PLANS for a new car park at a church school will be recommended for approval when they go before planning chiefs at Warrington – despite being deemed “inappropriate” in the Green Belt.
Warrington Borough Council planning officers say the limited harm caused by the car park at St Wilfrid’s CE Primary, Grappenhall will be outweighed by “very special circumstances.”
These include improved highway safety near the school and in the wider area surrounding the school.
Some 19 nearby residents were notified of the proposals but only one objected.
The objector claimed the plans were seriously flawed and would create significant traffic dangers. In addition, a property nearby was Listed and had very shallow foundations built about 200 years ago. The school also already had parking provision which was not fully used. Grappenhall and Thelwall Parish Council did not object to the scheme.
The car park will cater for 24 vehicles – mainly staff.
Currently they park on land at the former Grappenhall Hall School, but this is only a temporary arrangement as the building will either be sold or redeveloped.
Parking in Grappenhall village has created problems for years – particularly at school arriving and leaving times.
The school is seeking permission for the car park to help ease congestion.
Members of the borough council’s development management committee will decide if the scheme for the new car park can go ahead.
