Plan to widen agricultural track opposed by nine nearby residents

A PLAN to widen an existing agricultural track off Knutsford Road, Grappenhall is being opposed by nine nearby residents – including a footpath warden.

Grappenhall and Thelwall Parish Council is also opposing the scheme, to be considered by Warrington Borough Council’s development management committee on Thursday (Dec 12).

The parish council say the proposal would lead to urbanisation of the Green Belt, harm the character and appearance of the surrounding rural area and that there is no special circumstances to allow the development in the Green Belt.
They also say the access has operated acceptably for years.
Residents say the proposal would badly affect wildlife – and query whether there could be a “hidden agenda” to convert a barn at the end of the lane.
The track, to the north of Knutsford Road, links with Weaste Lane.
A report to be considered by the committee says the scheme would widen the track from 5.6m to a maximum of about 10. 8m. The purpose of the scheme is to improve access and egress from farm land onto Knutsford Road for agricultural and other vehicles, improving road safety.
Officers are recommending the scheme be approved.

Geoff Settle on 11th December 2024 2:08 pm 2:08 pm

Planning application 2023/011276/FUL – Changes to Weaste Lane footpath – Grappenhall
A recent campaign by the Ramblers has stated that we should look after are definitive footpaths or run the risk of losing them The Definitive Map – Ramblers Former mayor and parish path warden, Geoff Settle says that the status of the footpath from Weaste to Knutsford Road is such a path. He sees planning application 2023/011276/FUL Thursday 12th December as a threat to the footpath and says it should be refused.
Geoff said, “A former colleague of mine at Fraser Williams Computer Consultants, Cllr Bob Hignett contacted me in 2020 before he was a borough councillor. He described a planning application that if approved would ruin the place where he shares an old courtyard with his neighbours.
“If the farmer making the application had been successful then his drive would become an access road and across the courtyard to a dilapidated breeze block mushroom barn . If approved his car port would be demolished, and a community wall would have to go. It is malicious and thing to do. The planning application included the conversion of the mushroom barn into a residential dwelling!”
Geoff couldn’t believe the audacity of the farmer. He asked him to contact Cllr Bob Barr the local borough councillor who he had worked with on the planning committee and who was a fellow geographer. The planning application was refused on highway’s grounds.
The former mayor said “A second application for approval to convert the barn into a residential dwelling was also refused. The applicant then turned his attention to the footpath from Knutsford Road to Weaste Lane as a potential route to his mushroom barn . However, before he did this, he decided he would get rid of potential headaches by removing a few wildlife obstacles and he was ruthless in his approach.
“He felled a beautiful tranche of mature trees along Knutsford Road without any consultation with the Tree Preservation Officer. He did this to create a clear line of sight when exiting from the footpath into the main road. There may have been bats roosting in the trees, feeding off the insects around the near-by ponds where the amphibians like newts may live. He also decimated the hedges between the trees with no regard to birds that nest there.
“He must have thought that with no trees to block motorists view when exiting into Knutsford Road it was plain sailing to the barn and without permission tarmacked the junction area. His third application went in last year with a request to widen footpath’s footprint and it too was refused. He is now back with his fourth application requesting to expand his tarmac entrance to accommodate agricultural vehicles and inspection vehicles but no mention of the barn .”
One year on and a new application has gone in which Geoff views as a cynical step in trying to gain access to the mushrooms building. It has already received a red warning flag by planning officers about the tarmacked area which requires retrospective planning permission.
Geoff said “I hope members of the planning committee see through this application as a step towards his goal of converting the barn into a house and refuse it.
“I don’t believe this entrance is required. He owns other fields close by where safe access can be opened for the purposes he describes. His large agricultural vehicles on Knutsford Road will be hard to miss and they will slow down the traffic flow and give their drivers the opportunity to turn. The annual number of vehicles crossing the tarmac is very low from the figures he provides and is focused on the sewing and reaping times of the year.
“Too many applicants play this game of making changes ahead of an application, cutting down trees and destroying habitat. The footpath is in a green belt area and several issues have been highlighted by planning officers .”
The parish path warden says that he is often tackling footpath issues where he lives. He said “I successfully stopped the developers of the Mill Lane development closing off the Houghton Green Footpath (no. 37) a few weeks ago. A massive metal fence had been used to close off the footpath which is illegal. Cllr Stuart Mann had a Winwick footpath restored recently after a farmer had ploughed it up. Path Wardens are continuously feeding back repairs, vandalism and blocked routes to the Right of Way Officer .”
Geoff highlighted the successful challenge by Margaret Steen to officers during a recent planning meeting about Phase 1 – Peel Hall Development. Countryside was attempting to hide the removal of passing places on definitive route along Radley Lane. These places offer shelter to vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and there was the issue of how a fire engine would get down the right of way through if another vehicle was on it.
He goes on to say “We hear a lot about the importance of good mental health, nature conservation and fresh air these days. I’ve used them after a severe bipolar episode and to break in my two replacement hips by walking and exploring the Lake District where they have fantastic and treasured footpaths loved by all.
He says that “If they are neglected then we run the great risk of this valuable and hard fought for resource being lost. The footpaths have provided a historic link between communities and nature wildlife sites. Use of these links needs to be encouraged, maintained and ideally developed for everyone’s health and well-being. I have created a Warrington Rights Way Facebook page (6) Facebook where you can see and read about footpaths across Warrington and other places I have visited. I welcome your comments and contributions .”

3 Comments

Geoff Settle on 11th December 2024 2:08 pm 2:08 pm

Planning application 2023/011276/FUL – Changes to Weaste Lane footpath – Grappenhall
A recent campaign by the Ramblers has stated that we should look after are definitive footpaths or run the risk of losing them The Definitive Map – Ramblers Former mayor and parish path warden, Geoff Settle says that the status of the footpath from Weaste to Knutsford Road is such a path. He sees planning application 2023/011276/FUL Thursday 12th December as a threat to the footpath and says it should be refused.
Geoff said, “A former colleague of mine at Fraser Williams Computer Consultants, Cllr Bob Hignett contacted me in 2020 before he was a borough councillor. He described a planning application that if approved would ruin the place where he shares an old courtyard with his neighbours.
“If the farmer making the application had been successful then his drive would become an access road and across the courtyard to a dilapidated breeze block mushroom barn . If approved his car port would be demolished, and a community wall would have to go. It is malicious and thing to do. The planning application included the conversion of the mushroom barn into a residential dwelling!”
Geoff couldn’t believe the audacity of the farmer. He asked him to contact Cllr Bob Barr the local borough councillor who he had worked with on the planning committee and who was a fellow geographer. The planning application was refused on highway’s grounds.
The former mayor said “A second application for approval to convert the barn into a residential dwelling was also refused. The applicant then turned his attention to the footpath from Knutsford Road to Weaste Lane as a potential route to his mushroom barn . However, before he did this, he decided he would get rid of potential headaches by removing a few wildlife obstacles and he was ruthless in his approach.
“He felled a beautiful tranche of mature trees along Knutsford Road without any consultation with the Tree Preservation Officer. He did this to create a clear line of sight when exiting from the footpath into the main road. There may have been bats roosting in the trees, feeding off the insects around the near-by ponds where the amphibians like newts may live. He also decimated the hedges between the trees with no regard to birds that nest there.
“He must have thought that with no trees to block motorists view when exiting into Knutsford Road it was plain sailing to the barn and without permission tarmacked the junction area. His third application went in last year with a request to widen footpath’s footprint and it too was refused. He is now back with his fourth application requesting to expand his tarmac entrance to accommodate agricultural vehicles and inspection vehicles but no mention of the barn .”
One year on and a new application has gone in which Geoff views as a cynical step in trying to gain access to the mushrooms building. It has already received a red warning flag by planning officers about the tarmacked area which requires retrospective planning permission.
Geoff said “I hope members of the planning committee see through this application as a step towards his goal of converting the barn into a house and refuse it.
“I don’t believe this entrance is required. He owns other fields close by where safe access can be opened for the purposes he describes. His large agricultural vehicles on Knutsford Road will be hard to miss and they will slow down the traffic flow and give their drivers the opportunity to turn. The annual number of vehicles crossing the tarmac is very low from the figures he provides and is focused on the sewing and reaping times of the year.
“Too many applicants play this game of making changes ahead of an application, cutting down trees and destroying habitat. The footpath is in a green belt area and several issues have been highlighted by planning officers .”
The parish path warden says that he is often tackling footpath issues where he lives. He said “I successfully stopped the developers of the Mill Lane development closing off the Houghton Green Footpath (no. 37) a few weeks ago. A massive metal fence had been used to close off the footpath which is illegal. Cllr Stuart Mann had a Winwick footpath restored recently after a farmer had ploughed it up. Path Wardens are continuously feeding back repairs, vandalism and blocked routes to the Right of Way Officer .”
Geoff highlighted the successful challenge by Margaret Steen to officers during a recent planning meeting about Phase 1 – Peel Hall Development. Countryside was attempting to hide the removal of passing places on definitive route along Radley Lane. These places offer shelter to vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and there was the issue of how a fire engine would get down the right of way through if another vehicle was on it.
He goes on to say “We hear a lot about the importance of good mental health, nature conservation and fresh air these days. I’ve used them after a severe bipolar episode and to break in my two replacement hips by walking and exploring the Lake District where they have fantastic and treasured footpaths loved by all.
He says that “If they are neglected then we run the great risk of this valuable and hard fought for resource being lost. The footpaths have provided a historic link between communities and nature wildlife sites. Use of these links needs to be encouraged, maintained and ideally developed for everyone’s health and well-being. I have created a Warrington Rights Way Facebook page (6) Facebook where you can see and read about footpaths across Warrington and other places I have visited. I welcome your comments and contributions .”

Robert Cross on 11th December 2024 3:33 pm 3:33 pm

Geoff Settle the voice of misinformation. The definitive footpath is even on the access! Get your facts straight Geoff!

Catherine on 11th December 2024 11:37 pm 11:37 pm

Warrington worldwide you’ve forgotten the last bit on the title “and supported by Scottish Power”