A SCHEME to build two dozen homes on a petrol station site has been put on hold while planners get to the root of a drainage problem.

Harlor Homes' plans to build on the former New Island service station alongside the East Lancashire Road at Lowton has been deferred for three weeks.

People living near the service station site, about 130 metres from the Newton Road junction with the A580, raised a number of objections concerning loss of trees, potential drainage problems and possible fuel contamination because of the site's former use.

Hope Carr Cllr Mark Hale at Tuesday's development control committee meeting said there was concern as to whether tree roots had damaged drains in the area.

The application was deferred pending further investigation.