I WOULD like to air my views on the proposed plans to build 470 waterfront homes from the new houses on Pennington Wharf all the way along the canal to the new roundabout at what was the Sportsman, via a new road which will run through the new development, making a fourth arm to this roundabout which is already congested going into Leigh.

I attended the planning committee meeting on August 16 and was allowed to speak for four minutes to express objections to the plans.

Prior to this the planning officer, Mike Worden, showed the committee the outline plans for the development, together with photographs of the site.

No mention was made of our properties which border the new development at the lowest point – Norley Road/Johnson Close, Common Lane, Jessica Way etc.

Instead photographs were shown of the site for the new roundabout on Plank Lane near the Nevison pub and the roundabout at the Sportsman and then just green fields and views over the canal to Pennington Flash.

No photographs showed our bungalows, which back onto this development at the lowest point.

The houses then rise up to the banks of the canal, so we will be totally overlooked and our views of the fields will be gone.

One of the councillors said what a lovely site it is, with wonderful views over the canal.

Unfortunately the residents in the properties at the bottom of the site will lose their view, privacy and quiet area to be replaced by rows and rows of houses, roads etc.

The site contains mature trees of more than 40 years old. I presume most of these will be lost to make way for the site.

Despite our objections on the day and letters and a petition with 147 signatures on it against this development, it was still given the green light by all councillors present for the outline plans, admittedly with lots of conditions.

But we still feel that we have not been listened to and the supposed consultation was just a paper exercise.

The site behind Norley Road/Johnson Close was filled in in the late 1970s with all the waste from the pits.

During this time black dust covered all the houses in the area.

This will now be disturbed once more.

We also have concerns regarding flooding as our properties are at the bottom of the site and we already have a high water table with our gardens flooding frequently, and many of us have water under our bungalows.

So what will happen when all these homes/roads etc are added?

Apparently adding a fourth arm to the roundabout at the Sportsman will make the traffic flow better, despite a potential 470 more cars travelling into it.

They say they are going to change the sequence of the lights at Atherleigh Way to help this.

If this does eventually get full planning permission, which I think it will, things will never be the same again in our area.

Norley Road resident