New plans for gypsy site at Moor Lane

by Lisa Reeves

Tuesday 13^th November 2012

Tue 13^th Nov 2012

A second planning application has been submitted to Cheshire East Council (CEC) to build a gypsy site on Green Belt land to the north west of Moor Lane.

This is a resubmission of controversial plans to build a a gypsy site on the outskirts of Wilmslow, which were refused in July 2012.

Green Planning Solutions has submitted the application on behalf of Mr John Allan, who is seeking permission for one residential family pitch, a touring caravan and a utility/day room to provide facilities for stationed caravans.

Access to the 0.46 hectare site will be via Moor Lane and the development will be located approximately 40m from the entrance.

During July and August 2012 badger, reptile and water vole surveys have been carried out on the site which has five Local Wildlife Sites within 1km and immediately borders Saltersley Moss.

No reptiles were recorded, although common toads use the site, and no field signs of water vole or badger were found on the sites - two disused badger sets were found just outside the boundary and there are records of water voles in the adjacent Saltersley Moss.

The planning application, reference 12/4247M, can be viewed on the Cheshire East Council website.

The last date for submitting comments is 12th December and a decision is expected to be made by 1st January 2013.

The Council received over 600 letters objecting to the initial proposal (reference 12/1144M). Due to the significant local interest in the proposal the Head of Development referred the decision to the Northern Planning Committee.

Tags:: Cheshire East Council, Planning Applications

Comments

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

Kenneth Williams

Tuesday 13^th November 2012 at 4:25 pm

If this is a re-submission then nothing has happened to change the first rejection. It is still Green Belt land and needs to remain so.

Neil Matthews

Tuesday 13^th November 2012 at 4:51 pm

My thought exactly. I don't remember the need for extensive flora and fauna surveys; it was green belt the last time the application was made and it is still. In fact all the objections raised last time - 600 or more I believe - still stand.

Vince Chadwick

Tuesday 13^th November 2012 at 6:06 pm

I'd expect that any objections to the last application died with that application. Make sure you object again to this one; the ex-MP behind these applications knows what he is doing, and might be relying on folk thinking that if they've objected to the previous application, their objection stands against this one. It doesn't!

Make sure you lodge your objection to this application as well!

Keith Harris

Tuesday 13^th November 2012 at 7:48 pm

Again John Allan submits the same application in an attemp to wear Wilmslow residents down. Everyone that previously submitted letters and logged objections on the Cheshire East Website, unfortunately will now have to do this again, and right now. Perhaps there is a legal president for not submitting the same application twice unless there is a sufficient development in the application? Do we have any local planning law experts reading this?
To a layman, it looks like the same site, same green belt land and same gypsy camp they want to build there (oh and the same John Allan making this application). Let's see if any journalists out there wants to do an investigative piece on this gentleman? Maybe an interesting piece and stop this aggressive approach to installing travellers camps all round our country, and for some reason, especially Wilmslow!!

James Lamplugh

Tuesday 13^th November 2012 at 8:01 pm

I wil be registering my objection first thing tomorrow, has anyone heard if / when they will be reviewing the application at either Wilmslow Town Council or CEC? The collective voice was both impressive and effective during the last application.

David Probert

Tuesday 13^th November 2012 at 8:35 pm

This is long haul they will keep coming back - he Ex Lib Dem MP and the lawyers fronting Green Solutions are obviously making a good living out of exploiting European Human rights Legislation to force these applications through across the country against the wishes of local residents.

Eric Pickles recently announced new powers for Local Authorities to block applications of this kind which violate both Green Belt and the Local Plan - has anybody told Cheshire East?

Councillor Jones is on record as saying that Cheshire East is seeking a 'suitable' site for allocation to travelers to meet the demand in the country - we assume of course that he does not mean Moor Lane Wilmslow.

Stuart Redgard

Wednesday 14^th November 2012 at 3:15 am

The previous application (12/1144M) was addressed by the Northern Area Planning Committee of Cheshire East Council on 4th July 2012. The minutes of this meeting state:

That for the reasons set out in the report, that the application be refused for the following reasons:-

1. Insufficient ecological and tree information
2. Inappropriate development in the Green Belt and harm to openness

http://moderngov.cheshireeast.gov.uk/ecminutes/Published/C00000285/M00004339/$$$Minutes.doc.pdf

An article on this meeting was posted on this very website and can be found at
http://www.wilmslow.co.uk/news/article/6606/gypsy-site-plans-refused;

This article states:

"The proposal is therefore contrary to policies GC1 and DC31 of the Macclesfield Borough Local Plan, the National Planning Policy Framework and planning policy for traveller sites."

It is important to state that no changes have been made to these policies since 4th July 2012 and therefore the application should be refused again.

It is important to stress this when objecting to the new application (12/4247M)

http://planning.cheshireeast.gov.uk/applicationdetails.aspx?pr=12/4247M&query=cc64201ba34c4fa1a1da0271942563c4&start=&from=m

Simon Worthington

Wednesday 14^th November 2012 at 2:25 pm

Hopefully all who objected last time will do so again. Perhaps the female councillor from South Macclesfield who has stated "that she will vote in favour next time" can be named and shamed and excluded from voting on matters that are of no concern to her or those who voted her in. Perhaps her keeness to support these types of camps will ensure that her voters take note for the next elections or will she make clear that they are only to be built miles from where she lives.

Elaine Napier

Wednesday 14^th November 2012 at 4:35 pm

Councillor Jones is also on record as saying that Green Belt is sacrosanct in Cheshire East. Is that the same sacrosanct that means not negotiable for development?

Pete Taylor

Wednesday 14^th November 2012 at 11:19 pm

If folks have used this piece of land for "recreational purposes" unhindered for a certain length of time (can't remember how long) then an application can be made to designate it as a village green.

Friday 16^th November 2012 at 1:04 am

Today (15/11/12) I received a "standard letter" from Cheshire East about this application. I can ony assume that this is because I objected to the previous application. Therefore I assume that everybody else who objected with also receive the same letter.

Tom Mather

Friday 16^th November 2012 at 2:33 pm

Take the hint..... we dont want you in our town especially on a green belt site, these people should buy a house and pay council tax like everyone else

Ruth Murray

Friday 16^th November 2012 at 8:02 pm

The last time there was an Application submitted, I was told by somebody I spoke to, and I do not know if it is true, so I reserve judgement, and state it 'Without Prejudice' but this is what I was told, that because Ireland have banned gypsies entering Ireland they have applied to come to the UK, the EU has given Cheshire East Council £60M to have 12 sites in Cheshire, there are currently only 6 so they have to provide another 6, if they are not found the Council will have to return the money,on a few occasions, the gypsies have found more 'downmarket' areas to acquire sites, but the residents have banded together and forced to leave by having a very aggressive approach, and therefore the reason that more 'upmarket' places like Wilmslow are chosen is because the residents will not take an aggressive approach. I would never recommend an aggressive approach, however I do think we have to be vigilant in that everybody needs to write to the Council again and register our objections to this second application. Once again please do not object on the grounds that it is gypsies applying but on the grounds of it being green belt land.

Good luck, I think we will need it this time, as 6 sites need to be found!!!!

Stuart Anderson

Friday 16^th November 2012 at 10:04 pm

Looks like Ruth's contact was almost correct. The 12 sites figure is correct, but the amount of money East Cheshire could receive is actually far less at £900,000. Planning permission has to be granted before they can receive the money. A quick search revealed several stories about it including this from the Knutsford Guardian:
http://bit.ly/Qjfb61