NEIGHBOURS in Unsworth are protesting at plans to have their street turned into a thoroughfare for lorries.

More than 50 residents in Castle Road fear an endless stream of trucks will use the narrow country road to get to a planned food distribution warehouse near to Pilsworth Reservoir.

The original plans involved the trucks using a route leading to Pilsworth Road, away from the residential properties, but Bury Council and local police deemed it too narrow and the developers were forced to find an alternative route.

Householders in Castle Road are now urging people living in Parr Lane, Hollins Lane and Sunnybank Road, along with the parents of Castlebrook High School pupils, to fight the proposals.

One resident said: "What if there is an emergency at the cottages at the bottom or the roads are blocked? Not only will the emergency vehicles not be able to get through, but they may turn down other streets."

She added: "A major concern is the safety of the schoolchildren. Come hometime, it's chaos with pupils, coaches and cars everywhere. How can a lorry get down there safely? The kids think they are immortal, that they can step into the roads and traffic will stop for them."

The enterprise is owned by Garic Plant Hire chief Lorne Entwistle, who wants to use the warehouse for plant hire but has not yet succeeded in getting the go-ahead to change the original planning permission, granted 30 years ago, for a single-storey food distribution warehouse.

Mr Entwistle has met with residents to hear their concerns. He said: "I do feel for them and I would have the same concerns if I lived there, or if my children went to Castlebrook.

"We are sympathetic and are trying to work with the residents. We start work late in the morning and finish early in the evening.

"If I had the support of the residents, I could turn it into a Garic plant hire company instead of food distribution. The reality is, with Garic, 17 trucks would go out early in the morning and come back at early tea time. With a food warehouse, there could be more than 200 going by all day."

David McLenaghan, who lives opposite the development, said: "We want the traffic commissioners from the council to come and have a look for themselves. It's a very narrow road and only takes a bit of traffic to get extremely busy. Is it going to take a fatality for someone to say they shouldn't have got permission?"

Residents are now contacting the council's environment and planning departments, along with the Highways Agency. Parents of the schoolchildren have received a newsletter about the proposals, with details of how they can give their support.