A BOSS at a leading estate agent fears property prices could drop 10 to 15 per cent if a transit site is built close by.

The council has not confirmed where the site will be located after setting aside £2 million in its budget but said it will not be built close to Bennett's Rec in Padgate after it had been claimed it would be based there.

But Kirsty Rogers, branch manager of Entwistle Green, based on Sankey Street, believes homeowners could suffer if their property is situated near a camp in the future.

"It will have an effect on house prices and there are concerns but until it happens we just have to see," she said.

"We want people to get on the market but this could make people be very careful when investing.

"On the higher end of the market it would have a huge impact and it is hard to say but could knock 10 to 15 per cent off a house price.

"If there was a house going for £300,000, it would not sell for that much."

A number of Padgate residents have contacted Poulton North councillor Billy Lines-Rowlands over their concerns over house prices, while Cllr Kevin Bennett (TUSC – Fairfield and Howley) has also been dealing with many e-mails over the matter.

Cllr Lines-Rowlands remains adamant that the Padgate site 'is not fit' for a transit camp but wants to see 'hard evidence' of how the introduction of one in the town would affect house prices.

"I am being as honest as I can with residents and doing as much research as I can," he added.

"The issue I have with estate agents is that they are working on a commission and want to sell houses for as much as they can – house prices go up and down all the time so I am sceptical about what has been said.

"But people are allowed to be worried about house prices and it is natural to be.

"I would be interested to see if an organisation would be willing to really study this issue without being prejudice.

"But whatever the case it is absolutely key for me to report to my residents with the information I have and I will continue doing that."