Timber company’s bid to use site is rejected
ATIMBER merchant has been refused permission to operate his business after complaints power tools could be heard up to 400m from the site.
Egertons Timber and Hardware began using the former site of Cheshire Nurseries, on Salters Lane, Siddington, in April 2021.
But the required planning permission was not in place and a retrospective application has been refused by Cheshire East Council.
The decision follows objections from the parish council and residents who complained about noise, pressure being put on nearby roads and the business’s impact on a rural area.
A letter from Siddington Parish Council’s clerk said: “I have heard a power saw being used and I live a good 300m to 400m from the site.
“It could be argued the proposed use (retrospective) could be an intensification of previous uses resulting in potentially higher traffic volumes together with noise and light pollution emanating from the site, which could impact on local residents.”
The site had been empty since Cheshire Nurseries - a horticulture business - left in 2012.
According to objections submitted to the council residents first raised concerns when activity began at the site in early 2021.
The retrospective application was subsequently submitted in July last year.
With it was a report from consultants Emery Planning, which said: “It brings a redundant commercial site back into active use, creating new employment opportunities.
“The proposed use involves no processing of materials on site. The site only stores timber materials for sale.
“One fork-lift truck operational. This is the only machinery operational at the site and is only used for loading/ unloading for deliveries and collections. As such, no noisy machinery required.”
The report also stated that hours of operation were two staff working 8am to 4pm Monday-Friday is
and there would be an average of three to five HGV deliveries per month. In recommending the application for refusal, council planner Tim
Poupard said: “It is acknowledged that noise and disturbance can be a subjective matter.
“That being said it is clear that the business on the site and how it is has been operated, for the last year, has, and is, causing great concern to the immediate local residents.”