Over 100 people turned out for a Strategic Planning Board meeting on Thursday, 26th September, to hear them discuss the draft Core Strategy report.
This is the latest stage of the Local Plan, which includes the proposed development sites for inclusion in the final Local Plan later this year.
Over 30 people spoke during the meeting, each of whom was allowed two minutes, and councillors were allowed to question each speaker for a minute.
Controversial proposals for Wilmslow include the introduction of new areas of Safeguarded Land, 40 hectares of Green Belt land off Upcast Lane and Prestbury Road are to be considered for development after 2030. Additionally, six hectares of Green Belt land behind the Royal London site (between the railway line and A34 bypass) have been earmarked for a commercial development called Wilmslow Business Park.
Peter Yates, former head of planning at Macclesfield Council, commented "In Wilmslow there is enough Safeguarded Land for up to 2080, at present development rates! In addition, as a great deal of these Green Belt areas have never been identified as Safeguarded Land, the public have had no opportunity to comment on them. These are very serious criticisms of the Council's latest Core Strategy documents, which could eventually lead to consideration being given to a legal challenge."
Manuel Golding spoke at the meeting on behalf of Residents of Wilmslow (RoW). He said "Responses to Shaping our Future made it clear that residents did not want any unnecessary development in valuable Green Belt so why does this Core Strategy involve developing even more Green Belt sites - which indicates local views have not taken into account? An extra 58.5 hectares of Wilmslow's Green Belt is being allocated for development.
"Then there is the so called Wilmslow Business Park for commercial use. The report states all sites have been to public consultation but this one has not - why? New Green Belt employment land is five times greater than estimated in the November 2012 Employment Land Review - Why the need for extra commercial land? There is no evidence offered in grabbing Green Belt land. Why?
"Wilmslow has approximately 130,000 sq ft of empty office space, with large commercial developments nearby at Airport City and Waters, to name just two, and empty space will be available at Alderley Park when AstraZeneca moves all but 750 staff. Why is this prime site not being utilised?
"There is no obligation under National Guidelines to appoint new safeguarded sites. Four large fields being taken out of Green Belt to safeguard for approximately 1,000 homes, in today's terms that is over 50 years supply - to 2080. This equates to 15% of safeguarded land in the borough and no evidence has been given to support this loss of Green Belt."
Manuel added "RoW is totally opposed to designation change. The Green Belt land on Alderley Road has been re designated Protected Green Open Space from Green Belt. The Leader of the Council in a meeting with RoW and George Osborne MP firmly stated this land would remain Green Belt. Why has this assurance not been kept?
"Existing brownfield sites plus the rate of windfall and brownfield planning approvals show there is no need to allocate Adlington Road and Royal London's Green Belt for house building in order to reach the required 400 homes."
Manuel continued "The plan advocates commercial development on Royal London's Green Belt, offices and hotel. There is no need for further commercial build here with the high level of empty office space at Royal London and Wilmslow in general. There is no evidence offered to support more offices and a hotel and no infrastructure studies were undertaken.
"Approximately 90% of Wilmslow respondents who are against the loss of any Green Belt, are being ignored. This is called democracy!!"
Speaking about the Strategic Planning meeting, Peter Yates added "A very controlled exercise, which lead to no changes to the report or Core Strategy Sites, or Safeguarded Land. The Plan will now go to the Cabinet and Council probably in October."
Comments
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Nothing like setting an objective/impartial brief??
Clearly they don't have in house capacity, or they want to be able to say that these 'experts' say it so it is ok..... http://bit.ly/1bqyRLO
The only voice for Wilmslow heard was that from Residents of Wilmslow.
No one from Wilmslow Town Council attended, no CEC councillor spoke!!
'RoW was formed by bringing together all the individual residents groups set up around Wilmslow to galvanise local opinion during the Wilmslow Vision Consultation'
I think we all remember the outcome of that consultation and the opinions of the majority of Wilmslow residents.And the results in the Dean Row electoral process. Its called Democracy Mr Donaldson.
I note that this is the second occasion upon which you have merely tried to dismiss peoples' genuine conerns by referring to them as NIMBYS. This reveals so much.
Where do you think, you and I and thousands of other Wilmslow residents would be living, if our predecessors took a similar stance to you and your fellow fanatics?
We can only thank those who had vision and a level of commitment over the past 100 years to make Wilmslow what it is today. This vision and commitment is now being shown by our local Council and they have my full support.
In the many years I have been around, at work or elsewhere, I have discovered that common sense is the least common of all the senses. This is yet another NIMBY stance which reinforces this view.