A BOROUGH councillor has stressed that ‘plans’ for 200 new homes in Cliviger and Worsthorne, after several sites were earmarked as part of Local Plan consultations, are still ‘purely speculative’.

Council planning chiefs are seeking views on a range of sites which may be allocated for housing — and must determine a suitable location for a permanent travellers’ camp.

The first draft of the plan has pinpointed the potential for 136 properties at Red Lees Road, Cliviger, another 130 at Butchers Farm, Worsthorne, 64 around Brownside Road, Worsthorne, and another 53 homes in Lennox Street.

But Coun Andrew Newhouse, who represents Cliviger and Worsthorne, said: “This is still very speculative and would need to get through the planning process.

“These sites should only be developed if there is a need for such housing, at the right time and in the right place, and the local infrastructure could cope. Some of the areas included have been selected in the past, and never been developed.”

One of the sites, near Brownside Road, had already been rejected for housing on a number of occasions, he added. The Worsthorne consultation will take place at the Reading Rooms tomorrow between noon and 2pm, then from 4.30pm to 7pm, followed by a meeting at the Thornton Arms pub, Brownside Road.

Another large area of land, behind Crow Wood Leisure Centre, has been suggested as the site for 280 properties.