SIMISTER villagers are encouraged to register their concerns over a proposed development on neighbouring land.

A pre-public inquiry meeting has been arranged by Rochdale Council on Tuesday, December 9 to discuss plans to develop a large industrial park on land near the Lancashire Health and Racquets Club in Rhodes.

Although the development comes under the authority of Rochdale, Simister residents fear the project will have a real impact on the village.

The village is served by an adopted highway from Heywood Old Road to Simister Lane with peak hour traffic prohibitions operating on Simister Lane at its junction with Blue Ball Lane.

Locals believe commuters could try to take a short cut through the village to the industrial park causing havoc for the people living there and having an impact on the environment.

Concerns were raised by Simister Village Association at a recent Prestwich area board meeting and while councillors sympathised with their worries, they assured residents that Bury Council had no plans to change the restrictions on the road.

Coun Keith Grime, chairman of the board said: "This beautiful village should stay protected and all Area Board members recognise the impact a new development built right on its fringes could have on Simister. We will be pressing Rochdale Council to take into consideration the views of Simister residents, particularly the entry and exit points for any proposed development so that they deter rather than encourage the use of Blue Ball Lane."

The meeting will be held in Rochdale Town Hall at 10am and residents are encourage to attend to raise any objections prior to the public inquiry in the new year.