Neighbours left in dark over new housing plans in Wigan

Documents have been submitted to the town hall to convert the former Coaching Inn Hotel, on Warrington Road, Ince, into a 24-bedroom HMO (House of multiple occupation).

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But Alan Ainscough, who lives in the adjacent Cemetery Road, says only one property on the street received a notice of the planning application.

He said: “The letter was only sent to the first house on the street.

“They haven’t told anybody else on the road.

“I am only two houses down, so it does involve me.”

Mr Ainscough, a self-employed tradesman, was concerned the lack on information given to residents meant they might not be able to oppose the plans, given the looming December 22 deadline to report any concerns.

He claimed: “They are trying to get away with it before we can oppose it.

“We would miss points that could have an impact on us. My concern is that if it is a 24 room place, there won’t be room for 24 cars.

“Sometimes I already struggle to park in front of my house.

“If they want this, there should be some sort of residents-only parking.

“There’s been a spate of vehicle break-ins recently. If they think I’m parking my van all the way down the road they can think again.

“We just want to keep the street as it is.

“We already have wagons going up and down all day.”

The application has been submitted by Prestwich-based firm Debtal Architecture. The former Victorian hotel and pub went under the hammer in August of this year, having been family-owned and run for more than 30 years.

It was put on the market after the family owners decided to retire.

Marie Bintley, assistant director for growth and housing at Wigan Council said: “In line with our published code of practice, we will always write directly to properties that immediately adjoin the site of a planning application.

“In this particular instance, there is only one property immediately adjoining the site of the Coaching Inn Hotel and we can confirm that the occupier has been written to.

“Any residents who wish to make a comment on a planning application is entitled to do so. A site notice will be placed in the area shortly, which will give residents a further 21 days to make any comments, all of which will be taken into account.”