AN MP has praised residents for speaking out about a controversial development plan.

Bury South MP Ivan Lewis spoke after 130 people attended a meeting about the proposed demolition of Miles Bakery on Sunnybank Road, Unsworth.

Prestwich developer North Hold Group has applied to Bury Council to replace the bakery with a retail unit with 16 parking spaces.

By the end of a consultation period, the council had received 64 letters of objection and a petition signed by 1,200.

Mr Lewis, referring to a meeting of objectors last month, said: “It was a real show of strength by the local community. The overwhelming feeling was against a development that would change the character of their neighbourhood. I hope that the concerns of the public will be taken into account through the planning process.”

Sunnybank resident Roy Smith said: “There were so many residents at the meeting that the room was completely full.

“These people were there to voice their opinions on why they did not want a retail outlet to be built on the site of the local bakery. Many issues were discussed on why another retail outlet is not needed on Sunnybank Road as there are already four retail outlets nearby. Bury Council should give its support to local retailers, which is what local residents want.”

Bury planning committee is set to make a decision at its next meeting on November 16. The Bury Times was unable to contact North Hold Group.