PLANNING chiefs will visit a site where a developer wants to build six new terraced homes before coming to a decision on the controversial proposals.

Bury Council’s planning committee was due to vote on the scheme involving land next to the Towler Inn, in Limefield last night (Tuesday).

But Councillor Trevor Holt proposed a site visit prior to any decision being made, and the  motion was unanimously supported, after being seconded by Cllr Jackie Harris.

Members will now view the site before the next meeting on May 22, when a vote will be taken.

About a dozen members of the public who came to the meeting for the application will now have to return at the later date.

The potential site is a grassed area between the aforementioned Towler Inn and 436 Walmersley Road, which includes some semi-mature trees.

Officers have advise members of the committee they are minded to approve the plans provided applicant Raheela Parveen agrees to make money available for recreation facilities as a condition of the planning permission.

But the proposals have met with opposition from residents living nearby. Some 70 people have from the residents have signed a petition and raised concerns about the impact of the development.

Jackie Duerden of Hillside Crescent wrote to the council to say she "strongly objects" to the application.

She said: "It will not work peoples driveways go on to the back street not to mention how close to people's windows it is and also pedestrians walk down this route to access the main road and it is also access to people's back gardens. If this was made in to a route for cars it was be extremely dangerous."

Miss Duerden continued: ""I believe you should look into getting access from the main road move the crossing you would not fit lorries etc down Hillside Crescent. The parking is tight at the best of times it would be a danger and many of the street object to this."

And Catherine Woodcock, also of Hillside Crescent, contacted the council to express concerns.

She said: "I wish to formally object to the proposal of changing the usage of the ginnel between No 31 and 41 Hillside Crescent, Bury from predominantly pedestrian to regular two-way traffic access to the proposed housing development thus potentially putting lives at risk.

"The ginnel has been a main pedestrian access from the estate (And more recently from other estates nearby) to Walmersley Rd since the estate was built in 1933.

Service vehicles for the construction period could put existing residents' property(And maybe themselves) at risk of damage/injury."

She added that the number of parking spaces for the development were "woefully inadequate" and visitors were likely to likely to park up on on what is already a vastly overstretched crescent thus potentially causing conflict."