Knutsford town councillors were today due to discuss the development of the Royal George with Macclesfield's chief planning officer Peter Yates.

Councillors called the private meeting after fears that planning officers might ignore their unfavourable comments about the £10 million scheme.

"The main issue is that we want assurances that all the comments we have made have been taken into consideration," said town mayor George Walton on Monday.

"We want to make sure that they have all the information."

Last month councillors were angry that their objections had been omitted from a report due to be studied by borough planners who were deciding on the merits of the scheme.

At last week's town council meeting in Knutsford, councillors held a lively 30-minute discussion in the council chamber debating whether to invite developer Philip Hughes to a future meeting to discuss his plans.

"It could be seen to be favouring the developer if we have a meeting with him," said Clr Barbara Austin. "We should have an open meeting for all the residents with the planning officer there as well seeing as this is such a big thing."

But Clr Bert Grange argued against the idea, saying there was no need.

"What is wrong with the system that everyone else adheres to?" he asked. "The planning committee will only look at the plans on planning grounds and nothing else.

"All you have to do is write to the planning department with your comments about the development as you have done and that's it.

"We pay them to do their job and they are not biased."

But Clr Walton disagreed. "We don't know sitting here if the developer has taken our points on board," he said.

Instead four councillors decided to present their arguments to Mr Yates at Macclesfield Town Hall.

ssmith@guardiangrp.co.uk