Rival councillors unite to fight Gosling plans (From Warrington Guardian)

Rival councillors unite to fight Gosling plans

5:00pm Friday 14th September 2012 in News

RIVAL councillors in Croft have joined forces to fight a planning decision in the village.

Conservative member Sue Bland and Labour’s Chris Vobe are hoping the coalition Government will intervene to stop a development on the former HMS Gosling land in the village.

And they have reamed up to ask culture secretary Maria Miller to stop the plans to bulldoze the former wartime camp and replace it with 25 four and five bedroom properties.

He has written to her to call for the still-standing wartime training buildings to be added to the national List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, which are overseen by English Heritage.

Clr Vobe said jointly signing the letter showed ‘responsible politics’.

He added: “When it comes to important local issues, politicians of all parties should set aside their differences and work towards a solution for the community.

“It is also the duty of local councillors to act as conscientious representatives for their area. Although Clr Bland and I disagree on many issues, she has chosen to back my calls for her Government to intervene on HMS Gosling.”

And he called on the secretary of state to step in after the application was agree by members of the council’s planning committee in April.

He added: “This would stop the development in its tracks, and grant English Heritage the power to maintain and restore the site in the long term.

“I believe, as do people in Croft, that HMS Gosling fits these criteria as it remains the only surviving wartime naval training camp in this area.

“I am asking the Secretary of State to exercise the power she has to ensure that the wishes of nearly 400 Croft residents are placed above the developer.”