TREAT PUBLIC WITH RESPECT

AT the meeting in the Macclesfield Town Hall on September 2, members of the audience including elected officials asked for the details of the S278 agreement between Cheshire East Council, and Bellway relating to Broken Cross roundabout to be published.

Officers said it wasn’t normal practice but would publish the agreement on the planning portal under planning application 17/4277m, the outline application for the land between Whirley Road and Chelford Road.

On September 27 after much chasing by Henbury Parish Council, five maps were placed on the portal, but no information relating to the actual S278 agreement, with the interim head of highways adamant these five documents formed the full agreement.

The trouble is, there is a general lack of trust in the council by the public relating to the whole Chelford Road and Broken Cross developments and rather than officers getting the blame, the other (more public) names are those in the firing line, which is clearly not fair as some elected members and MP Mr Rutley have worked hard with the public on Broken Cross.

We all know that these improvements are a step back in time not forward and even at the strategic planning board meeting, an officer stated the junction would be over capacity from day one.

Mr Rutley, and others highlighted the fact that officers and the developer had not been forthcoming with information to inform the residents and businesses of these works, and despite reassurances at the meeting, communication is still poor at best.

As an affected parish, Henbury Parish Council requests that you all work together, cross party, to ensure that all the details of the S278 are published in full very soon.

Let’s give the public the respect and courtesy they deserve, as many came away from the meeting disappointed with the attitude of some of the officers.

Richard Slater

Henbury Parish Council