Barlow's brief

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Public opinion cast aside by MBC planning officers

Vic Barlow
19/ 7/2006

DO NOT scan past this article just because you do not reside in Alderley. If your community has a public park or playing field the following could easily affect you and at some future stage, probably will.

When Alderley Edge Park was gifted to the village it was, not surprisingly, accompanied by a covenant that no building (temporary or permanent) could ever take place on the land. Should you attempt to contravene such a condition you will feel the full force of Macclesfield Borough Council's planning department... and rightly so.

Philanthropic benefactors don't give away valuable land for others to develop; it's a council responsibility to ensure they do not. So when planning permission was granted for a nearby shopping precinct it was on the clear understanding that no building work (temporary or permanent) would ever be permitted on Alderley Park.

Planning officers, however, decided otherwise and despite a cabinet decision to defer any development for two years have allowed work to proceed on a (temporary) car park within Alderley Park. Given the complex multi-tenanted nature of this retail enterprise it's likely the development will take up to five years. Who then would bet on the land reverting to leisure use?

All this has taken place despite rejection of the plans by Alderley Edge Parish Council and a vote by Macclesfield Borough Council's inner cabinet to defer development pending alternative parking arrangements.

So WHO'S in charge? If residents have no say, the wishes of the parish council mean nothing and cabinet decisions are ignored WHO is calling the shots? WHO is powerful enough to contravene covenants, cast aside public opinion and disregard the wishes of democratically elected representatives?

The people of this borough have a right to know and Macclesfield Borough Council a duty to disclose.

  • THE views expressed on this page are those of Vic Barlow and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Express.

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Most recent 1 of 1 user comments

   Dreadful Decision. I don't usually agree with the comments of Mr Victor Barlow. But I'm fully behind him with this one. There's too much development on so called public land! Go on Victor fight the MBC all the way.
Chris Davenport, Congleton
25/07/2006 at 08:15
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