RESIDENTS have had their say on a proposal for more than 400 houses in Radcliffe.

Flooding and traffic issues topped the list of concerns among visitors at a public consultation last night (January 30).

Plans to build 440 properties at the old East Lancashire Paper Mill site were unveiled by joint landowners Bury Council and Homes England earlier this month.

If proposals are given the green light, East Lancashire Paper Mill Cricket Club would be relocated from its existing site off Croft Lane to the opposite side of the retained reservoir, at Tower Farm.

Resident Barbara Greaves said at the consultation: "Why can't they make a feature of the cricket ground in the centre of the new housing rather than moving it?"

After the meeting, Alan Carr, chairman of the cricket club, said: “They’ve moved us to the back of the old tower. As far back as they can put us.

“We’re not happy about that really but we will probably have to accept it.

“We have reservations because of the floods and we haven’t seen the site and the worry is drainage.

“Where we are at the moment is the best drainage but if we’re somewhere where it’s boggy, half the matches might be off.

“Homes England own it, they have been good with us since they took over the last two years. They’ve done things for us regarding fly tipping and making the site more secure.”

Under proposals, vehicle access would also be created at Croft Lane and Cock Clod Street, involving widening and extending the roads.

Several residents voiced concerns over increased traffic, flooding, and insufficient infrastructure to manage the additional residents.

Sharon Goodman, who lives in East Street, said: "I think we are going to have major traffic problems. I think the access roads are inadequate.

"I think the development will encourage people to go to Bury rather than Radcliffe. There are already more than 400 people travelling out of the town to go to school."

Pam Rainey, aged 70 of Park Street, said: "We have got to build more houses so this is a positive.

"But I'm concerned about the traffic implications and the lack of a high school."

More than 100 residents attended Radcliffe United Reformed Church between 2pm and 7pm to provide feedback and talk to representatives from Bury Council and Homes England.

Residents Frank and Kath Tomkinson said: "We would like a roundabout in Eton Hill Road at the junction with Bury Street and Cross Lane.

"It is a very dangerous junction. It is a blind bend. With more cars it will be hell."

For Radcliffe historian Carol Kemp, flooding was the primary issue at hand.

Mrs Kemp, aged 66, said: "My main concern is the flooding. I have been told that the land between the river and the new cricket ground would be built up. Many people are still devastated from the Boxing Day floods of 2015. We need to get this right."

Under current plans, material would be taken from the ground near the River Irwell and redistributed below the proposed housing near the river banks.

Homes England said addressing flood risk has been a key consideration during the design stage and a new flood strategy has been developed in partnership with the Environment Agency.

Tracy Gordon, senior specialist at Homes England, said: "I'm really pleased with how well-attended the consultation has been.

"We have had a mixture of responses, with some saying it is good to bring the brownfield site back into use and doing away with the eyesore, and others raising concerns over traffic and flooding. We are working with the Environment Agency to ensure our plans are suitable."

Consultant WYG has been commissioned by Bury Council and Homes England to create the plans for the site.

Simon Peake, associate planner for WYG, said: "We have carried out extensive site investigations, ground condition checks and ecology work to come up with this indicative masterplan.

"The key challenge we faced was flood risk. We are developing a flood risk strategy that ensures the risk will be reduced, and the development will also reduce flood risk downstream.

"Where there is housing close to the River Irwell, the land will be raised."

The 23-hectare site was previously home to the East Lancs Paper Mill but has lain derelict

since its demolition 15 years ago.

Proposed homes would be a combination of two, three and four-bedroom houses as well as apartments.

A total of 25 per cent of the properties would be offered on an affordable housing basis.

Leader of Bury Council, Cllr Rishi Shori said: "This is an exciting proposal which will continue the regeneration of Radcliffe town centre.

"Good quality new housing, including affordable housing, is desperately needed in Radcliffe, and this type of development will help to meet local housing need while boosting the local economy."

A full planning application is due to be submitted in early spring 2018.

Residents are invited to contribute to an online survey as part of the first phase of consultation, ahead of Wednesday, February 14. Visit www.wyg.com/consultations/east-lancs-paper-mill.