RED-FACED council planners have apologised to residents after letters notifying them of a major housing development went to the wrong addresses.

A plan to build 36 apartments on a former car centre in Ramsbottom was given conditional approval by councillors, before 18 neighbours even knew about it!

Now the council have owned up to their blunder and have agreed to reconsider their decision in the wake of protests from angry residents. Around 50 met this week to draw up their objections.

Mr Ged Leigh, of Heatherside Road, said: "The first we knew about it was when we read in the Bury Times that the application had been approved. We couldn't believe it, we didn't have a clue about it. "The lettters notifying us of the plans were apparently submitted to non-existent houses on Stubbins Lane."

A letter of apology from the planning department has been sent to 18 homeowners on Heatherside Road.

McDermott Development Ltd submitted the application to build the apartments on the site of the former Oakdene Sports Car Centre on Stubbins Lane.

The application, which councillors are "minded to approve" subject to a legal agreement with the developers for a financial contribution for open space in the area will be discussed for a second time on Thursday (Sept 6) to take into account the objections of residents.

A letter sent out to residents by the planning department stated: "It has been brought to our attention that we have not notified all the neighbours that we intended to. We accept that people living on Heatherside Road are aggrieved because they did not have an opportunity to make objections known to committee."

It added: "We apologise for getting things wrong and are trying to make things right."

Residents claim the apartments plan will have a detrimental effect on the area. They fear increased traffic on already congested roads and parking problems; destruction of trees and wildlife, devaluing of property and loss of privacy because of the block of flats.