Buerton's barn owls may get £2,000 compensation payout

Buerton's barn owls could net a £2,000 handout if the go-ahead is given to build new homes on Green Belt land.

Markden City Homes want full planning consent to build nine affordable homes on an open field site at Red Acres in Windmill Lane.

But the move could destroy foraging sites for local barns owls and the council's Principal Nature Conservation Officer, James Baggaley, wants Markden to pay £2,000 in compensation.

His letter to the Cheshire East planners says: "Whilst barn owls are not thought to be roosting or breeding on site the proposed development is likely to result in the loss of grassland foraging habitat for this species."

"I therefore suggest that the adverse impact of the proposed development upon barn owls be offset by means of a commuted sum payable to the local barn owl group to be used to implement barn owl conservation work in the borough. A sum of £2,000 would be appropriate."

Buerton Parish Council is backing the scheme, with some reservations, and a Parish Council letter to Cheshire East following a special consultation meeting at Hankelow on 18th March, claimed that "in principle, residents have no objection to the scheme."

But many villagers are unhappy with the letter and 18 people have so far lodged formal objections to the scheme with most claiming the site is not appropriate for sustainable development.

Objectors point out that Buerton has no school, church or pub and that a limited bus service is likely to be further reduced. There is concern at sewage disposal, surface water run-off and pedestrian safety on the 60mph road that has no pavement.

This is the second application for planning consent on the site. A similar scheme from Markden was withdrawn in August last year.

Latest plans are for four three-bedroom semi-detached homes, four two-bedroom detached homes and a single bedroom detached bungalow.

The application will probably be decided at a Cheshire East planning committee meeting on May 1st.

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