Children’s home plan is green lit despite concern from councillors

A GUEST house has been given planning permission for the change of use to a residential care home for children, despite claims that residents received no notification of the proposals.

The planning application, for Park View Guest House, off Mill Road, Cheadle, which also involved two extensions to the property, was submitted by Halliwell Homes.

At last week’s meeting of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council’s planning applications committee, Cheadle mayor Ian Plant asked for the application to be deferred as many nearby residents had not received letters of notification, and also that Cheadle Town Council had not had time to discuss the plans. Mr Plant also stated that the planning notice advertising the application had not been up for the sufficient time.

However, despite the plea, the council’s operational manager, Ben Haywood, said that the authority had fulfilled their requirements on the consultation and the application should be decided by the planning committee.

Objections were received which raised concerns over the impact on the value of nearby homes. Objectors also pointed out they had noticed an increase in anti-social behaviour on Cheadle Road recreational ground in recent months and see this as a problem that could escalate as a result of the proposal.

Councillor Plant said:

“This is very strange and disappointing. Have the proposals been advertised for the necessary time?

“The Cheadle masterplan say that the town needs a hotel. Taking away tourism is not the best way forward.”

Karen Mitchell-mellor, CEO of Halliwell Homes, said the young children they help do not cause anti social behaviour.

But Councillor Keith

Flunder said: “I am very concerned that Cheadle Town Council have not had time to discuss this and also that residents have only had five days to comment on it. I am not impressed that residents and the town council have not had their say. This should be deferred to another time.”

The plan was supported by Councillor Bill Cawley. He said: “For planning reason this is in line with policy. It supports disadvantaged children.”

In a proposal to defer the planning the application councillors voted by eight votes to two with one abstention, against it.

In a second vote the planning application was approved by eight votes to two with one abstention.