Anger at council’s car park decision
Farm shop could sell alcohol
A RESIDENT has hit back at the results of a poll on plans to turn the former public toilets site at Bridge Green into a car park.
Prestbury Parish Council closed the free Prestbury public conveniences after claiming were too expensive to run.
They then launched a consultation into the future of the space, asking residents’ for their opinions on whether it should become a car park, open space, or if the toilets should be reopened.
But resident David Gibbs, from Shirleys Close, has branded the process ‘a fiasco’ and said the decision to give village businesses two poll votes each as ‘undemocratic and unconstitutional’.
He is now calling on A WEEK remains for residents to have their say on whether a traditional butcher’s and farm shop should be granted a licence to serve alcohol to take away.
The Artisan Meat Company, at Cherry Tree Farm, on Lees Lane, in Mottram St Andrew, has put in a request to supply alcohol seven days a week. the council to carry out a second poll.
He said: “Prestbury residents with a village business were allowed two votes each – this is undemocratic and unconstitutional and renders the entire vote invalid.”
He added the car park would ‘completely exhaust’ the council’s reserves of £40,500 and said a ‘non-emergency project which benefits only a tiny minority’ was not a good use of public money. David also accused the council of not making clear the extra council tax of around £21.25 per household the plans would entail, claiming the word ‘precept’ could confuse the infirm or elderly.
He said: “There needs to be a fresh vote on a one resident, one vote
Any alcohol purchased would be for consumption off the premises.
The alcohol would be sold from 8am to 6pm Mondays to Saturdays and from 10am until 4pm on Sundays.
Manager Paul Johnson said: “We already sell premium butcher products.
“For example we use a Himalayan salt chamber basis with forms showing the additional cost per household for each option and the amount the council intend to contribute.”
More than 970 votes were cast in the poll, with 705 voting in favour of a car park.
Coun Arthur Dicken defended the decision to give businesses two votes each, saying that the poll was a process to gauge public opinion in an advisory capacity.
He said: “It was not a legal but a consultative process and the vast majority are in favour of building a small car park. Businesses getting two votes is quite trivial and almost irrelevant.
“Questions were answered at a public meeting and the vote was an honest attempt to sound out public opinion as best we could.” to age our beef and make it premium.
“Selling classic and good quality wines is just another way of offering great value for customers.”
Residents can comment on the shop’s application in writing by September 14 to The Licensing Section, Cheshire East Council, Municipal Buildings, Earle Street, Crewe, CW1 2BJ.