Audlem councillors planning challenge

At the January meeting, Audlem parish councillors questioned why it seems local views appear to have no impact on a recent controversial planning decision.

Both the Parish Council and over one hundred local people had submitted letters of support or signed a petition supporting a local resident in his appeal against an enforcement order requiring demolition of a boundary wall. All the immediate neighbours of the resident have said they are happy with what had been built.

This level of local support has been disregarded by both the local planning officer and the inspector appointed to arbitrate, who largely supported the local planning officer. Neither has listened to the strongly expressed local opinion in Audlem, which seems to be contrary to the spirit of the recently enacted Localism Act 2011.

No details of their reasons for turning down the appeal have been given, other than the personal preferences of the planner. This leaves the Parish Council in the dark about the planning criteria used in this case in which might be applied to future local planning applications being considered by the council.

They now plan to challenge the inspector and would like a detailed explanation of how his decision was reached. More when we hear what Cheshire East and their appointed inspector have to say.

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