A CAMPAIGN to stop Summerseat's popular Waterside Inn from closing to make way for a controversial £1.4 million housing development intensified this week after developers submitted new plans.

Villagers are drawing up new battle plans to fight the proposals to stop the listed building, in a prime conservation and Green Belt area, from being converted into 17 homes.

Wirral-based Landmark Developments Ltd has amended its original application to convert the Inn into eight luxury houses. Instead it wants to create ten flats and build 17 houses, one more than originally planned, on the nearby car park.

Concerned residents started an SOS campaign (Save our Summerseat) when the first application was lodged six months ago.

They complained the proposed development would adversely affect wildlife, and lead to parking, traffic and bus access problems which would lead to an increase in danger to children and pedestrians.

Mr Paul Walsh, chairman of the SOS campaign, told the Bury Times: "The plans are worse than the previous ones.

"There is now one extra housing unit but no extra parking spaces. Hill Street residents will now have a 20 foot high building just a few inches from the garden fence." The Waterside was owned by Carrisway before going into administrative receivership last year. Last May, Price Waterhouse Coopers appointed Marsden Inns to run the pub-restaurant .

However, residents claim the pub is trading successfully and because it is the village's only local amenity it should not be shut.

Mr Tony Tickle, head of the Tickle Group, an internet creative print consultancy firm based in the village, said if the development was given the green light then he would be forced to relocate.

He said: "This is a perfect location for our business. We moved here from Bury town centre four years ago because there was a car park. But unless the plans are refused we will have to move out of the area."

He added: "The new plans illustrate the developers are serious about their intentions. I just hope common sense prevails and Bury Council recognises the importance of the area as a conservation area and refuses the application."

Landmark Developments refused to comment on their amended application or the concerns of local people.