CONTENTIOUS plans for homeless housing have been put on hold - 48 hours after hundreds of Howe Bridge objectors braved wind and rain in a demonstration against proposals to build 24 flats on the Briarcroft site.

On Saturday morning 350 people (some pictured) staged a peaceful demonstration over the English Churches Housing Association plan to build on the former Briarcroft youth club site in Leigh Road.

Residents joined parents and children from the village primary school and playgroup, scouts, guides and play group members.

On Monday a high level meeting took place between officers and Council leaders and Atherton councillors Joe Clarke, Sue Loudon and Jack Sumner.

Afterwards the Council announced its decision to defer the question of Briarcroft site use so a wider range of options could be explored.

In a joint statement the three councillors said:"We have been gathering information about the project and listening to the views of a wide range of people.

"As a result of these discussions we called a meeting of senior colleagues and council officers and have been able to persuade them that the best course of action is to put the project on hold while further options are explored.

"Hopefully people will realise this outcome is a direct result of their local councillors working on their behalf.

"Whatever proposals come forward as a result will be subject to full consultation with local residents."

After Cllr Loudon had handed him a letter advising of the deferment Howe Bridge Community Group chairman Bob Splaine said:"We intend to keep our protest going. Until this idea is dropped we are going to keep going.

"This is a conservation area and we don't think it is a suitable site for such a development.

"Briarcroft was a listed building which was neglected by the local authority.

"They had to knock it down because the Coal Authority would not accept it back in the condition it was in.

"I think there have been promises but it has backfired."

Villagers feared drunks, drug addicts and paedophiles would be their new neighbours.

And one protester suggested:"It is time the do-gooders began to look after decent members of society.

"The unit would cater not just for Atherton people but the homeless of the North West. You only need one drug addict in the proximity of so many young and vulnerable people and the problem escalates.

"We are told the unit would be covered by CCTV cameras.

"It is we who would need security cameras if this goes ahead."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.