A CONTROVERSIAL planning application to allow a residential caravan site for five traveller households in Stretton has been approved by councillors.

Green belt land bound by Fir Tree Close and the M56 will be changed for the use of stabling horses and for five traveller families who will be allowed up to two caravans each.

The application also seeks retrospective consent for the laying out of additional hardstanding.

Applicant Charles Smith submitted the documents in June 2018.

However, the plans received almost 50 letters of objection from residents, along with complaints from Whitley Parish Council and Stretton Parish Council.

Whitley Parish Council, said: "We strongly object, the proposal is inappropriate development in the green belt and the applicant has shown disregard for the planning process.

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"The site is particularly large and has potential for families to continue development beyond the application currently being considered.

"The parish council has been informed that the family have moved from two other sites and there is therefore no need for this further site and there are many other sites in existence in Warrington and it seems unnecessary to place another site within the green belt."

Warrington Guardian:

At a planning meeting at Orford Jubilee Hub on Wednesday, ward councillor for Appleton, Brian Axcell (LD) spoke against the plans.

He said: "When they were evicted from their Daresbury site, they got the choice to stay in the Halton borough, there was an option for them.

"This is not a brown field site."

Cllr Axcell also argued that the change of use of the land would make the green belt vulnerable to future developments.

He also read out a statement from Stretton Parish Council saying: "The proposed site is located just a few hundred yards from an existing travelling showpeople site in Stretton with five pitches for a mix of chalets and travelling caravans.

"Within two-and-a-half miles there are two other traveller sites located in Grappenhall and Walton that provide more than 50 pitches.

"These figures clearly demonstrate that these three small parishes within south Warrington already make a major and disproportionate contribution towards the provision of gypsy / traveller accommodation within the borough."

Agents acting on behalf of the applicant were present at the meeting.

They said: "The majority of the seven acres would remain open. The proposed change is only on a small part of the site.

"There needs to be an extra 15 pitches for travellers by 2032 and even with the proposed eight pitches at Grappenhall Lodge there is still a shortfall of seven.

"The area has also been assessed as weak contribution to the green belt objectives."

While the caravans would be visible from the motorway, they would be screened from public vantage points in Stretton, planning officers confirmed.

Latchford West councillor Les Morgan (LAB) said: "I visited the site and found it perfectly legitimate," while Joan Grime, councillor for Culcheth, Glazebury and Croft (LAB) agreed 'the damage would be quite small'.

The application was approved with just one councillor objecting.