PLANNING chiefs at Warrington are to be asked this week whether they wish to continue to oppose controversial plans for a motorway service area on the M62 at Birchwood.
Warrington Borough Council’s development management committee resolved in June to refuse planning consent for the scheme, north of Junction 11, on the grounds it would represent inappropriate development in the Green Belt.
Local campaigners described the decision as “a victory for common sense” but the committee went against the advice of their officers.
A 100-bed hotel, fuel filling station, electric charging station and facilities building are included in the proposals put forward by Extra MSA.
The applicant has subsequently appealed against the council’s decision and a major public inquiry is set to take place in March – expected to last nine days.
Moto Hospitality objected to the original application and will be one of the main parties at the inquiry. Croft Parish Council is understood to also be considering making representations at the hearing.
But now National Highways, formerly known as Highways England, has indicated that it supports the new service area proposals.
Warrington’s officers stand by the advice they gave the committee back in June – that the scheme should be approved. They say they cannot defend the appeal because they would be forced to admit that their honest opinion is that the service area should be allowed.
But, the committee has been told, the inquiry will still go ahead, even if the council does not continue to oppose the plan, because of the objection from Moto Hospitality.
The council would still have a role at the hearing – to aid the inquiry wherever possible and make its position clear in respect of any conditions that might be imposed.
Members of the development management committee will be asked on Thursday whether they wish to continue to oppose the scheme. If they do, the case will have to be put by an elected member of the committee rather than an officer.
