TOWN councillors are recommending that plans to build eight retail shop units, eight mews houses and 20 flats in Middlewich town centre should be thrown out.

The mixed residential and commercial application for The Tannery, Wheelock Street, was discussed at a meeting of the council last Monday.

Clr Russell Watkinson said that if the plan was approved, it would be setting a precedent for more residential development in the town centre, rather than much-needed retail business.

He explained: "This is the prime site in Middlewich for land and if we get this wrong it's forever and a day.

"We can see in the town where previous bad decisions have been taken and how it suffers now. This is vitally important.

"We should be careful not to set a precedent of giving permission for residential development in what should be for retail use.

"Living above a shop is acceptable but houses standing alone are not. If this was to be approved, then how would the borough council defend another application that comes in for more houses? We would have already accepted the principal of houses on a retail site.

"I want to see more shops in Middlewich instead."

Clr Mike Hunter also urged that the plan be turned down.

He said: "There are not enough parking spaces provided for the flats and houses.

"I have heard that they want to make more provision for parking on Southway. But we have had problems in the past with cars parking around this area and we do not want this problem to come back. I believe this council should refuse it."

But Clr Bill Lockwood pointed out that the proposal did have its advantages, attracting new shops in to the town.

He stated: "I have an awful feeling that if we allow it to go too long without anything happening on this site then we will reach the point of no return in what we hope will become a healthy and attractive town centre.

"Many of the shops struggle to survive and so we have to encourage more people to come to Middlewich.

"Although I agree with not allowing residential property to be built on retail land, at the end of the day the people would not want to build this development if they thought the shops would not work.

"If we do not accept the plan, we could be left with an empty site for years and years to come.

"We have a town centre that is full of takeaways and estate agents. It may be that eight shops, eight mews houses and 20 flats is the best that we can hope for."

However, Clr Hunter warned: "Once you give permission for these houses I reckon that within six months you will see another plan coming in for more housing. If we give in now it will leave Middlewich in a bad way."

Councillors voted to recommend refusal of the planning application. A decision on the scheme will be made by Congleton Borough Council.

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