Council Leader Michael Jones has told Handforth residents that if plans for a new settlement east of the A34 Handforth Bypass go ahead then no further development will be supported in the rest of the village and Handforth will be a better place as a result.
He also announced that if enough brownfield sites are found, plans for the sustainable community will be scrapped.
The Leader was speaking at a public meeting on Tuesday, 5th February, where tempers flared as local residents made their views very clear about Cheshire East Council's (CEC) proposal to build up to 2500 new homes in Handforth.
Approximately 130 people gathered at Handforth Youth Centre to question Council Leader Michael Jones and Adrian Fisher, Strategic Planning & Housing Manager at CEC, about the plans for green belt land to the east of the A34.
The proposed development includes 5ha of employment land, 1800 homes and supporting infrastructure such as a local retail centre, new secondary and primary schools, leisure facilities, open space and sports pitches.
The draft Development Strategy also proposes that additional land would be safeguarded at this site for further development of 500 homes beyond 2030 and a further 200 new houses would be built within Handforth itself, but the sites have not yet been identified.
Cllr Jones told the audience "We've got developers out there looking to make millions in profit by taking away your green land, your green spaces, your farm land etc. We are trying to come up with a plan to protect the whole of CEC from what are some pretty aggressive, selfish developers.
"Let me make myself clear, I am for no development in Handforth or Styal if we are building on the other side of the road. I make my position very clear to you."
He added "The reason we have chosen this site is its a sustainable site, it is close to the airport and there are jobs nearby.
"I've made a choice to try and develop a sustainable village the other side of the A34 which is why I am totally against any development in your town or around Styal or at Stanneylands. I am against unwanted, unplanned and unsustainable development."
Adrian Fisher added "We face the choice of either nibbling away at a series of locations or placing development where the impact will be minimised and also proper facilities can be placed in terms of public transport, schools, leisure facilities and other things. That is the choice if you like."
Cllr Michael Jones confirmed that if the sustainable village goes ahead, on land to the east of the A34 Handforth bypass (identified as sites M1, M2 and M3) then they will support no further development in the Handforth area.
He said "Under this plan we support no houses in Handforth or Styal, we build a sustainable village which we will work with your Parish Council to get right. Surely this is the better option than have what we think will be 900 houses, that's what developers want in Handforth and Styal in the next 15 years, and you'll lose not just your nice green areas but a lot more."
Cllr Jones stated if the new settlement goes ahead "We will take out the 50 homes and also the commercial area (Site A) they will be green belt, green land, farm land when the consultation finishes."
Adding "If enough brownfield sites come forward we will not build in Handforth or anywhere else. Any brownfield site which is sustainable bring it forward and we will look at it for the plan."
Adrian Fisher explained "If you go back to the Town Strategy you may recall a series of sites were suggested around the edge of Handforth and most of those were also sites in the Green Belt. None of those will be considered. The proposal will solely be the land on the east of the A34.
"The 200 homes which has been referred to is essentially what is likely to happen through natural redevelopment in the village over the next 20 years. Roughly 80 of those have already got planning permission so that's 120 homes that might get commissioned over the next 18 years and that will be little sites that will come forward naturally and the sort of infill you would expect to happen year in year, it won't be any significant development elsewhere."
Cllr Jones added "If this land is developed it will give you benefits like a secondary school, like a medical centre. By bringing a plan together we are stopping development anywhere that's not sustainable, that is what we're trying to do.
"We're not frightened of developers but you should be because they are coming into your area.
"Look at what you will get out of this. We will not support development in the Handforth area, that is what I am saying to you clearly. This plan is the best way of protecting yourself from development in Handforth and our five year supply (to be announced shortly) will be another step towards it."
"What I need to know is what people want. I'll work with your Parish Council, do you want a secondary school, do you want a medical centre, a leisure centre?"
To which, members of the audience responded "No, we want a green belt."
Several people spoke to express their opinion that Handforth was being "dumped on" in order to protect other areas, such as Wilmslow, by increasing the number of proposed houses from 500 in the Handforth Town Strategy to 2500.
Wilmslow resident Jan Macintosh said "I work on the A34 and it's absolute pandemonium. I am incensed by this, I am incensed that the land is going and the impact on the road."
Former Parish Councillor Patricia Page said "Handforth should not be up for sale.
"We do not need these homes in Handforth, you are robbing our green belt to serve other areas. All we're saying is people of Handforth only want and need their quota, we shouldn't have to be blackmailed by saying we can't fight off developers, it is supposed to be a consultation at the moment you are telling us it is already a done deal.
"The people deserve a fairer representation and shouldn't have to put up a fight from the bully boys. We want land, we don't want our green belt going."
Pauline Keen, from Hands off Handforth GreenBelt Residents Group (HOHGB), said "I met with you on 29th September. Nothings changed except it's got worse, horrendously worse. You told us that the village of Handforth would really improve by these 500 houses we were going to have.
"Since that time 500 houses, and people in Handforth have voted on that number, we find ourselves at 2500 houses. We know how much you protect Cheshire East, we know how much you protect Wilmslow. Wilmslow was having 1500 houses but Wilmslow being Wilmslow said oh no we don't want 1500 we'll have 400. So Wilmslow have 400 so lets dump the other 1100+ on the scrubland in Handforth and Poynton.
"So September phase one 500, a lot of people here would vote for that - what you're asking them to do now is vote for 2500 and that is not far. Now if Wilmslow had gone ahead with their 1500, which you to said was their quota, where would you have put that 1500 in Wilmslow - you must have had a plan.
"You are the custodians of our land and we expect you to look after it."
"I expect you to stop this and build in Wilmslow where you thought you would build in the beginning.
"Handforth is full, Handforth is dumped on and we're fed up on it."
Judith Watson, lifetime resident of Handforth asked "Did you take into consideration the environmental impact?
"It is the best wildlife habitat in the area, it is better than Lindow Common. We've got a huge variety of animals, plants, invertebrates the lot down there."
She added "You are just going to wipe that out, where are they supposed to go, where are we supposed to go to see wildlife without getting in our cars."
Adrian Fisher responded "We have looked at the environmental impact.
"If this proposal went ahead there would be very considerable areas of open space, certainly the areas where the newts were located from the bypass - that would remain, there would open space within the area and there's certain areas to be retained. It would be wrong to view this as wall to wall development but yes there will be very significant change."
Adrian Fisher went on to say "Its a very difficult task, the green belt is a very precious, finite resource but the problem is the north of the borough is covered by green belt so wherever we go, whatever open land we use once we have used up all the brownfield land we have to go to the green fields and green belt.
"So we have to find somewhere where we can build sustainably and with a new community and we can say that of this land. I know it is cherished land for people but it has previously been disturbed, it was a RAF base, so it is not virgin territory. It has been disturbed before so in terms of sustainability then it is better that we go for areas that have been disturbed."
Despite demands for further questions the meeting was brought to an abrupt end after an hour and a half when a parish councillor turned the microphone off to silence members of the audience.
Speaking about the consultation process, Adrian Fisher said "The local plan is prepared for a statutory process, there is a proper process to be followed and certainly the next stage of the consultation, which will probably be in the summer, any comments made at that time will then go forward to be considered by a government inspector, an independent planning inspector.
"We have to prepare a plan which we think is strong and robust but it has to pass external scrutiny, please don't think this is a fait accompli because whatever we do will have to pass the external scrutiny. So we have to make sure whatever is in the plan is properly thought out and fit for purpose."
Cllr Michael Jones concluded by saying "I understand tonight, the message is very very clear. I understand the anger and the passion."
Speaking to guests after the meeting, he told them "If we do go ahead with the development I'll make Handforth a much better place, we will make sure Handforth gains massively out of it."
Cheshire East Council's six-week consultation on their Development Strategy runs until 26th February.
Consultation documents are on the Cheshire East Council website and hard copies are available from Handforth Library.
HOHGB has also produced a questionnaire for Handforth residents, copies of which can be picked up from Tesco Express, Spar, Woods Newsagents and Handforth Health Centre, to be returned by Monday 25th February.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
It is very generous of him to re-assure residents that if he goes ahead with putting 2,300 new homes on their greenbelt to the east of the A34 he will not support development to the west, however, please note he says "not support" rather than stop.
Residents made it clear in the previous consultation that they DO NOT want this new development; over 48% voted against, 41% were for and 10% neither agreed or disagreed. Added to which a petition of over 1,000 signatures against the building of large numbers of housing was handed in to CEC on the 8th November 2012. (Petition currently circa 1,500).
CEC may be running a "consultation" but they do not appear to be listening.....................
I can only quote what was said in a public meeting in September by Councillor Barry Burkhill stating that CEC were in dire straights and this land could be sold for approximately £220 million and Handforth would receive a 10% share of the profits. As long as things were seen to be going smoothly without any opposition this was a done deal. This figure has since gone down to maybe £5m or maybe £10m. This is only hearsay as CEC failed to put anything in writing. Are we only to receive a small portion whilst CEC gain a massive windfall? I feel what small value has been put on the environmental impact, future traffic congestion - that's already causing pandemonium on the A34, and what about protecting this land for many years to come?
This may seem a massive amount for Handforth but in all their offerings of schools, medical centres etc - whatever they are agreeing on, we cannot forget that this comes at the high cost of our green belt. Eight people consisting of two County Councillors and six Parish Councillors are already in consultation trying to secure what they believe is the best deal for Handforth without consulting directly with the residents. Why should eight people get to decide what's right for Handforth without asking the residents first?
There are two sides that should be looked at and the above eight are happy for CEC's version to be shared with the public. The Hands Off Handforth Green Belt group are also serving the residents of Handforth by giving you the chance to speak. Nobody but the people of Handforth can decide what happens to this land or what's best for them. I urge you all to not be complicit and to make your stance by dealing with all the facts and fill in the Hands Off Handforth Green Belt survey, have your say and help undo what appears to be this already done deal.
It's hard to believe that CEC and the Councillors have forgotten we are still in consultation regarding Handforth's predicted housing needs over the next thirty years, yet it would appear that the decision on this land had already been decided prior to any consultation ever taking place, and what a farce this is to the residents of Handforth!
Make sure that as many people as practically possible object to the documents currently out for consultation. Every one has the right to object whatever age they are. Not just as a household. So it there are 5 people to a household, then each one of then can object individually.
Out of interest, how many of the select few who are on the committee actually live in Handforth?
We want proper consultation not being told, this is happening so get on with it!
I would urge voters across Cheshire East at the next local elections and at the General Election to forget about any party affiliation they have and only vote for a candidate who will fight to preserve the green belt and be willing to resign en masse should Cheshire East try to force this through. LIkewise at the General Election in 2015 it would be good to see an independent candidate for Tattion whose main policy is green belt protection. Given the recent history (1997) that Tatton showed the country that however large a majority a sitting MP has should he fail to live up with their expectations then he will be well and truly ditched. I wonder if Martin Bell would come back and fight to preserve this north part of CE?
Everything about this proposal incenses me - the growth of house requirements from 120 to 500 to 2500; the lack of transparency about the fact CEC is the owner of the greenbelt it plans to build on; the openly stated fact that this settlement avoids the need for green belt in Wilmslow; the lack of benefit to Handforth itself, the fatuous comments of Michael Jones the fact that nowhere do we mention the traffic and congestion impact of an additional 2500 households on Handforth Dean and The A34, the fact that' if they are indeed homes for people working at Manchester, there is no consideration of the impact on local roads through Handforth, Wilmslow and Styal - in fact no evidence of joined-up thought at all. On the other hand, bearing in mind the Lyme Green fiasco - is it reasonable to expect evidence of thought at all?
Next local elections will be fun.