CONCERNED residents were given a firm assurance from council leader Derek Boden that proper consultation would take place over Tesco's controversial proposals for Prestwich.

In an impromptu speech to Prestwich Area Board on Tuesday (Feb 13) night, Coun Boden made it clear that Bury Council would reserve judgement on the plan until proper procedures were carried out and added that residents would be kept informed.

He stressed: "We have no intention of excluding the people of Prestwich in making our decision. The council will make up its mind about the application when it gets the relevant information.

"We need to bear in mind the advice of planning officers and establish how it relates to the Unitary Development Plan. Until that time the council cannot take a position." The council leader was responding to Miss Gillian Boyle, secretary of Prestwich Residents' Association, who raised a number of questions regarding the store's application.

She said it had seemed to come "out of the blue" and wondered if "someone, somewhere" had been working or liaising with Tesco before an official plan was submitted. Where has it come from?" added Miss Boyle. "Someone here tonight said that it didn't matter what we said because councillors don't listen. Well she was quite right. Everything we said about the original application has come true. We said supermarkets would close and they have, and local businesses would be affected. We will get another Elms Precinct if this goes through!" More than 100 residents crammed into Heaton Park CP School for the public meeting and dominated the open forum section with objections relating to Tesco.

In January the supermarket giant submitted plans to expand the store, build 150 houses and introduce three retail units to complete the picture.

Many people raised concerns at the meeting about the impact of more traffic on the area and believed the development would serve to "kill off" Prestwich Village.

Coun Boden added: "With regards to the Elms Precinct the residents set up an action group that recognised the need not to just provide a development but to get one that would benefit the area.

"We are not trying to stop people expressing their views. That's what the area board is for. Let's set the record straight on that."