A farming family in Handforth are furious after finding out "through the grapevine" that a developer is planning to build a path through the middle of their farm.
David Wilson Homes has submitted a planning application for a new residential development of 174 homes on land north of Stanneylands Road, behind Wilmslow Garden Centre and south of Bridge Farm in Handforth.
The 14.62 hectare site, which is currently used for grazing/paddocks, has been removed from the Green Belt and included in the Cheshire East Local Plan as a site suitable for building up to 200 homes.
David Wilson's scheme includes a new three-armed roundabout providing access to the site from Stanneylands Road, public open space, a new foot and cycle path connecting Linneys Bridge and Manchester Road along with a new pedestrian and cycle bridge across the River Dean to the council owned land to the north of the site which is occupied by Bridge Farm - the only remaining farm in Handforth.
The Shenton family have rented the land off the Council for over 60 years and Chris Shenton, who lives there with his wife Debbie and youngest daughter Holly, has run the farm and the farm shop for over 40 years - helped by his son Mark and and his middle daughter Lisa who also lives in Handforth and helps out in the farm shop.
The family run business breeds sheep and cattle - including a prize winning herd of Blondes which has the Cheshire Farm's competition for the last two years and in 2012 the cattle won the National Blonde Herd competition.
Debbie Shenton told wilmslow.co.uk "The impact on the farm if the bridge/path goes across the land would be that the land would be unsuitable to graze with cattle and sheep, because we put newly calved cows with calves at foot, working stock bulls and tups ready for the breeding season on this land. All livestock can be unpredictable and be easily spooked or charged if chased."
Despite being council tenants for decades, neither Cheshire East Council or David Wilson Homes consulted them on these plans - instead they were left to hear about it from other people - subsequently they have contacted both the developer and Council for clarification of their plans but have not received a response from either party to their enquiries. They also contacted their land agent from Cheshire East Council who informed them that he knew nothing of the plans.
Debbie Shenton said "We have had no notice written or verbal about the bridge/path. A site plan which is in the planning application clearly shows a new bridge over the River Dean on to our side of the river.
"We feel that there is an alternative route that the path/bridge could take, that would not affect our grazing land. Our suggested route would cross the river at the bottom of Dobbinets Brook, from the Stannylands side to link into Handforth Woods and lead on to Sagers Road - thus leading into Handforth Village and extend to the back of the garden centre's existing path to lead on to Manchester Road."
According to the Design and Access Statement (which, in error, includes two photos of land at Bridge Farm instead of David Wilson's land) "The proposed development will provide a multi-user route through the site. This route will provide a connection between Linneys Bridge and Manchester Road, including a new bridge crossing across the River Dean, improving accessibility to Handforth town centre and the railway station."
wilmslow.co.uk approached both Cheshire East Council and David Wilson Homes who confirmed that the bridge and route of the path are now being discussed and yes it does look likely that the path will cross through Bridge Farm.
A spokesperson for Cheshire East Council said "Yes, CEC has agreed that Wilson Homes can build a path over the river. The details of the bridge and the route of the path are currently being discussed."
He added "It does seem that they weren't told which is regrettable.
"There's no statutory obligation to say they should have been but even so, naturally it should not have been the beyond the wit of man to keep them informed."
A spokesperson for David Wilson Homes said, "Providing a cycle/footpath from the Stanneylands development across the River Dean to Manchester Road is a requirement of the Local Plan policy that allocates this Stanneylands Road site for residential development, and is therefore a planning requirement for this scheme. The precise route will be for Cheshire East Council to determine."
Debbie Shenton said "We are mad that we have not been informed about the bridge/path. We have not had a fair chance or opportunity to have our say or put our points of view across.
"We heard about the plans through Handforth Planning Committee and village gossip, I can not stress enough that we have not had written notice at all."
David Wilson's plans for 174 homes at Stanneylands can be viewed on the Cheshire East Council website by searching for planning reference 17/4521M.
The deadline for commenting on this planning application has been extended to Wednesday, 11th October, after local resident Julian Barlow discovered a discrepancy in the cut off date for submitting comments regarding this development.
On the Cheshire East Council website the cut off date for all comments was stated as being 5/10/17. However, on the notifications posted locally on lamp posts, the final date was stated as being 11th October so the deadline was subsequently changed.
Photos: The Shelton Clan, four generations aged from one to nighty three years young. The blonde cattle.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
This should also now be referred to Dept of Communities and Local Government who are already closely watching CEC .
Perhaps one of the Cllrs concerned can now give a pubic explanation ?? This should be raised on 10/10/17 at next CEC meeting @ Westfields as a matter of significant public concern.
It's time for council leader Rachel Bailey to show some back bone and, in her own words "ensure that the countryside and open spaces in Cheshire East are managed prudently". There has been no evidence of this so far in the Great Green Belt Give Away.
An accident or roadworks maybe?
No just the sheer volume of traffic.
To make matters worse desperate drivers are now resorting to the narrow side lanes to get through and cut out bottle necks.
And of course that's without the extra traffic generated by the following over developments:-
Little Stanneylands
Heathfield Farm Dean Row
Dean Coppice
Royal London
Sagars Road
Threat of a 50 percent bigger Lidl on Summerfields Village Dean Row to replace Energie Fitness Centre
East Handforth Village on A34
Fully occupied Bollin Park and Woodford Garden Village
We are fast heading for gridlock.
Please Cheshire East when considering planning applications listen to residents and take a more joined up holistic view on the impact on the road network.
Pollution and concreted greenbelt issues aside, one day there will be an accident and emergency services will get stuck. I hope it's neither me nor my loved ones that perish ...
Anyway, here is a direct link to the planning application on CE website: http://planning.cheshireeast.gov.uk/applicationdetails.aspx?pr=17/4521M.
Simply click "Comment on this application" on the right hand side.
Sure it's a bit underhanded but without this path then all of that land is just for the farmers and their families to enjoy while everyone else has to walk the streets or small crappy areas of woodland or tiny parks.
It's just one path not all of the field, there are plenty of grazing areas which are right next to public paths so not sure why this one would attract any issues not already present on others.
There are plenty of walks and runs around Wilmslow and Handforth that avoid the roads and "crappy areas of woodland". I am relatively new to the area and and still discovering new places.