A FARMER has won planning permission to create a new, gated access to one of his fields – despite strong opposition from Stretton Parish Council and two of his neighbours.
The access will be from the A559 Northwich Road, Stretton and will involve removal of five metres of hedging and reducing the height of a further 17 metres.
Planning officers say the hedge is not considered to be ecologically important because of the proximity of the road.
Stretton Parish Council had opposed the application by farmer Stephen Mayne, arguing that the access would be on a bad bend on a very narrow main road where traffic heading towards Warrington was travelling at 60mph. Slow moving agricultural vehicles entering or leaving the field would add to existing dangers.
They claimed the A559 was a “Red Route” – one of the top 10 most dangerous roads in Cheshire – and was used by young children going to school.
But planning officers pointed out that this section of the road was not included in the Red Route, which only started at the borough boundary. There was no record of accidents in the vicinity.
The new gate would be agricultural in appearance and not out of character with the area.
Members of the borough planning committee visited the site before reaching their decision.
A FARMER has won planning permission to create a new, gated access to
one of his fields - despite strong opposition from Stretton Parish
Council and two of his neighbours.
Farmer wins permission – for a gate!
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
2 Comments
So the section of road could is only not part of the red route as it hasn’t crossed the borough boundary yet … eh !?! Reading the parish councils concerns (as quoted above) it doesnt sound a very safe place to put a new access point ie on a bend on a 60 mph road. I hope they will put bright signs up alerting people !
If too many people hit a tractor coming out of the field, maybe the farmer will think again!