A councillor representing residents protesting against “cruise liner” warehouses being built in Tyldesley has accused Wigan Council of delivering “only the bare minimum of [public] consultation” over planning applications required by law.

Coun Jess Eastoe was speaking at a full meeting of the authority when she laid out how she thinks the council must look at themselves and make changes to avoid the same backlash in future.

But, along with several other members addressing the issue, Coun Eastoe was repeatedly interrupted by mayor Coun Jenny Bullen, who said some of the comments were “not relevant”.

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Residents in Tyldesley are living in the shadow of gigantic warehouses being built right next to their properties

The chamber had been warned over Coun Eastoe’s motion asking the Government to step up the law on public consultation in its planning reform bill and that “specific applications” could not be discussed. She said only “planning applications in general” could be discussed.

However, Tyldesley and Mosley Common representative Coun Eastoe ploughed on, saying her motion was about community engagement in planning.

“Before we look at national reform, we must look at ourselves,” she said. “Our council already delivers only the bare minimum of consultation required by law – not meaningful engagement, not proactive communication, just the minimum.

“And because we operate the minimum, we end up with exactly what we see in Tyldesley, Mosley Common and Astley.

“Our ward could be a case study as to how things go wrong. These large-scale developments stand just 10 metres from family homes, towering over gardens, blocking out sunlight and dominating the skyline.”

She said that residents had been told that trees would mitigate the noise and visual impact, “mitigations that are often not delivered on”.

“Mitigation, such as trees, mounds or fences, is undelivered, and the trees are smaller than my Christmas tree. Residents feel deceived and rightly so,” she said.

After a second interruption from the mayor, Coun Eastoe continued: “Families have watched cracks appear in their walls. They’ve had homes shifted under pressure of heavy machinery and building works, and they have been told, ‘go through your own insurance’.

“Planning should not be a technical box-ticking exercise. It is meant to protect people’s lives, homes, health and well-being. And when residents raise alarms – about noise, dust, cracks, bunds, lighting, vibration – they expect a council that listens, investigates and advocates for them. Instead, they get one that hides behind process.”

She added: “Many people now believe that the council stands with developers rather than with them. That perception might be uncomfortable for the council, but it is real and it is widespread.”

There was loud applause across the chamber and from the public gallery following her comments.

The council agreed to Coun Eastoe’s motion, which resolved to write to the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, Steve Reed, stating that the proposed reforms to planning legislation risk weakening standards of public consultation further, “reducing transparency and opportunities for residents to have their say’’.

It urges the Government to “strengthen, not dilute democratic participation and ensure that local people have meaningful influence over development in their areas”.

The motion also calls for an “infrastructure first” approach to planning, which would mean roads, doctors’ surgeries and schools would be in place before development takes place.