Members opposed to pharmacy flats
WARD councillors in Widnes have made a joint-bid to block the construction of flats at the Appleton Village Pharmacy site on the outskirts of the town centre.
Cllrs Eddie Jones, Ged Philbin and Angela Teeling, have written to Halton Borough Council’s development control committee (DCC) to lodge their objection to the proposed 12 two-bedroom apartments.
Appleton Village Pharmacy would be demolished as part of the scheme.
The councillors’ letter, published online, said the pharmacy is on a bend in the road in Appleton Village affecting vehicle visibility and parking safety, the highway is already ‘congested’ with cars and pedestrians, the road is already ‘heavily built up’ on both sides, and that another large apartment block is being built nearby – in reference to 24 flats being built by the same developer – a ‘Mr Nasr’, of Appleton Village Pharmacy.
They said Appleton Village has four busy junctions and businesses used in the daytime and the evening.
Halton Council’s planning officer on the case has recommended the green light for the scheme to go ahead, subject to conditions and securing payment for off-site open space such as via a Section 106 agreement.
A report published ahead of the DCC decision meeting due to take place remotely via the internet at 5pm on Monday, July 27, said residents had filed three representations over the scheme, raising concerns about the amount of development in area, roads and school and nursery safety, living conditions, parking, lack of bin storage and electric vehicle charging, a smaller pharmacy with reduced service.
It was also claimed the scheme, which has already been reduced from 17 proposed flats to 12, would also be out of character.
The council report added that the local authority’s own highways department would recommend the scheme for refusal on the grounds of insufficient parking, but the document’s author said the location is close to the town centre, facilities and public transport, and that a cycleway is due to be built in the area soon.
Concerns among the area’s councillors remain.
With reference to the 24 flats already under construction nearby, they said: “Finally, there is in addition to the prior mentioned residential accommodation, another large apartment block under construction on the same site as the proposal in question.
“This will also impact detrimentally upon the village, including concerns of access and exit across a narrow pedestrian pavement.
“This existing development was reduced in number of units from the original proposal.
“How, therefore can this further development be acceptable?
“In our view there has to be a recognition of when saturation point is reached in regard to detrimental impact on public safety, health and wellbeing. We believe that point has in this case, already been overstepped.
“Therefore we cannot support the proposed application and agree with the HBC highways department recommendation to refuse the application in the public interest.”
View the plans online at Halton Borough Council’s planning portal, quoting reference 19/00534/FUL.