Housing plan discussed at PC meeting

Steve Amies, speaking on behalf of residents near the Mill Lane proposed development, addressed Audlem Parish Council at their Monday meeting about the re-application for 26 houses by Heathfield Road and Mill Lane.

He stressed that the main objection of the access and the effect on Heathfield Road had still not been resolved – Cheshire East had paid for an "independent" examination of the problem, but in his view the wrong questions had been asked.

Their report had concentrated on the new crossroads which would provide access to the site rather than the knock-on effect on the already difficult situation on Heathfield Road. He asked the Parish Council to consider helping to pay for a separate investigation if Cheshire East won't do it "properly".

"Mind-blowing" was his opinion of the response from Cheshire East.*

Later, the Mill Lane re-application was discussed by councillors. The revised plan was rejected almost unanimously.

Investigations will continue and the Parish Council will support the Residents in trying to get the access investigation done "properly" – if necessary the PC will consider funding their own expert investigation.

*At the initial hearing of the application to build 36 homes off Heathfield Road and Mill Lane heard in Macclesfield on 10th October, Cheshire East councillors that had visited the site expressed severe reservations about the safety of Heathfield Road even without additional housing.

Despite that, the council's Highways representative at the meeting refused to add those objections to his report saying the only reservation Highways had was related to Mill Lane itself being used for additional traffic.

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