

Planning committee chair Cllr John Walsh said: “For reasons of public interest and in the interest of public scrutiny we feel that the best course is an adjournment for two weeks.”

The meeting had been due to decide several high-profile projects including plans for a new Lidl, flats and football pitches in Bromley Cross.

The Bolton News: Atlas Mills was one of several projects set to be debatedAtlas Mills was one of several projects set to be debated (Image: Newsquest)

Councillors had also been due to make crucial rulings on plans for more than 100 new houses on land north of Radcliffe Road in Darcy Lever that has been controversial due to its potential impact on plans to expand the Metrolink from Bury to Bolton.

One of the most contentious had been a retrospective plan for new units which had been divided up in the Atlas Mills complex in Smithills, which many of the members of the public had come to the town hall specifically to hear debated.

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Several home extensions at various locations across Bolton, including on Plodder Lane and Crumpsall Street, had also been due to be debated and voted on.

But the committee had been moved out of its usual location in the main town hall chamber while a coroner's inquest took place and instead the councillors met in the town hall’s Lancaster Suite.

Before the committee members could make progress on the first application, the council officers proved to be inaudible for the majority of people listening, to the disappointment of members of the public who had taken time to be there.

The plans will now be considered at the next meeting of the committee, scheduled to take place at 1pm on Thursday June 29.