PLANS to build new houses across a golf driving range that had provoked a mixed reception from the nearby community have been withdrawn.

The proposal, which was lodged last year, had originally intended for eight homes to be built on land previously occupied by the driving range at Kearsley Golf Centre off Moss Lane.

But this week the plans were withdrawn meaning that for the time being at least the work will not go-ahead.

Cllr Debbie Newall, who represents the area on Bolton Council, said: “It was one of those applications where there were some people who really didn’t want it but there were other people who thought that maybe it would mean improvements made to the back roads.”

She explained that she had been notified by Bolton Council officers that the application had been withdrawn but that this did not mean that further plans for the site could not be lodged in future.

But the state of the roads had been a key consideration for people in the area, with Cllr Newall having noted that the area can often be very busy.

This can include when people arrive for community events like last weekend’s Buddhist parade which saw around 2,000 people visit the Moss Lane Wat Sriratanaram Temple, one of the only places of worship of its kind in the region.

Cllr Newall said: “So that road was very, very busy and a lot of it is unmade road and its got potholes in it.

“So there are some people who thought it would be a good idea but then there are other people who really didn’t want houses where there had been a golf course.”

She added: “So I can understand why there were two camps really.”

Some of the people concerned about the development had cited the extra pressure it could have put on the area’s schools as well as on the roads and parking spaces.

The additional cars on the road had also caused some concern for the safety of children travelling to and from school.

The proposed houses would have ranged across different sizes, with a mix of two, three, four and five-bedroom homes having been planned by the developers.

But the decision was announced on Monday that they had decided to withdraw the application.