THE BATTLE to stop plans to replace a village pub with a £1.4 million housing scheme took a new turn this week. Developers put forward their third plan so far.

Villagers in Summerseat were furious with the latest bid to replace the Waterside Inn. Since the plans came to light last October they have launched their own SOS campaign: Save Our Summerseat.

Wirral-based Landmark Developments have now presented Bury Council's planning department with three full planning applications.

Two were withdrawn and revised and none has yet been before a planning committee.

The latest plan is to build seven houses on the car park, rather than the 17 planned, and convert the pub into ten flats. Villagers have claimed since October that such a development would adversely affect wildlife, lead to parking, traffic and bus access problems as well as being a blot on the picturesque landscape of Summerseat.

Mr Paul Walsh, a leading campaigner with SOS, said: "We were quite disheartened to receive notification that new plans had been submitted again.

"But at the same time, because of the objections, the application has been changed, albeit very little, and delayed, which is quite a positive thing for us."

He urged residents to continue to write letters of objections, which he said were "vital" to stopping the development from going ahead.

"The plans are outrageous," said Mr Walsh, of Hill Street, Summerseat, "They do nothing to enhance the area and are not sympathetic to the area. They take away from the village its only community facility."

He continued: "The file of objections against the plans is at least 18 inches thick and it cannot be ignored. It is very important for people to continue writing in with their objections. I will be talking to Bury Council conservation officer."

A spokesman for Landmark Developments Ltd said that the latest application was as a result of consultation with various bodies including the planning authority and the Environment Agency.

"The residents concerns are unfounded. This application will lead to a reduction in traffic and not detract from the area," he said.