A date has been set for the public inquiry into Cheshire East Council's refusal to grant planning permission for the development of a gypsy site off Moor Lane.
The inquiry will be heard over two days on Wednesday 12th and Thursday 13th March at Macclesfield Town Hall.
The controversial plans to change the use of the open land, which lies within the Green Belt, for the stationing of caravans, a utility/day room and additional hard standing were refused for the second time in January 2013. The Northern Planning Committee refused the application on the grounds that very special circumstances do not exist to justify inappropriate development in the green belt.
Green Planning Solutions, who are acting on behalf of Mr John Allen, submitted an appeal to the Secretary of State, on the grounds that a single pitch will create limited actual harm to the openness of the green belt which is outweighed by the lack of suitable and affordable sites in the area.
According to the appeal documentation "Green Planning Solutions are of the opinion that there is a significant immediate need in the district. This adds considerable weight in favour of the appeal." It also states "If necessary personal circumstances will be advanced including the potential site occupants personal need for a site, health and education."
A document submitted with the planning application (reference 12/4247M), which the Council received over 550 letters of objection to, said that Mr Allen's eldest son suffers from glaucoma. Therefore it was necessary to move closer to Manchester Eye Hospital as they need to attend regular appointments and sometimes require emergency specialist treatment.
Councillor Rachel Bailey, Cabinet member in charge of planning, said: "In Cheshire East, we want to deliver sustainable sites for gypsies, travellers and travelling showpeople that are fit for purpose. It was felt that the site in Moor Lane is not an appropriate development in the greenbelt and is not sustainable.
"We hope that the planning inspectorate will share this view and we await the outcome of the public inquiry."
Members of the public can attend the public inquiry and, at the inspector's discretion, give their views for or against the planning application.
A spokesperson for Cheshire East said "They can get advice from the inspectorate but they usually say they need to attend the inquiry and tell the Inspector they wish to speak. We will write to everyone who commented approximately two weeks before the Inquiry date."
A decision on this planning application, reference 12/4247M, is expected to be made between 5 and 12 weeks after the public inquiry.
Further information can be found on the Cheshire East Council website, by searching for planning reference 12/4247M.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
Common sense went out of the window a long time ago here , Immediate appeals process
( take note re other Planning permission apps ) sets up an automatic cash cow of litigation at tax payers expense.
Q- Other than RoW who really cares.....???
A- Not those who really should !!!
Will apathy or common sense win the day.......???
The Manchester eye hospital thing is ridiculous!!
Apathy or common sense- I wonder???
As usual the hard working tax payers money is wasted on the minority!
It's common sense?
How long will Cheshire East strategic planning committee spend considering the Jones Homes application for 203 homes on Adlington Road? I hope only minutes to say NO!
The coalition government has allegedly safeguarded green belt.. I doubt that... And we are now back to the issue of the use of ‘Plain English’ as opposed to George Orwell’s ‘Doublespeak’ where the true meaning of words is distorted to make the intended result sound palatable. This planned development is not palatable.
If this succeeds and common sense does not prevail, a true measure of the effectiveness ( or otherwise ) of those in charge of planning will be tested and no doubt open the flood gates to additional commercial residential development development. Dale Farm issues in Essex started in the 80’s... without labouring the well documented ( and local authorities heavy financial cost issues....) How long did that take to ‘Part resolve’ and yet it continues to date.
We must take cognisance of the Human rights act, ECHR legislation and treat all persons fairly, consider minority groups equally, and at all time be reasonable. So this is not just about the travellers.... it is equally about considering the rights of ‘the tax-paying’ residents who are funding the action against their current NO decision that is being challenged.
A victory for common sense?? So far ....I think not. To quote Sir Humphrey Appleby; “The public doesn’t know anything about wasting government money.. We are the experts”......Suppose everyone went around saving money irresponsibly all over the place.....”