Outrage at U-turn on plans for new village Scout hut
MAWDESLEY Parish Council has reacted with outrage after developers back-tracked on their plans to build a scout hut at Goodyear Business Park.
Developers Jones Homes had included the scout hut in their plans for the housing development on Gorsey Lane, but they have now applied to Chorley Council to change the plans and build three more high-end houses instead.
A petition has now been set up by Mawdesley Parish Council to object to the U-turn, and sets out five reasons to object to the change of plan.
Firstly, the petition states that the original planning permission was granted recognising that it was “in accordance with paragraph 70 of the National Planning Policy Framework which requires developments to deliver the social, recreational and cultural facilities and services the community needs”.
Mawdesley Parish Council said that Chorley Council should not disregard the need for shared space, community facilities and other local services.
The second reason for objection is that provision of a community building was an “integral part of the development” and helped seal the approval of the original application.
Thirdly, the petition set out the positive benefits of building a scout hut.
“Mawdesley Scout Group currently has 25 Beavers, 30 Cubs and 17 Scouts and need their own building to be able to offer quality scouting to the local community.
“The group own a minibus that has to be kept in a field, a trailer that is in a front garden and equipment stored in a garden shed.
“In addition, all leaders have at least one room in their houses full of resources.
“The proposed Scout hut can accommodate all these and more to enable the group to keep everything available in Mawdesley.
“This will mean that the Leaders can concentrate more on a quality programme and less on logistics of finding resources.
“There is also an area of grass behind the planned building to enable outdoor scouting to take place and outdoor skills to be taught.”
The parish council also noted that, with 56 new houses already being built, there would be an increase in the number of young people wishing to join, making a scout hut even more important.
As the scout group currently meets at the Village Hall, the parish council argued that the new scout hut would free up some evenings for the Village Hall to be able to offer to other community groups.
Chairman of Mawdesley Parish Council, Matt Worthington said: “The original planning application was widely objected to, but was approved by the Development Control Committee.
“We believe that one of the factors responsible for the approval was the provision of a community facility, such as the scout hut, and also the prerequisite number of ‘affordable’ homes.
“I do think it’s important to say that we’re not against development within our village, but the sustainability and the provision of services and facilities for 56, or 59 if the application is approved, new families doesn’t seem to have been fully considered.
“I’m sure that the provision of a scout hut did sway a number of people to vote in favour, and this new application must feel like a real slap in the face to those people.”
The petition can be found by searching online at www.change.org