Are sports plans too complex to resolve? (From Warrington Guardian)

Are sports plans too complex to resolve?

DIRECTORS behind plans for a multi-million-pound sports complex are facing 'difficulties' securing a site and are asking residents to rally around them.

After promising the site would be located in Middlewich, Michael Davey and Marjory Issatt, of MIDPoint Sports Ltd, have now earmarked two sites - one in Middlewich and the other at Broad Lane in Holmes Chapel - as viable locations for the complex.

But they are going to have to overcome 'a few difficulties' to be able to open in December 2005 as scheduled.

Miss Issatt, director of MID Point Sports Ltd, said: "We don't want both Middlewich and Holmes Chapel to lose out on the sports complex and millions of pounds worth of investment.

"The development will create around 150 new jobs and a whole range of regeneration possibilities, as well as raising the profile and awareness of the whole area."

The first site - 23 acres adjoining Broad Lane in Holmes Chapel, next to the M6 at junction 18 - has been objected to by a Middlewich resident who contacted the Government office and put a hold on the planning application.

This could set back plans for up to nine months. A residents' action group from Holmes Chapel is also opposing a separate planning application for a business park on this piece of land.

But MIDPoint Sports hopes that the same group of people will instead back its plans for a sports centre.

The second site, on land behind the Salt Cellar pub, in Holmes Chapel Road, Middlewich, has shared borders with Congleton Borough Council and Vale Royal Borough Council, so there are complications in obtaining planning permission. The section of land that belongs to Vale Royal is green belt and the Congleton borough area is too small to encompass the entire sports facility.

MIDPoint Sports Ltd is now calling on residents of both towns to back the proposals with letters of support.

l Residents in favour of the sports complex - at Holmes Chapel and Middlewich - are asked to send their letters of support to: MID Point Sports Ltd, c/o Profile Communication, Blakemere Craft Centre, Sandiway, Northwich, Cheshire, CW8 2EB.

jdriscoll@guardiangrp.co.uk.