A proposal has been put together for a new country park to be built on Green Belt land between Wilmslow and Alderley Edge.
Val Sims and her two brothers Alan and Dudley Wain, who own approximately 150 acres of land east of the A34 bypass, are wanting to build houses on part of the land to the north of Heyes Lane in return for creating 'The Meadows' between Wilmslow and Alderley Edge.
The document states that "the consideration of the land to offer a new open space and associated development has been triggered by the publication of the 'Draft Wilmslow Vision' which is intended to provide an evidence base for CEC to consider when developing the new Cheshire East Local Plan".
The siblings met with Cllr Michael Jones and CEC officers to explore the possibility of transferring a large part of this land to the Council for a country park to be created, in return for allowing them to use the rest of the Green Belt land for housing earlier in the year, although at that stage there was no formal proposal.
According to the proposal "the creation of a new Country Park in this location would enable development at the fringes of Wilmslow and Alderley Edge to be balanced with the creation of a new area of 'Local Green Space', which could also be used to safeguard the openness of the Green Belt landscape between the two settlements, providing a permanent green break".
The proposed country park covers an area of approximately 100 acres to the north of Heyes Lane, south of the A34 bypass and east of the railway line.
The site comprises of ten fields and was formerly used as pasture, but with increasing levels of public access it is now used to grow grass crops to produce silage.
Plans for 'The Meadows' include a community woodland providing an educational and recreational resource, lakes and boardwalks, grassland trails and wildflower meadows as well as an area for green gym sessions and outdoor fitness.
The park will also incorporate a wooded hiking trail, a network of cycle tracks and footpaths, educational interpretation books and there is also the provision for allotment plots.
Richard Barton, of HOW Planning, said "We have prepared the country park document to encourage discussion and to demonstrate how such a proposal could come forward for the benefit of residents of both Alderley Edge and Wilmslow. It would be an appropriate use of the Green Belt and would help to provide accessible, usable green space between the two settlements.
"The potential residential land to the south is included within Cheshire East Council's housing land availability assessment as a developable site, so it is therefore only right to show how the country park relates to this potential development.
"Our door remains open to discuss these proposals."
The document states "The next stages will involve consultation with the local community, Town and Parish Councils and Cheshire East Council to obtain support for the proposals and to seek further ideas from those who could assist in the delivery, funding and management of this new Country Park."
Click here to view the document showing proposals for a new country park called 'The Meadows'.
What do you think about the prospect of having a large country park built on green belt land between Wilmslow and Alderley Edge? Share your views via the comment box below.
Comments
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Just an idea!
"Plans to Build Houses on 50 Acres of Green Belt Between Alderley Edge and Wilmslow Unveiled, Again".
This plan was reported in the press before the Wilmslow Vision consultation started; perhaps Cllr Jones might now be less supportive than he was at that time; given his encouraging remarks, during the Vision consultation meetings, regarding the absolute need to conserve the Green Belt.
The attached proposal document is very attractively produced but none of the photographs appear to be related to the area in question and there is no mention of building new houses.
The so called country park as a "gift" is the bait that catches the really big fish - selling the rest of the land for house development. Once again landowners, who we use to told were the protectors & guardians of England's green & pleasant land are now ever more than happy to see the utter rape & urbanisation of precious countryside. Everyone is entitled to sell off their family silver, as long as it is not detrimental to near neighbours & the areas heritage.
The outward sprawl of both Alderley & Wilmslow should be of great concern to all of us if we wish to preserve, conserve & protect our local green belts for the future. Otherwise the two towns will become one.
Who pays for the upkeep of such a country park? Cash strapped Cheshire East? With countryside and country paths all around the two towns, just why do we need this "special" area? If not for housing on part of the land.
Rather than prefacing the proposal as "Plans to Build 100 acre Green park" it should be billed as "50 acres of Green Belt to go under Concrete for housing and my profit".
We are not assisting in any deception as you claim.
It has been made clear that the country park is being offered in return for permission to build houses on green belt land. As Cllr Michael Jones said in my previous article is it being offered "as a sweetener".
We don't have any further information at this stage about how many houses they would want to build in the area north of Heyes Lane but if more details or plans become available then we will publish this information on wilmslow.co.uk.
My belief is that all the towns like Wilmslow that are surrounded by green belt should be actively campaigning to the government to reconsider relaxation of planning rules and requiring a quota of new build on brown field sites for each new house developed on one currently a green field.
It would be interesting to see a report for the town that shows the number and size of vacant commercial premises over the last three years, plus more details of those sites that have remained vacant for in excess of one year. Wherever one goes in central Wilmslow there are a sea of boards on commercial premises offering offices and shops to let. For me the real qustion is can Wilmslow really support long term vacant premises when land for housing development is sees the green belt eroded which changes and impoverishes the town.