Relief for traders as homes plan is pulled

●●Paul, Bob and Yvonne Barlow from Pressed Parts, David McCann from Pioneer Gas Ltd, Coleen Skeldon from Pressed Parts, Rodney Aspden from Accumac Ltd, John Horne from Dale Event Hire, Neil Fagan from Protec Boxing Rings Ltd, Beverly Horne from Dale Event Hire and Jenny and Ken Lynch from Serious Brewing Company all operate on Fieldhouse Industrial Estate in Rochdale be able to cope with the additional traffic that would be generated.

Council leader Allen Brett had warned Countryside the scheme would not be granted planning permission, as the 13-acre site is earmarked for business and industrial use under council policies. It is understood council planning chiefs were poised to refuse the application.

Countryside says it has shelved the plans to take stock of the situation and consider the response it has received from the public, local politicians and businesses.

Gordon Innes, managing director of Countryside Manchester and

Cheshire East, said: “We have decided to withdraw the application to allow more time to review the comments received during the planning process, which will inform our next steps.”

Beverly Horne, who runs Dale Event Hire with husband John, said traders were ‘incredibly relieved’.

She said: “We are just hoping now that draws a line under it.

“We are really delighted, there are an awful lot of traders on there that are so relieved. It’s just been such a weight on everyone’s shoulders.

“We are operating under Covid rules at the moment - and a lot of us aren’t operating at all - and having this hanging over us was just a nightmare.”

And Beverly says that the news coming just before Christmas has been ‘perfect timing’,

“For an awful lot of people it just means we can relax a little bit,” she said.

“People are saying ‘let’s look forward, now, to a better new year in all aspects.”

However, while the application has been withdrawn for now, that does not mean it will not reappear in a revised form next year.

One possibility is Countryside could return with a scaled-down scheme or one that includes both housing and industrial use.

“Although most people are incredibly relieved and happy about the news, there’s that little air of caution that it might not be the end of it,” said Beverly.

“We just don’t know what’s going to happen around the corner. There are people saying ‘will that be the end of it, or will something happen down the line.”

Beverly also thanked Rochdale council leader Allen Brett for the ‘terrific and consistent’ support he has given traders at Fieldhouse Industrial Estate.