Public support plans for £1.6m watersport park
PLANS for a new watersports and outdoor adventure park on a former quarry site have garnered huge public support.
Cheshire Lakes Community Interest Company is proposing to transform the former Mere Farm Quarry at Nether Alderley.
The £1.6m facilities will include a cable wakeboard park, low ropes course, open water swimming and paddle sports.
There will also be a cafe, shop, showers and changing facilities, and parking for 100 cars.
Provided planning permission is granted, it is hoped the park could open by spring 2017.
For the last 20 years the quarry, which takes up an area of 53.5 acres, has been used to extract sand and is currently being transformed into a natural wildlife reserve.
Tim Woodhead, managing director of Cheshire Lakes, said: “Cheshire Lakes will bring an amazing fully inclusive sports facility to the local area. It will enable people of all ages and abilities to learn and then regularly participate in a variety of different watersports. Our key aim is to get new people taking part in sport and to get young people away from computer games and TV screens and into the great outdoors.”
Comments made on the council’s planning portal are largely in favour of the project.
Eleanor Banks from Macclesfield said the plans were “an excellent use for a piece of land which could easily become and eyesore and a danger”. She added that it will bring employment opportunities and visitor money to the area.
Julie Barnes from Total People Ltd in Macclesfield said the centre will be perfect for the team building and personal and social development training she organises for young people.
She said: “Cheshire East is lacking in facilities for young people.”
However, neighbour Darren Wilson, who lives on Bollington Lane, fears the centre will bring down the value of his £5m home. He said: “I strongly object to this site on the basis that we have moved to the lane recently on the basis of how quiet the area is.”
The park is expected to create upwards of 30 jobs.
The plans are expected to go in front of a planning committee in June. The deadline for comments from the public is Thursday, April 28.