Councillors apologise after plans to demolish hotel where Pele stayed approved

Lymm (Villafont) Ltd’s application to demolish Lymm Hotel, on Whitbarrow Road, and build a 66-bed residential care home, 45 retirement apartments and a children’s nursery were approved by the development management committee last Wednesday.

It came almost eight months after the developer’s previous application was turned down.

The site gained fame for hosting Pele and his Brazil team mates during the 1966 World Cup, which England won.

More than 180 objections to the application were submitted by residents.

However, during Wednesday’s meeting Suzanne Belfield, from planning agent Street Design Partnership, moved to reassured residents and told the committee that the facilities will focus on community spirit.

She said: “The rationale for this mixed-use development is to provide excellent childcare and elderly care facilities within the same site, which is an exciting opportunity for Lymm.

“This application is a resubmission of a previous application and has been reduced and redesigned in response to the previous objections received and in accordance with the feedback.”

But Lymm’s Liberal Democrat councillors Anna Fradgley and Ian Marks said they were devastated with the decision.

In a joint statement, they added: "We are saddened and very angry that the concerns of over 180 residents have been ignored and the decision has been made by people who don't even live in Lymm, so cannot have direct experience of our worries.

"We think Warrington Borough Council has let us down.

"We want to apologise to future generations of Lymm for demolishing their history.

"The Lymm Hotel may not be an architectural gem but it has a distinct charm and character.

"It has a heritage with links to the old railway and to famous people who have been associated with it.

"The site will be over-developed and the surrounding area will not be able to cope.

"There are major highway safety issues on the nearby roads and parking will be a big problem."