CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a hotel and country club in Ramsbottom have been refused.

More than 600 objections were lodged against the plans for the 23-bedroom hotel and country club on land off Ripon Hall Avenue, on the Whittingham Drive estate.

The plans, which were submitted to Bury Council in October, included leisure facilities, a restaurant and bar, three function rooms and car parking.

But council officers have refused planning permission on the grounds that the development would be detrimental to traffic in the surrounding area.

They added: “The proposed development would involve the introduction of an isolated commercial use into a residential area, to the detriment of nearby residents, and would result in an intensification of the use of the surrounding residential estate roads, which are inadequate in terms of width and alignment in relation to the commercial traffic that would be generated by the proposal."

Officers also described the car parking provision outlined within the plans as ‘inadequate’ and ‘would likely lead to vehicles parking and carrying out manoeuvres on the highway to the detriment of the free flow of traffic and road safety’.

Ramsbottom councillor Rob Hodkinson hailed the decision 'a victory for common sense'.

He added: "I am delighted it has been refused because it has upset a lot people.

"There has been more than 600 objections and I think the grounds for rejection were comments made by objectors.

"It is a commercial venture and it should never have been put on a residential estate. There is only one way in and out with more than 1,000 houses."

Similar proposals for the site were submitted in 2017, but were withdrawn months later after more than 500 objections from angry residents.