RESIDENTS turned out in force for a meeting about proposals to build more than 600 new houses on the former Whittingham Hospital site, near Preston.

Preston City Council planners now have until March 3 to make a decision over the site or the matter will be taken out of their hands by central government.

The plans, submitted by the NHS, will see houses, a school, playing fields and a road built, along with the controversial Broughton bypass.

But many locals were angry the meeting had taken place so late in the planning process.

Andrew Baxendale, chairman of the Goosnargh and Whittingham Action Group, said: "Preston planners have had the plans since November 2001. That's 14 months but this is the first time they have come down to speak to the residents. And they have got to make a decision in two weeks.

"Let's not make a spur of the moment decision. Let's get everyone together. We are just asking the planning department to let this community affect what is happening to it."

The NHS already has permission to build the houses on the site, after a decision made by the Secretary of State in 1998. But Preston City Council has the final say over details including how the new homes will look.

If the plans are passed, a new 210-place primary school will be built, and before more than 150 houses can be put up, the Broughton bypass has to be started.

But Whittingham Parish Councillor Stan Hunter, said: "We want quality of houses not quantity. We've got a community village, people think it's great and want to live here. We don't want it ruined."

Preston City Council's planning committee will consider the application again on March 3.