Chester District
Appeal - Ashton Hayes Nursery School
CPRE objected to the construction of a new car park including hard surfaces & lighting, extending the built up area of the village into countryside protected by Green Belt. It would "urbanise" the locally distinctive rural character & setting of the village. The Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) planning committee refused permission & the applicant has appealed.
CPRE has sent a letter of objection to the Inspector.
Saighton Playing Fields
CPRE objected to the construction of a new primary school in Green Belt inappropriate development. The school was planned as part of the large housing development in the former Saighton Camp, a non Green Belt Site. The CWAC planning committee granted permission subject to the Secretary of State approval.
Delamere Forest
CPRE objected to the construction of 67 holiday cabins with associated infrastructure and 2 car parking spaces, each restricting unrestricted public access to the forest, as inappropriate development in the Green Belt. The CWAC planning committee refused planning permission.
Congleton District
Knud Moller has looked at the proposed Cheshire East Bus Survey, and is extremely concerned about the closure of bus services in the countryside. New ways must be found for servicing the countryside with transport, such as a voucher scheme to use taxis for the elderly.
Chester District
Chester air quality is now Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) designated. It was brought to our attention that the Middlewich Guardian recently published a story on an investigation into Cheshire East Council air quality data anomalies.
Vale Royal District
The planning application by Mr Verdin for house building in the Winsford area is now heading to the High Court in July and the decision could have consequences for the Local Plan.
It was reported that at Darnhall, a farmer had taken out a wood without planning permission some years ago, and now the new owner had now put in a planning application for ‘agricultural land improvement’. It is expected that this could be used as a two year dump and there could be drainage issues affecting the Winsford Flashes. The planning application is still pending.
Wirral Society
At Saughall Massie, we have formally objected to the re-application for the “Imposed” Fire Station on the Community at Saughall Massie. The planner has again approved, finding for destruction of the Green Belt.
We await the planning process of Planning Committee, site visit, re-scheduled Planning Committee. The Fire Brigade have carefully moved the car parking around to respond to the objection of the residents and re-applied.
At Eastham Village, we await the decision on the local Rugby Club’s application to sell off some of its land for housing to enable the club to continue financially. We have objected as the Green Belt is not to be destroyed just because an enterprise in in difficulties. We fear set a precedent and that there will be a repeat of the problem a few years down the road with yet more Green Belt sacrificed. This application is complicated by the inclusion of a replacement “Community Facility” for which our Council has pledged some £350,000 if it approves the planning application.
At Storeton Village there is an application for a housing development, the funds from which will come from “Enabling development” to facilitate the restoration of Storeton Hall, a listed historic building. We believe that a few houses may be justified but not a small estate. “Enabling Development” seems to be a new mechanism for the destruction of the Green Belt. Unfortunately, in this case if the application is not approved then there is the threat of the Hall falling into dereliction and becoming unsafe.
At Thornton Hough, there are proposals by a “Retirement Complex” developer to develop flats and assisted living accommodation all on the Green Belt in this historic village. We have contacted the two opposing community groups and hope that they work together and that we can assist in opposing the Application when it arrives sometime before the beginning of September 2017.
In Hoylake, the Hoylake Golf Resort application process continues. The scheme is currently in the process of being technically assessed. A local group, Stop Holy Lake Golf Resort, continues to fight against the application.
Wirral Council are still working on the Local Plan, the latest date now in 2018! Perhaps the existence of the Metro Mayor, Steve Rotherham will mean it will be dropped or re-shaped when the Metro Mayor gets strategic powers.
