HUNDREDS of residents turned out to hear about major house building plans in two different parts of the Bolton borough.

Public meetings were held in Westhoughton and Astley Bridge concerning the controversial Greater Manchester Spatial Framework plan — which could lead to thousands of homes being created in green spaces in both wards.

More than 250 people packed into High Lawn School to hear more about how they could be affected by the draft housing plans — including a potential 1200 new homes in sites in Belmont Road near Horrocks Fold and in Thornham Drive.

Both sites are in the green belt but have been earmarked for development in Bolton’s draft framework plan.

Local Cllr John Walsh was one of the chairs of the meeting, he said people were clear in sharing their concerns about the plans.

He said: “I think the fact that more than 250 people turned up on the night shows that residents are now really concerned about what is being proposed and feel very strongly.

“The infrastructure is just not there and there are other major concerns such as school places.”

The current consultation period for Bolton residents to object finishes on December 23 but council leader Cliff Morris — who is one of ten Greater Manchester leaders to have a vote on the proposals — indicated at a recent meeting that he may try to get that date pushed back.

Warren Fox, a Liberal Democrat campaigner in Astley Bridge said: “I would still urge everyone to get their objections in as soon as possible and we have also put up petitions around businesses in the area.”

Elsewhere, at Westhoughton’s Carnegie Hall, about 200 equally concerned residents attended a meeting.

Westhoughton is another of the areas that could be most affected by the Spatial Framework plan, with huge housing plans including Chequerbent and Hulton Park.

Cllr David Chadwick, who chairs the Hulton Area Residents Together group, which hosted the meeting, said: “I think people are still feeling a bit in the dark so we are aiming to give them as much information as possible.”