Homes plan hit by peat protesters
ANOTHER major development in Macclesfield is facing protests - with the removal of carbon holding peat once again the focus of objections.
Vistry Homes was given permission to build up to 330 dwellings at Gaw End Lane, Lyme Green, earlier this year.
This permission - as is often the case - was given with certain conditions attached, including that any work to remediate the ground must be agreed before development can begin.
Vistry has now submitted its remediation strategy, asking that it be approved and the condition now be considered fulfilled.
But this has attracted 17 objections from residents, all saying peat on site must not be disturbed because of its important role fighting climate change.
One said: “These plans also will destroy another huge swath of environmentally helpful peat land. Does no one care anymore?
“If these are built I’ll sell us and leave this ever expending brick and tarmac hell hole to the people who want it like this.”
Another said: “With global warming, how can anyone justify excavating, or in anyway damaging the carbon collecting peat onsite.”
Some objectors say that the fact peat is on site has been known for some time and should have been dealt with by the original main application.
The development itself met with objections from residents as well as Sutton
Parish Council. Issues raised were overdevelopment, too much pressure on facilities such as schools and traffic.
The submitted strategy, by consultants Wardell Armstrong says: “Where peat deposits have either been recorded on the site or are encountered in the earthworks, the materials should be excavated and require off-site disposal at a suitably licensed facility.
“Where encountered during the ground investigation works these locations have been marked.”
A letter sent with the latest Vistry application says the remedial strategy has been produced taking account of the council’s developer guide and the application should be ‘validated without delay.’
The company has been contacted for further comment.