Anger over huge A49 pub and hotel plan

From the Guardian Series, first published Wednesday 22nd Sep 2004.

A CONTROVERSIAL planning proposal has outraged residents in Cuddington.

And on Monday, they vented their anger at the village's monthly parish council meeting.

Almost 60 people crammed into a mobile classroom at Sandiway Primary School on Monday night to discuss an ambitious proposal for a housing and business development on a 17-acre site between the A556 Chester Road and the A49 Forest Road.

Manchester-based agents HOW Commercial Planning Consultants have submitted the outline proposal to Vale Royal Borough council on behalf of Osbourne Trust Ltd

Speaking at the meeting Colin Williams, planning control manager for the borough council, explained the outline plan included the development of 28 units for affordable housing with space for 26 cars, a pub, family restaurant, a 40-bedroom hotel and eight business units covering an estimated 80,000 square metres.

Residents at the meeting were 'horrified' at the proposal, describing it as 'wholly unnecessary and inappropriate' and 'more suited for the development of the Northwich Vision and Urban Village'.

Concerns were raised about the safety of children given that the business units would back onto Cuddington Primary School and it was suggested they would 'attract anti-social behaviour'.

There were also worries about the volume of traffic entering the village as a result of any development and issues about highways safety were highlighted.

Parish council chairman Ken Nixon said previous applications for development at the site has been refused but stressed the importance of having a strong case backed by evidence to oppose the application.

Clr Val Godfrey proposed the parish council recommended refusal which was unanimously accepted.

She said: "In light of the information we have at the moment, it is an inappropriate development on the only substantial green area of the village triangle. Highway concerns have been validly expressed and it is against the borough plan."

She added: "This also raises issues about community safety and the safety of pupils at the local school."

A public inquiry may now take place to gauge the feelings of residents.

gsproston@guardiangrp.co.uk

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