MORE than 250 people are fighting plans for a flood relief installation on playing fields at Warrington.
The scheme has been put forward by United Utilities and involves land off Friends Lane and Stocks Lane, Great Sankey.
It involves a control kiosk, six metre high pressure relief column, gated access with a “grasscrete” access road to serve an underground detention tank.
The underground tank does not form part of the planning application as it can be built under permitted development rights.
An application has been put forward to designate the area as a village green, but this will be the subject of a public inquiry.
Object of the scheme is to divert flood water into the underground tank during periods of heavy rain to prevent sewers backing up and flooding homes, gardens and drives, particularly in Pyecroft Road.
A total of 256 people have signed a petition opposing the scheme.
They claim there may be smells, damage to hedges, traffic and road safety issues, vandalism of the control kiosk and a possible affect on local house prices.
Four individual letters of objection on similar grounds have also been sent to the borough council.
Officers are recommending the scheme be approved.
They say although there will be some impact on the area during the construction period, the underground nature of the development will mean it has no significant harmful visual impact on nearby homes, the playing field or the wider street scene.
Alternative sites have been examined and are unsuitable.
