Decision to be made over controversial 84 home development next to Haydock Racecourse

A controversial housing development is due to be decided tomorrow with 120 objectors hoping it gets rejected. The 84-home plan submitted by Jockey Club Racecourses that run Haydock Racecourse in Wigan, which neighbours the proposed development, would also see two houses on Windsor Road demolished.

The site is currently used by the racecourse as an overflow car park on very few occasions throughout the year when meets take place. The two bungalows that would be demolished are also owned by the racecourse which borders Golborne, Ashton and Newton-le-Willows.

Traffic issues and poor road infrastructure are two of the key reasons why objectors want to see this application refused.

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“The local area cannot accommodate any more houses, our roads are already crowded and the potential for another 160 plus cars using Windsor Road and Heath Road are really not practical,” one objector said in a letter. “It's bad enough as it is with all of the school traffic and commuter traffic that passes through.

“I personally want to know why they keep pushing, trying to get an application through knowing full well the residents in the area are strongly opposed to this development. It should be put to bed once and for all and they should be told they cannot build on this piece of land.”

The traffic and road infrastructure issues raised by objectors were not shared by the highways team who raised no objections to the application as they believe this would not cause a significant impact on road infrastructure - a requirement for this to be deemed worthy of refusal. According to the officer’s report, “the principle of residential development is considered