CALLS for a police investigation into why planning documents were destroyed have been played down by council bosses.

A swell of voices, including councillors, had been urging for Cheshire Police to lead the investigation after it was revealed planning documents from pre-2005 had been destroyed.

It only came to light after residents living in a Culcheth cul-de-sac complained to the local government ombudsman over access to a development from their street.

Anne Seex, the investigating officer in that case, said Warrington Borough Council had shown ‘an extraordinary and inexcusable act of maladministration’.

Last week Lib Dem Clr Kevin Reynolds said: “If there is dodgy dealing going on in planning I do not think if you hold an internal enquiry the wider public will say it’s ok.

“It should be open and transparent and the only people who can do that is Cheshire Police.”

But the new council leader said a cross-party committee would examine the issue.

Clr Terry O’Neill said: “This issue is now being reviewed by the council’s cross-party audit and governance committee and no stone will be left unturned to discover what went wrong and what lessons can be learnt.

“The committee’s investigation will be assisted by the council’s solicitor and an internal auditor who are both completely independent of this whole affair. Until the investigation is complete it would be inappropriate to pass further comment because we do not want to prejudice the investigation.”

It comes as the council’s development management committee were meeting tonight, Thursday, to rule on enforcing the closure of access from the Culcheth cul-de-sac.

Residents in Marton Close have asked councillors to put back their quiet road to the way it was by closing an access point from one of the other property’s to a development behind the close.

Councillors have been recommended to take action against the creation of access between Marton Close and the property on Twiss Green Lane due to the impact of noise and disturbance on other residents.