EMOTIONS are still running high over controversial plans to create a 24-hour, 365-days-a-year transport depot in Winsford.

Cheshire County Council wants to buy the Phoenix House site in Clough Road from Vale Royal Borough Council and make it into a base for highways trucks and schools and library vehicles.

However, before the deal goes ahead, councillors need to agree to abolish a planning restriction that limits use of the depot from 7.30am to 5pm on weekdays.

Richard Bennett, of Weaver Street, handed over an 85-signature petition opposing the plans in April.

He said: "Anyone with a brain would not operate this depot from a residential area.

"There is an industrial estate just up the road with lots of empty units. Why don't they operate out of one of those?

"It annoys me. They should not be allowed to create this here - the people behind this would not like it built wherever they live.

"I feel like we are being hoodwinked by the council into accepting this with the way they have put a planning application in to change a condition restricting the hours of use. But I'm not letting them pull the wool over my eyes."

However, the county council has altered the plans for the depot after residents voiced concerns.

Instead of locating gritters at Phoenix House, the council is negotiating with the Salt Union to keep 15 gritters parked at the salt site on Bradford Road.

The council hopes this will stop residents living near Phoenix House being disturbed out of normal working hours.

Plans for six, 10metre-high lighting columns have also been scrapped, and instead the council hopes to install 12, six metre-high lights that will emit light similar to a residential street.

A county council spokesman said: "We have taken on board concerns raised by residents and in this new planning application have worked hard, where ever possible, on proposals to minimise disruption or noise."

Borough councillors will debate the proposals at a planning meeting next Tuesday, but the final decision on whether to allow the hours of use to change will be taken by Cheshire County Council's own development regulatory committee.

rfraser@guardiangrp.co.uk