Numerous residents in the Church Road district of Astley signed a petition objecting to development plans for a small field bordering the conservation area, Church Road and the Stour Road estate.

To make suitable access to the planned 21 home estate developers Redwaters construction plan to demolish two pre-war semis -- numbers 200 and 202 Church Road -- almost opposite Coach Road.

One objector told the Journal : "We think we are just about at saturation point as regards housing in this area. These plans are not in keeping with the area and it seems to us with what has happened with development in The Meads is no point in having a conservation area."

Church Road resident Geoff Pennington said he felt the land earmarked for development was too small for the number of homes proposed. He feared further traffic disruption on Church Road which he said had increased since traffic calming measures had been introduced in Princes Avenue.

Cllr Steve Hellier said he had been approached by objectors but said he could not comment on the matter until it was referred to development control committee.

He said: "We did lose an appeal against the construction of a small number of houses very close to this but within the conservation area in the grounds of The Meads."

A Wigan planning department spokesman confirmed that the proposed 21 home development site was outside the conservation area.