A COUNCILLOR has slammed the local authority for the way it informed people of new development plans in his ward.

A number of residents are annoyed over the way they found out about a planning application to build six two-bedroom flats on a council-owned car park off Harewood in Astley Village.

Coun Mark Perks, who serves Astley and Buckshaw ward on Chorley Council, said he believed the authority had slipped up.

Coun Perks, who sent ideas for the land to be used for football, netball and basketball pitches to the council, said: "I am surprised and annoyed the council would consider building flats on this car park before helping residents provide sports facilities for a community that has nothing for young people or adults."

He said Astley Village Parish Council received a notice on December 21, giving them six days to object, and that a single notice on a lamp-post close to the car park was not good enough.

He said: "A notice could have been displayed in the community centre. I feel more than one poster on a lamp-post should have been displayed."

However, Alan Croston, head of the council's planning services, said the public had been notified in accordance with usual procedures.

Mr Croston advised people with comments on the plans to write to the authority's planning services department before Tuesday, January 21.