TOWN Hall chiefs have been told ‘unacceptable’ issues with the council’s online planning system are denying residents of their democratic right to submit views.

The authority agreed to extend the consultation deadline on plans for a £180 million distribution hub on green belt land in south Warrington, from June 21 to June 24, following concerns.

But the ongoing problems have sparked anger among politicians and residents in the borough.

Cllr Sharon Harris (LD – Appleton) has raised the issue with Cllr Hitesh Patel (LAB – Great Sankey South) and other senior Town Hall figures.

In an e-mail to Cllr Patel, cabinet member for transformation, she expressed fears over the system’s inability to cope with ‘large numbers of submissions’ on key plans.

Cllr Harris said: “All of these are huge issues for residents and, if they have problems accessing the site or uploading their submissions because the system is overloaded, this is simply not acceptable.

“Some will be dissuaded from engaging with the process and this, in effect, is a denial of their democratic right to take part in the process due to WBC technical difficulties.

“It is not good enough to be told to try again later.

“I completely understand and sympathise with officers, who also encounter problems with the system within which they have to work.

“However, for residents and councillors representing them, the ability to engage with these huge planning issues is severely compromised and interferes with the democratic process.”

Town Hall chiefs were previously urged to tackle the ‘deep-rooted’ issues facing the council’s planning department.

It came after Colin Walker, who had been the development control manager for two years, left the authority in December.

The council has confirmed a development control manager has now been appointed and is due to start in August.

A spokesman added: “We are looking to improve the planning portal software as part of the Warrington 2020 programme in line with improving systems across the council.

“We will continue to support the existing system and would ask our customers to support us by reporting any problems they encounter so we can resolve them.”