Controversial decision to lease historic building will not be reconsidered

stables

Cheshire East Council will not reconsider their controversial decision to lease one of the town's oldest buildings to a Stockport-based construction company.

Two community groups had hoped to transform the derelict Rectory Stables, which is situated adjacent to Wilmslow Leisure Centre Car Park, into a community hub.

Wilmslow Trust and Transition Wilmslow submitted a bid to Cheshire East to convert the stables to provide a meeting room that could seat 30-40 people and exhibition space for information on the town's local heritage. However, they were unsuccessful.

Instead, Cheshire East Council selected Lyme Design and Build Limited and have agreed to enter into a 10 year lease with the company, which proposes to use the site for an office and storage.

Some local residents who expressed their disappointment at the decision requested that ward councillor Rod Menlove call-in the decision so the development can be given more public consideration.

Pete Taylor said "Given that the Wilmslow Town Council is fully supporting a Neighbourhood Plan initiative and given the interest in the stables building demonstrated by the local-interest societies I would request that this decision is called-in and some time allowed for an open and transparent public consultation on the best use of this historic building."

As a result of the request, Councillor Rod Menlove submitted a call-in request but this was not accepted.

Councillor Menlove explained "The call-in request has not been accepted. The grounds are that it was not a valid notification and that it does not appear that CEC has breached any legal obligation to consult."

He added "This is my first such call-in and the fact is that the notification process requires the support of six councillors. This information is on the form and was a complete surprise to me. I use the planning call-in procedure quite often and this is valid with the support of a single councillor. I made the wrong assumption that the procedure would be the same.

"Nevertheless I sent in the form with the supporting email (from Pete Taylor) in the hope that there might be some flexibility. Clearly there was no time to contact five other councillors to explain the matter and to gain their support. Unfortunately the Monitoring Officer has no flexibility.

Cllr Menlove continued "He did offer that inadequate consultation might be a valid ground for call-in. However, from the limited information in the email chain it did not appear to him that CEC had breached any legal obligation to consult."

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Rectory Stables
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Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

DELETED ACCOUNT
Thursday 2nd February 2017 at 3:50 pm
The fact that the meeting by Cheshire East to decide this was 23/01/17 and the final date for call-in was 30/01/17 really tells you everything you need to know. The key question is, - who is the Councillor responsible for Regeneration who accepted that it was appropriate to only leave 1 week for "call - in"?
Roger Bagguley
Thursday 2nd February 2017 at 4:10 pm
Think a call in request needs to be supported by 6 residents contacting their Ward Councillor not 6 councillors. We are frequently let down by proceedure that favours the establishment and fails the people.
Terry Roeves
Thursday 2nd February 2017 at 4:33 pm
CEC do not want Wilmslow people to do anything other than be a cash cow.
This remains the excellent project that it was. CEC did absolutely nothing about this building until Wilmslow people had a vision for it.
Then to ruin it, CEC came up with a wholly inappropriate useage, just to prevent some degree of independent thought and action going ahead by people who have pride and care for our town.
No shame. Not deserving of anyone's vote.
Pete Taylor
Tuesday 7th February 2017 at 9:23 am
@Jackie Pass, the person responsible is Don Stockton, Cllr. for Lacey Green.
As far as I can tell he has never posted a comment, or reply to a question, on this website, or on Lisa's Alderley website (which is where he lives).
Estelle Lewis
Wednesday 8th February 2017 at 7:57 pm
Oh yes, we need more offices .......... there's not enough of them ............. I am of course being facetious, it would be interesting to know the amount of empty offices there are in the country. I see signage all over the place in my travels of offices to rent.
Lisa Wood
Thursday 9th February 2017 at 10:55 am
Estelle I fully agree with you. This location and building would have been perfect for a meeting centre for Wilmslow people. It never ceases to amaze me the decisions that CEC make when it comes to businesses in Wilmslow.