PLANNING councillors have been accused of not bothering to step off a bus to look at the site of a controversial new shopping centre and community hall for Lowton -- because it was raining.

Objectors who gathered a 1,700 name petition and sent 108 letters of objection claim the decision makers did not want to get wet during a site visit before approving the plans.

Protester Stan Powell, 66, of Rosedale Avenue, watched as the councillors arrived on a chartered bus but did not get out.

They later rejected objections and approved the plans for the new large Norwest Co-op store, vets surgery, shop and community centre on Church Lane. Mr Powell claimed the councillors had already made up their minds about their decision before the site visit.

He said: "I saw the bus arrive and I saw it leave and no one got off. The windows were misty and I fail to see how they could have seen anything at all of the site."

And he says he was told to go away when he knocked on the door of the bus to ask to point out various parts of the site to councillors -- which local residents are entitled to do.

But a council spokesman denied that planning councillors could not see the proposed development site. He added that it was usual for councillors not to leave their bus if the weather was bad on site visits.

Protesters say the land opposite St Luke's Church has been used for the past 40 years as a play area for children.

They accuse the council of riding roughshod over the wishes of local people who want to keep it as open space.

Objectors have vowed to appeal against the council's decision.

But deputy council leader Tom Sherratt said he was looking forward to seeing the shops built by Christmas after assurances by developer Marshgate Developments. And the Wigan councillor, who has lived in Lowton for all of his 53 years, promised that the new large Norwest Co-op store, vets surgery, shop and community centre on Church Lane would form the heart of a "divided" community.

He rejected the huge petition and claimed some of the letters had come from outside the area.

Cllr Sherratt said: "The letters are from all over the country although I haven't seen the petition. Lowton has always been split into three districts and with the building of the A580 it was cut right in two again. It will provide a real sense of community."

He added that a shopping mall had always been intended for Lowton to provide facilities for residents.

There were once children's swings and slides on the site but were taken away by the council. But Cllr Sherratt claimed that local residents had objected to plans less than eight years ago to turn the land into a proper park with a play area.

And he added the land was "abused" by dog owners who allowed their pets to use the field as a toilet.

Members of the public attended the meeting of the development committee to show their objections to the scheme and a delegate was allowed to speak to councillors.