Members of Wilmslow Town Council have expressed their frustration that despite significant opposition from local residents and themselves, controversial plans to build 174 homes on land north of Stanneylands Road - which was released from the Green Belt following adoption of the Cheshire East Local Plan - were approved last month.
The Strategic Planning Committee voted 7 in favour and 4 against (with 1 member abstaining) for the David Wilson Homes' scheme, which includes 24 apartments and 150 houses - despite the Council receiving 815 letters objecting or commenting on the scheme.
Speaking at the Wilmslow Town Council meeting on Monday, 15th January, Cllr Christopher Dodson said "I don't know how any competent highways department could recommend that this proceed without an access from Manchester Road.
"No-one from the highways department seemed to descend that view but the decision was not helped by an unhelpful sentence in the Local Plan which states that 'access could be either from Stanneylands Road or from Manchester Road'.
"I think the only four speakers who could find their way to Wilmslow without the aid of a map were in favour of refusing permission at this stage. In the hope that, and expectation actually, that the applicant would be able to negotiate something with the garden centre in terms of access and I think that was much too readily dismissed. But the other members of the panel from Crewe and Alsager were less impressed by those arguments."
Cllr Frank McCarthy said "The very first thing we said is whatever happens on the site it cannot be allowed to come out on to Stanneylands Road. Anybody who knows that road and knows the amount of traffic on it at the moment knows it's already a problem."
He added "There will be a problem, we know there will be a problem and I find it quite upsetting that this has not been given the proper consideration."
Cllr Ian Ferguson said "I attended two walkabouts on the Stanneylands site and both times I spoke to the developer who took us round and on each occasion I raised the point of the access being from Manchester Road and on both occasions I was told it wasn't going to be there because they weren't talking and couldn't talk and wouldn't talk to the garden centre."
Cllr Angela McPake added "I don't think there is any doubt, the traffic information is flawed and it's resting on the fact that the SEMMMS road is going to have a much greater effect on Stanneylands Road than any other road in the area.
"Stanneylands is going to see a huge reduction in traffic, therefore in real terms there is going to be no increase in traffic - it makes no sense at all that this is the only road it is the case for. I think it is safe to say Cheshire East has shown little appetite for updating the information or getting another survey done. It is unbelievably frustrating."
Cllr Mark Goldsmith commented "I'd also like to add that SEMMMS was created to remove the traffic from Stanneylands and those sort of areas and not allow the council to top them back up with new developments. It's crazy, what are we paying for the SEMMMS for if thats the case."
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
I am not sure how these two development are to meet the housing shortage in Cheshire East they are far more likely to suck in those from neighbouring authorities. Then there will be the Cheshire East expansion village/Handforth East which will dwarf both of these developments and make SEMMS and the A34 more congested
Why have they deliberately ignored the traffic access problem?
There is more afoot that the planners wish to tell. There can be no doubts they have been in cahoots with the developer and land owner over a number of years.
Why?
What is in it for them?
I doubt an FOI will reveal much because ............. (You've probably guessed).
The planning application failed to meet several significant Council Policies, recently approved in the adoption of the Local Plan. It failed to meet the fundamental justification for the inclusion of this site in the Local Plan and a detailed requirement, the basis, of how the development would be achieved.
A senior planning officer supported my view that should an appeal be lodged if the planning application were refused the Council would have solid grounds on which to fight an appeal.
An appalling decision made by Conservative Party members who have demonstrated consistently since the approval of the Local Plan that they will approve each and every planning application on the site allocations within it, irrespective of the impact on exisiting and future residents.
So much for "Residents First".
Councillor Toni Fox - Independent
Dean Row ward - Wilmslow
Until we start to get a new balance of power in Cheshire East, this will continue. The current outfit can do anything they choose: the only way this will change is if we voters bring the change about at the ballot box.
Time is coming for a change.
My long time observational criticisms of the 4 Cons extends to numerous areas of local concerns, in which they rarely bother to show interest or try to achieve results for their voters.
As time goes on, RoW is being increasingly contacted by frustrated residents seeking help to address their various concerns. Many have now given up on the 4 Cons.
We have the proof positive that the 4 Cons party hacks, voting fodder, are not interested in their voters. This is why RoW is a fully independent group, no party affiliations whatsoever, solely dedicated to working for the voters - "People before party"!
This is why RoW will be fielding candidates for all the CEC wards next time of asking.
If you are truly fed up with the 4 Conservatives we have currently and believe you can make a difference to the town's betterment and interested in joining us at RoW, then please call us on either 07930 377778 or 07846 082660.
Is it all legal, given the very apparent lack of supporting infrastructure, road access etc., especially as the MARR road may now also be delayed.
If the developers could have launched an appeal against a CEC refusal, could an appeal be launched against a CEC approval? Can it work both ways?
The initial answer is to join such an independent group as Residents of Wilmslow. We at RoW are committed to making CEC and our majority party councillors responsive to local people's concerns, in our case the people of Wilmslow. We now have councillors strongly putting forward Wilmslow's case, without any political party's spin on decision making. The next part of the equation is to talk to RoW if you are a) interested in standing as a RoW candidate and b) if not, will you be willing to offer support via various means?
I posted the following above a few days ago - "....RoW will be fielding candidates for all the CEC wards next time of asking. If you are truly fed up with the 4 Conservatives we have currently and believe you can make a difference to the town's betterment and interested in joining us at RoW, then please call us on....07930 377778..."
I await your call!
In reply to your question, presumably at the stage when the school really cannot take more the Education Department will produce a report saying just that. In the meantime my point is that contributors here often have not read the plan and make random comments about traffic volumes, trees, etc all of which are covered in the application. The 'give no consideration to such issues' charge is not true. There are often good reasons to refuse applications but opposing almost any change is not helpful to a developing society.