Survey gathers support against 'unwelcome' town centre plans

by Lisa Reeves

Tuesday 4^th June 2013

Tue 4^th Jun 2013

Residents living in the South of Wilmslow, who are concerned about plans to redevelop the town centre have formed a campaign group and surveyed local residents to gather more support.

Holly Road Area Residents (HRAR) are opposed to ambitious plans announced by Cheshire East Council in 2011 for the 'revitalisation' of the town centre.

The Council's plans could include the development of a lifestyle centre, behind the current leisure centre, which would bring together leisure facilities, the library and the arts. A theatre, enhanced public open spaces, a supermarket and car parking were also mentioned as possibilities.

Clive Bassil, of Edgeway, told wilmslow.co.uk "We are so concerned about the potential impact of the leaked Cheshire East proposals to demolish the library and relocate it to a lifestyle centre, to be built on the Wilmslow High School north rugby pitches, together with demolition of Wilmslow Leisure Centre and building a supermarket on the Rectory Field, that we decided to carry out a survey of local opinion."

HRAR has joined up with Democratic Development for Wilmslow (DDfW), an organisation of ten residents groups which was formed to coordinate a Wilmslow wide response to Cheshire East "should they come forward with their unwelcome development", which it is anticipated will happen later this year.

Three hundred letters were sent to residents of Broadway, Parkway, Holly Road South and North and adjoining roads - asking them if they agreed that the leisure centre and library should be left as they are and Rectory Field be protected. 193 people responded with 252 signatures agreeing that the proposals for development were not sought or wanted.

Clive Bassil added "The results of the survey were astonishing in their unanimity. Three hundred households were asked if they approved of the CEC proposals. The return gave a result of over 70% against.

"DDfW has communicated this powerful result to Councillor Michael Jones, Leader CEC and to Wilmslow Town Council requesting that they pay respect to this piece of invaluable research and abandon their undemocratic proposals."

Tags:: Cheshire East Council, Democratic Development for Wilmslow, Holly Road Area Residents, Lifestyle Centre, Town Vision Project

Comments

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Denise Hutchinson

Tuesday 4^th June 2013 at 5:55 pm

As a thirty odd year resident of Wilmslow, there have been periods when we have made greater use of the Leisure Centre than we do these days, but in all our time here neither of us has ever heard comment to the effect that the Leisure Center is inadequate for purpose. I feel very strongly that the most that is needed is perhaps a thorough face lift, and that the sort of funding that would be necessary to relocate it as proposed could be much better spent on other projects which would come to light if proper discussion was instigated by Cheshire East rather than the dictatorial list of proposals for which there appears to be little or no support. If the relocation goes ahead along the lines suggested, the newly located "lifestyle centre" whatever that is, would immediately become, I strongly suspect, an additional facility for the High School and under present legislation for the protection of Young People the general public would not be allowed inside the Lifestyle Centre during School hours.A significant loss for the community.
In addition to this, the loss of an attractive little cricket ground for the price of yet another super market in a most unsafe and undesirable location should never be allowed to happen!