A PLANNING battle between a leading Bury manufacturer and Redvales residents is set to resume.

Thumbs Up (Bury) have re-submitted plans to develop a new storage area at their Dumers Lane base just four months after dozens of nearby neighbours staged a town hall protest and Bury Council's planning committee turned down the company's application.

The concerned residents had repeatedly raised concerns about noise and potential flooding risk at the site, but councillors rejected the application on noise grounds only.

The firm manufactures and supplies plastic housewares and storage products.

As well as submitting the amended application, which includes shorter opening hours and more noise reducing features, the company are also set to appeal the previous refusal, claiming the reasoning behind the rejection of their plan was "flawed."

David Hanson, speaking on behalf of the residents said: "The planning committee in the last municipal year refused the previous application by a hefty majority.

"We hope that the new members of the committee are also resolute in considering the application impartially and resist any pressure to persuade them otherwise."

Angela Merotto, solicitor and secretary for Thumbs Up, said: "The differences are that we have further restricted the times of opening. There was also an issue raised about noise because there was a gap in the landscaping mound around the perimeter — the plan is that the mound will no longer have that gap.

"We have taken on board the concerns that were raised at the planning meeting and have tried to address those."

A supporting statement submitted with the application confirmed that the firm is appealing the previous refusal, and added: "This resubmission application is submitted entirely without prejudice to the outcome of the appeal.

"It is ostensibly the same proposal as that refused in April 2016, in that it promotes the creation of a hardstanding area for the storage of trailers and for open materials storage (namely the raw product that is used by the company to manufacturer its goods).

"It also promotes the construction of a sizeable earth ‘bund’ and acoustic fence around the site periphery. This will be heavily planted to create a landscaped ‘buffer’ between the proposed use and the rear of existing houses on Whitefield Road and St. Peter’s School.

"This will have the effect of creating a strong and ultimately attractive landscaped visual buffer, creating wildlife habit and thereby enhancing biodiversity, and of course minimising possible noise disturbance that might otherwise arise to those whose homes back onto the site.

"The application also proposes acoustic / security fencing and discrete security lighting that will be designed minimise intrusion for both adjacent residents and wildlife (in particular bats)."