A planning application has been submitted that would mean houses and a care home being built on St John’s playing field and the park adjacent to Middlewich Road. We know that space is vital to Rudheath residents – both from a physical and mental health perspective and that many people visit the area every day.
Helen Treeby, your local Cheshire West and Chester Councillor and Esther McVey MP held a community meeting this week in Rudheath to talk about the application and there was real concern that lots of local residents were not aware of it and therefore wouldn’t be is a position to pass comment before the deadline.
As a result, they are working with Rudheath Parish Council, Friends of Griffiths Park and Rudheath and Witton Together to try to make sure everyone knows about the application and knows how to make representations to the Council’s planning department.
Both Esther and Helen have asked Cheshire West and Chester Council to extend the deadline for comments, to allow the maximum number of residents to participate but they may decide not to grant the request. Therefore we need to work to the current deadline, which is 24th February 2023, so time is of the essence.
If you are able, you can post your comments directly on Cheshire West and Chester’s planning portal at https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/planning-and-building-control/see-or-comment-on-planning-applications.
If you aren’t online, feel free to call Esther’s office on 01625 529922 and the team can direct you to one of the people in the community who have said they will help load comments for residents.
It is important that objections focus on planning reasons (though that doesn’t stop you mentioning the impact the loss of the playing field and surrounding green space will have on you personally). Acceptable planning reasons would be things like;
1. The application is contrary to planning policy TP10 and will result in the loss of a community space.
2. The applicant’s own assessment concludes there is a shortfall in the number of sports pitches in the area and therefore St John’s playing field needs to be preserved.
3. The green space at St John’s playing field/Griffiths Park was used to help secure planning permission for the Wade Works site. The space should therefore remain a green space to support that substantial development.
4. The volume of traffic (supporting 46 residences and a 66 bed care home) joining Middlewich Road will be substantial. The number of local residents and the proximity of Rudheath Senior Academy means there is a significantly increased safety concern as a result of this proposed development.