Residents’ fury over housing approval

ANGRY residents have reacted with fury to a planning inspector’s decision to allow a controversial housing development to go ahead at Culcheth.
It was only in February that Warrington planning chiefs threw out a scheme for nine houses off tree-lined Culcheth Hall Drive.
But developers Evoke Homes appealed – and the inspector who heard the appeal has ruled in their favour.
Nearby resident Janet Evans, one of a number who opposed the scheme, said: “This will lead to absolute hell in Culcheth Hall Drive.
“Everyone is annoyed about this – it is devastating news.
“Everyone nearby will have the quality of their lives diminished as a result of a decision made by someone who does not live in the area and has no interest in our community.”
She said residents would be vigilant – keeping a close eye on the development when it started to make sure the developer observed all the conditions that had been attached to the planning approval.
Gwyn Clark, the inspector who heard the appeal, said overall he considered the development had been sensitively designed to sit among the existing landscaping.
Little harm would be caused to the character and appearance of the area.
The potential impact on wildlife could be mitigated through conditions and a satisfactory draining scheme had been designed to minimise the impact on existing trees.
One significant tree would be lost, but there would be adequate replacement planting.
A number of previous applications on the site had been turned down including one which was almost identical and was thrown out on appeal.
The development will be accessed from Culcheth Hall Drive – despite objectors saying they would have supported the scheme if it involved fewer houses and was accessed from both Culcheth Hall Drive and Withington Avenue.
Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council and local borough councillors had opposed the scheme.