A NEIGHBOURHOOD watch group has criticised Wigan Council for giving the green light for a controversial housing development to be built, saying the decision could endanger residents.

Following a planning committee meeting the council has approved an application from Bellway Homes to build 99 homes to the west of Tiverton Avenue in Hindley Green after conducting a site visit.

A petition with 119 signatures and 33 letters from residents contesting the 2.84-hectare development had been sent to the council.

Residents called for access proposals to be changed to enable vehicles to enter the new site from Corner Lane rather than by Tiverton Avenue being extended.

But the council has rejected concerns over the effects of an increase in traffic around Tiverton Avenue and Harbern Drive and approved the original access plans.

Terry Pemberton, a Taunton Avenue resident who co-ordinates the local Home Watch scheme, believes the increased traffic could put residents' safety at risk.

He said: “This estate has been a quiet and safe place for families with young children who ride their bikes and play in safety.

"Roads in the area were not designed for this volume of traffic.

“They are building 99 new homes so there will be at least two cars per home, which will lead to around 200 vehicles entering and exiting Harbern Drive.

“Some of these councillors who voted have shown no consideration to the residents of this estate.

“Wigan Council is not listening to its people.”

A council planning report said: “The access arrangements will create additional vehicle movements along the established cul-de-sac links in Tiverton Avenue, Taunton Avenue and Harbern Drive.

"However the increase in vehicular traffic is not envisaged to have such an impact on residential amenity to justify seeking alternative access arrangements or resisting the proposal."

Greater Manchester mayor and former Leigh MP Andy Burnham joined councillors in raising concerns about how the development would affect traffic around Tiverton Avenue and Habern Drive.

Last July angry residents protested against Bellway Homes waggons illegally accessing a public footpath near the site.

They blockaded the normally quiet Tiverton Avenue cul-de-sac with their cars to prevent construction vehicles crossing the path.

Police were called to calm the situation down.

At the time the council admitted Bellway Homes did not have a permit to use the footpath to access the site, where it had wanted to carry out survey work.

The Greater Manchester Spatial Framework aims to allow 25,000 new homes to be built by 2035.