‘Further development will make situation more dangerous’
PLANS for two new homes near a historic well in a Staffordshire Moorlands town have been thrown out.
Developer RMWJ Interests LTD had applied to build two new homes on Cauldon Close, in the Ladydale area of Leek.
As well as the homes, the developers said they’d provide new public amenity land - and restore the area around the nearby Grade-ii listed Lady of the Dale Well.
But Staffordshire Moorlands District Council has refused the application.
The developers said the new homes would be a ‘high quality development that is sensitive to the local context’.
Their design and access statement added: “The proposals aim to make the most efficient use of land that is appropriate to the nature and setting of the site.
“The layout and design of the scheme will be such that it supports crime prevention and community safety, with development clearly overlooking public spaces and streets.”
However a total of 125 people signed a petition opposing the scheme - with 24 writing objections to the council.
The petition stated: “The development will have a negative effect upon the wildlife and landscape adjacent to the listed Lady of the Dale Well.
“Cauldon Close is already an unsafe area for pedestrians, particularly for children and the partially sighted as the Close is narrow and shared with motor vehicles, there being no pavement.
“Any further development will make the situation more dangerous.”
In their planning report, officers at Staffordshire Moorlands District
Council said: “The provision of two dwellings in this location in a sustainable location would achieve some social and economic benefit (as well as environmental due to the sustainable location), although the social benefit is diminished as the adoption of the Local Plan means that the District now has a five year housing land supply in the form of housing land allocations.
“There are other social benefits such as the setting aside of the fen area as a public open space although Cauldon Close residents already enjoy good access to open land via the many footpaths leading from the road so this would undermine the benefit. The applicant’s intentions to restore the well and its setting would also be an environmental benefit.
“However, on the whole, the benefits outlined would be far outweighed by the significant environmental harms identified including ecological harms, landscape harms, harms to the immediate character and appearance of the area including removal of protected trees and harm to heritage assets.”
The stone structure at the Lady of the Dale well was added in the 19th century - although the site had been in use long before then.
In their consultation on this application, the council’s conservation officer stated: “The VCA states that the well dates back to the Middle Ages (previously Lady Wall Dale in the late 16th century) and in the 19th century the stone structure was erected.
“It mentions that it was part of a processional route including a May Day procession to the well from St Mary’s Catholic Church and it was used by locals for healing purposes.”