Mystery Gladman objection rings alarm bells

A 'mystery' late submission on the Gladman planning has rung alarm bells at Audlem Parish Council.

AudlemOnline was alerted by local resident Steve Morris to a new submission about the Gladman proposals posted on the Cheshire East website.

The latest submission comes from Leeds-based planning consultant Spawforths who claim to be acting on behalf of their client simply referred to as Goodman.

Research by Audlem councillor Geoff Seddon led to a Solihull-based property development and logistics company called Goodman that includes Tesco and Unilever amongst its clients.

Councillor Seddon told a Parish Council meeting last night: "The submission to Cheshire East is objecting to the Gladman proposal but what that objection is all about I have absolutely no idea."

The Goodman website says the company is one of the world's leading commercial property groups and has extensive property development expertise.

Readers see the full text of the submission by clicking on the file link below the photo, but in essence the comment confirms the prime objection of many residents of Audlem that the proposed development is outside the village settlement boundary and too large.

It also includes the interesting statement:

"Goodman supports the protection of the open countryside which seeks to confine development within the settlement boundaries to maintain the identity and character of these rural settlements."

It is a shame that the submission spells "Audlem" as "Audlum" throughout, but in other respects appears to strongly support the Parish Council's criticism of the proposals and, indeed, would appear to apply equally to the Mill Lane proposal.

Councillor Seddon told the meeting that the date of the submitted comment is about a month after the stated closing date for submissions.

He told councillors: "If they are objecting to the Gladman proposals they may have something else in mind. We may not be looking at housing on the site but at a Tesco superstore."

We hope he is only kidding.

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