Residents' victory in plans battle

PLACARD-carrying protestors have won a battle to block proposals for stables and storage buildings on Green Belt land near their homes at Warrington.
The borough council’s development control committee has thrown out the proposals for land at the rear of Petersfield Gardens, Culcheth.
Residents of Petersfield Gardens, Richmond Close and Sutton Avenue lodged objections to the scheme and there was opposition also from Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council and borough councillors Keith and Sue Bland.
The scheme involved eight stables, a storage/tack room and hardstanding.
Last year, a similar scheme involving 10 stables was turned down and according to planning officers, the principle of stable on the site was established as long ago as 1994.
But officers recommended the plan be approved on the grounds stables were an appropriate Green Belt development which would have no detrimental impact on nearby houses, nor visual amenity or highway safety.
But residents, some of who attended the meeting bearing protest placards, said the scheme was no different to the earlier one which was refused.
They considered it obtrusive and intrusive and likely to cause increased traffic levels, vermin and smells.
The development would result in mud and horse manure on the roads, creating a highway safety issue.
They also claimed the area was subject to flooding.