Residents celebrate after housing plan is thrown out

RESIDENTS of Culcheth were celebrating last night after planning chiefs threw out proposals for nine houses on a wooded site between two residential roads.
The application by Evoke Homes came only 20 months after the company had lost an appeal against an almost identical proposal on the site between Culcheth Hall Drive and Withington Avenue.
Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council opposed the scheme and 17 Culcheth households jointly funded planning consultants Ashall Town Planning to represent them at a meeting of the borough’s development management committee.
Officers recommended the scheme be approved – but the committee rejected the recommendation after hearing that nearby residents were not opposed in principle to housing on the site and would support a scheme with fewer properties and accessed from both Culcheth Hall Drive and Withington Avenue.
Cllr Joan Grime took exception to a paragraph in an officer’s report which described Culcheth Hall Drive as a quiet location with minimal traffic. She said parking along the road was considerable at peak times, and the road was used heavily by parents during school pick up and drop off times. Highways issues were a serious consideration and the area could not cope with the increased vehicle movement the properties would bring.
Ater the meeting, Cllr Matt Smith said: “I am pleased to see the committee seriously considering the arguments made by residents and councillors, and decidee to reject the officer recommendation. The result is a victory for common sense and democracy! I hope the developer uses this opportunity to fully reconsider his plans before coming back with a more reasonable proposal in keeping with the location.”
Local resident  and former councillor Chris Vobe, praised the efforts of local residents who worked with councillors on the campaign, adding: “We are delighted to have delivered a victory for the local community and commend those residents on Culcheth Hall Drive and Withington Avenue who have led the fight, and ultimately won the day.”
Picture shows  Chris Vobe, Cllr Jacqui Johnson, local residents Peter Shaw and Barbara Jordan, along with neighbours celebrating at the Town Hall after their victory.