As a commentator on local affairs I've observed the relationship between developers and council for many years. During that time I've seen developers grow exceedingly rich, landowners transform their fields into a lottery win while local residents got shafted.
I know the process. I've seen it too many times to be hoodwinked. It usually starts with some innocuous 'consultation.' In reality it's the first step of a softening-up exercise aimed at flushing out those who may object.
It all sounds innocent enough with 'transparency' being the buzz-word. In reality it's a probing exercise to test the strength of local resistance.
Sometimes the proposals that materialise suit the council (council offers planning consent in exchange for some strategic site they wish to acquire). When this occurs residents are bamboozled with technicalities and it's a straight run to the finish line.
Occasionally the plans proposed are rejected by both council and community but once in the public arena they rarely disappear.
So I feel more than a twinge of anxiety when I learn that Alderley Parish Council is 'listening' to Peter Higham acting agent for landowners and developers with an interest in land around the village.
As usual it's 'purely an information seeking exercise' and while I have the utmost regard for those brave councillors who formed Alderley Edge First I do not wish to see them blind-sided. Experience has taught me that all manner of 'incentives' and 'assurances' will be offered during negotiations but once the deal is done... all bets are off.
Retrospective planning consent and 106 Agreements can always be employed to work around any constraints. These are tactics at which large developers excel. They have experience, deep pockets and influence in areas where local communities do not.
The whole of Cheshire (if not the UK) is watching the newly formed Alderley Parish Council. They must not be deceived by their own naivety. There is no such thing as a cosy chat with developers. They're just gauging how big a steamroller they need to roll over you.
I'm sure Alderley councillors have the very best of intentions but they need to know how the game is played. They cannot afford to learn from experience.
They should not embrace any form of 'friendly relationship' it's a myth. Get every word 'on a voice recorder' and hire a good lawyer from the off.
As Winston Churchill famously said: "An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last."
The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of wilmslow.co.uk.
Comments
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These are the last thing developers want to build and they are being allowed to build whatever they want.
Once they acquire the land all bets are off.
Those in need of homes now will be no closer to owning one BUT some developers will make massive fortunes .
How gullible can government be?
There are signs there, but there were signs put up by Jones for Adlington Road development, but without permission. These were removed promptly, as there was no permission for them, where they were put. I have seen the signs of the intended Chelford Road site from the A34. Do they have permission?
Also , forgotten in the rush for all the developments in Alderley, Wilmslow and Handforth, has anyone enquired as to the capacities of water and sewage services, never mind the roads, because when these were built, all 23 places were consiedably smaller, and no public body thinks 20 years in advance. Confirmation of that will be the lack of electric supplies, maybe this winter, if very cold!
Your comment "market exists to make a profit" intrigues me. Maybe Vic's next article could look at where free market economics has been introduced into areas where making a profit isn't the aim of the enterprise. Things such as public sector services like
1) health care of those who do not have the income to pay for private healthcare (i.e. the NHS)
2) education of those that do to have the the income to pay for private education (i.e. Local Authority Schools in the 5 to 16 age range)
and the list goes on ....