Campaigners send in lawyer to fight green belt proposals

CAMPAIGNERS have paid a barrister to fight proposals to build on large areas of green belt.

Members of Save Macclesfield Green Belt (SMGB) raised £7,500 with an online campaign to send in a barrister to fight their corner when government planning inspector Stephen Pratt examines the council’s Local Plan next week.

The Local Plan dictates what will be built in Macclesfield until 2030 and beyond. It includes large swathes of green belt in south west Macclesfield - as well as other parts of the town - for development.

SMGB raised £7,500 on gofundme.com to oppose the plans the latest draft which is being examined at public hearings by the planning inspector from Tuesday (September 13).

It’s the last chance to fight for changes to the plan which has already gone through nine stages of consultation.

Tim Whiteley, from SMGB, said: “We thank the people of Macclesfield for helping us raise enough money to pay for a barrister.

“All the extra bits of green belt added to the plan are horrendous.

“We argue that with the houses built over the last five years and the amount of brownfield land there is no need to touch the green belt. We will fight this to protect our countryside.”

SMGB has been fighting proposals to build on the green belt since the earliest drafts of the Local Plan and stepped up their campaign after the land in south-west Macclesfield was added earlier this year. The land was called ‘safeguarded land’ which means it would be built on after 2030.

But now some of it, as well as additional land previously not in the plan, is set aside for immediate development instead.

This includes land between Pexhill Road and Chelford Road and Chelford Road and Pexhill Road.

The Local Plan states 4,250 houses need to be built in Macclesfield. Other land for development includes the King’s School Fence Avenue site and Gaw End Lane.

Coun Ainsley Arnold, who is now overseeing the Local Plan, said: “The Council is confident this Local Plan Strategy is comprehensive, fully consulted upon and robust and we look forward towards its successful adoption.”

The examination hearings are at Congleton Town hall from Tuesday, September 13 to 23 and Macclesfield Town Hall from September 27 to October 21.