Shops and homes plan comes under attack (From Warrington Guardian)

Shops and homes plan comes under attack

A PLAN to build shops and houses in Wheelock Street, Middlewich, has run into opposition.

An application has been submitted to Congleton Borough Council for permission to build eight shop units, eight mews houses and 20 flats at The Tannery site.

But the mixed commercial and residential planning application has been recommended for refusal by Middlewich Town Council.

Councillors believe the Wheelock Street site should be retained solely for retail use.

At a meeting of the town council, Clr Mike Hunter said: "I've had a very good look at these plans and when I first saw them I thought 'great, just what we needed, super'.

"But when I looked at them in detail I couldn't see why we should be approving them.

"Although this area is an eyesore in the town and needs cleaning up, it should be for retail use not for all this housing.

"I can go for flats over the shops but not residential housing. And this application has been made with a number of errors.

"There are not enough car parking spaces and no provision whatsoever has been made for any rear access to the shops so they would all have to be serviced from Wheelock Street.

"I would say we move this application for refusal."

Councillors agreed with Clr Hunter's recommendation and their observations will now be reported to Congleton Borough Council's planning committee.

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