Wistaston residents are celebrating after a planning application to build up to 300 homes on “Green Gap” land was thrown out.
Gladman Homes wanted to develop on the land off Church Lane, known locally as “Witters Field”.
But Cheshire East Council’s Strategic Planning Board refused it as it was in open countryside and because it would erode the Green Gap between Crewe and Nantwich.
The Hands Off Wistaston (HOW) campaign group helped to collect a petition with over 2,000 names against the development and 1,300 letters of objection were lodged by local people.
Wistaston Ward Cllr Margaret Simon, who spoke at the meeting, said: “I emphasised the importance of Witters Field to our Wistaston Community saying it has been used for a variety of recreational purposes for generations.
“I also pointed out the excellent local primary schools in Church Lane and Willaston are full as are the Nantwich high schools and that would cause a problem with parental choice as they would not be able to accommodate children from any new Wistaston developments.”
Fellow Wistaston Cllr Jacquie Weatherill added: “This field is Grade 2 agricultural land and it is also in open countryside which happens to be in the Green Gap.
“It is the overwhelming opinion of the local community that this land should be treasured and not built on.
“The council and councillors should strive to prevent urban sprawl into strategic open gaps. The Green Gap is there to ensure the two towns of Crewe and Nantwich are not merged.”
Peter Wainwright, who represents Hands off Wistaston, said campaigners were delighted when committee members came on a site visit before the meeting.
“They were able to see for themselves the field was of great importance as an amenity to the village and mattered greatly to the Health and Wellbeing of the community,” he added.
“The site is not sustainable for development the infrastructure around it will not support it.”
Councillors and residents are waiting to hear if they will be taking the application on to appeal with the Planning Inspectorate.
(Pic: Radio Stoke’s Lee Thomas interviewing Peter Wainwright and Cllr Margaret Simon, and Hands off Wistaston team (above))
Gladman have appealed against Cheshire East’s decision to refuse planning permission for their application on Witter’s Field so the case will now go before the planning inspector for a decision: http://www.pcs.planningportal.gov.uk/pcsportal/ViewCase.asp?caseid=2213505&coid=82560 .
It’s great to see the voice of the local community being heard. Well done HOW for your hard work in speaking out on behalf of the village.