Westhoughton councillors angered over La Scala plans

The plans concerned the former La Scala building at 49 Chorley Road in Westhoughton, which is being converted into a set of self-enclosed offices.

Though it was deemed that developers would not need planning permission for this work, Westhoughton Town Council contacted Bolton last week over what they deemed unwarranted damage to the building’s windows.

“Cllr Gillian Wroe said: “When I read the documents today it says ‘on the 23rd of April it was approved by John Dyson.’”

“So it’s already been approved?”

Cllr David Wilkinson responded: “If you look on weekly lists of planning approvals you will see that it says ‘not development’.

“So it doesn’t fall within the planning remit as its basically just…”

Plans show the layout of the offices (Image: Bolton Council)

But Cllr Wroe was still confused by the way it had been handled.

“But it was sent to us, so we put it on the agenda last week.”

Cllr Wilkinson agreed with Cllr Wroe’s frustrations.

“I think it is a bit naughty to send us something then approve it before we even have any discussion about it,” he said.

“And I think we need to identify that, although it’s a technicality that the planning department came in and said ‘not development’, we haven’t even made any comment on it.

“We have looked at it, and it is repairs to the windows, but it’s a bit irritating when you get asked and they tick it off the list before you say anything.”

Cllr Wroe moved on to discussing the windows, which were a topic at the previous council meeting.

This is because the original plans to turn the building into a shop were rejected as they risked damaging the building’s historic façade.

Aerial view of the property at 49 Chorley Road (Image: Bolton Council)

The plans were then changed and resubmitted – the new plans only involving changes to the building’s interior.

But this work involved making alterations to the building’s windows, which Westhoughton residents felt was incompatible with the original goal of protecting the façade.

After the last meeting, Westhoughton’s town clerk wrote to Bolton Council to let them know the façade was being damaged, potentially contrary to the planning permission.

No response has yet been received from Bolton Council.