A proposal has been put together for a new country park to be built on Green Belt land between Alderley Edge and Wilmslow.
Val Sims and her two brothers Alan and Dudley Wain, who own approximately 150 acres of land east of the A34 bypass, are wanting to build houses on part of the land to the north of Heyes Lane in return for creating 'The Meadows' between Alderley Edge and Wilmslow.
The document states that "the consideration of the land to offer a new open space and associated development has been triggered by the publication of the 'Draft Wilmslow Vision' which is intended to provide an evidence base for CEC to consider when developing the new Cheshire East Local Plan".
The siblings met with Cllr Michael Jones and CEC officers to explore the possibility of transferring a large part of this land to the Council for a country park to be created, in return for allowing them to use the rest of the Green Belt land for housing, earlier in the year, although at that stage there was no formal proposal.
According to the proposal "the creation of a new Country Park in this location would enable development at the fringes of Wilmslow and Alderley Edge to be balanced with the creation of a new area of 'Local Green Space', which could also be used to safeguard the openness of the Green Belt landscape between the two settlements, providing a permanent green break".
The proposed country park covers an area of approximately 100 acres to the north of Heyes Lane, south of the A34 bypass and east of the railway line.
The site comprises of ten fields and was formerly used as pasture, but with increasing levels of public access it is now used to grow grass crops to produce silage.
Plans for 'The Meadows' include a community woodland providing an educational and recreational resource, lakes and boardwalks, grassland trails and wildflower meadows as well as an area for green gym sessions and outdoor fitness.
The country park will also incorporate a wooded hiking trail, a network of cycle tracks and footpaths, educational interpretation books and there is also the provision for allotment plots.
Alderley Edge Parish Council discussed the plans to create a country park on Green Belt land between Alderley Edge and Wilmslow at last night's meeting.
They had received a letter from HOW Planning, sent on behalf of the land owners, requesting a meeting with the Parish Council to discuss the potential country park. However, councillors decided at the meeting on Monday, 10th September, that they were not interested in meeting to discuss the proposal.
Cllr Sue Joseph suggested "Would it not be a good idea to go and hear what they have to say, simply to have as much information as possible."
Cllr Joseph Bergin responded "I think it is a complete waste of time, I could not be in support of it so why set their expectations."
Cllr Mike Williamson commented "My concern would be that CEC might think we would be interested in doing a deal which might encourage them to consider it."
Cllr Frank Keegan added "If any housing is to built anywhere around Alderley Edge then we would require a substantial amount of money for Alderley Edge Parish Council to use within the village."
Richard Barton, of HOW Planning, said "We have prepared the country park document to encourage discussion and to demonstrate how such a proposal could come forward for the benefit of residents of both Alderley Edge and Wilmslow. It would be an appropriate use of the Green Belt and would help to provide accessible, usable green space between the two settlements.
"The potential residential land to the south is included within Cheshire East Council's housing land availability assessment as a developable site, so it is therefore only right to show how the country park relates to this potential development.
"Our door remains open to discuss these proposals."
The document states "The next stages will involve consultation with the local community, Town and Parish Councils and Cheshire East Council to obtain support for the proposals and to seek further ideas from those who could assist in the delivery, funding and management of this new Country Park."
Click here to view the document showing proposals for a new country park called 'The Meadows'.
What do you think about the prospect of having a large country park built on green belt land between Alderley Edge and Wilmslow? Share your views via the comment box below.
Comments
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As prevous people have posted already where are the houses and where is the running cost figures for the next 10 years say?
This seems to suggest that all you need to erode the greenbelt is 'a substantial amount of money'. Noble principles seem to be for sale to the highest bidder.
And a country park......what is that? Open space for people to enjoy, walk dogs etc - sorry but can't we do that already? - several footpaths cross the land.
The history of planning is that S106 means a comparatively small amount of money is paid to the Council - in this case Cheshire East - and that money would PROBABLY be spent in Crewe. So the pain could be taken in Alderley Edge, and the gain could be 30 miles away in Nantwich.
My view of Localism is that IF there is an additional strain on local resources (schools, roads, medical) then a substantial amount has to be paid by the developer in order to ensure that local resources do not diminish at the cost of developer profit.
Do I want a country park? NO, I want a new school, I want the pavements all over the village to be repaired, and I want an upgraded Festival Hall which would support the local community.
It seems to me that the role of an elected Councillor is to try and protect local facilities.
With the Government preparing to relax the Greenbelt policy its important that we don't get hoodwinked into becoming a suburb of Manchester and losing our distinctive identity.
As the County Councillor who took the Bypass through its last 10 years - up to the start of construction - I went through all these details.
The one central promise made by all Councillors, County, Borough, Parish and CE was that they would always oppose any ribbon development along the line of the bypass. So far we have defeated the Tesco / Dobbies plan. We all need to remain alert and active in respect of any proposals for development. Of course, this development looks like it is beside the older existing Wilmslow bypass which is already dual carriageway.
Really, it is better to keep conspiracy theories to yourself.
Print this conversation off, and read it again in 10 years time, and we will see who's MAD. Its definately not me. If proper systems were in place everyone would not need to "remain alert and active".