Cheshire East Council chiefs defended a decision to stage a Nantwich housing public inquiry 30 miles away in Macclesfield.
The Muller Homes plan to build 1,100 homes as part of a “Nantwich South” village in Stapeley have caused uproar.
A public inquiry was ordered by the Planning Inspectorate after Muller appealed against Cheshire East Council’s move to reject the scheme.
But the council incensed many, including MP Edward Timpson, by agreeing to stage the inquiry on February 18 on the other side of the borough.
Nantwichnews understands Cheshire East did inquire about staging the inquiry at Nantwich Civic Hall.
However, this was not possible because of existing bookings in the hall which could not be cancelled as the inquiry could last up to four days.
A spokesperson for Cheshire East Council said: “The council endeavours, where practical, to hold planning appeal inquiries as close as possible to the planning application location.
“However, this aim has to be balanced with the potential cost to the public purse.
“Planning inquiries usually last several days and require a number of rooms in addition to the main hall.
“When the hire of microphones, other equipment and inspector’s refreshments are factored in, the cost of holding an appeal at an external venue rises considerably.
“Ordinarily, this appeal would be heard at the Municipal Buildings in Crewe, but a series of long-standing bookings precluded this.
“Accordingly, the venue has been switched on this occasion to Macclesfield, to make best use of available public meeting rooms.”
Mr Timpson had written a letter earlier this week to Cheshire East chief executive Mike Suarez and Council Leader Cllr Michael Jones to reconsider the decision and to move the inquiry nearer to Nantwich.
It is feared that many who want to attend and air their views will be put off because of the journey and inconvenience.
Stapeley Parish Council is staging a public meeting next Tuesday February 4 from 7.30pm in Stapeley Community Hall to outline their evidence against Muller’s plans to be presented at the public inquiry.
All residents are invited to the meeting.
Or, more likely, Cheshire East find this a lucrative plan and are doing their hardest to ensure it goes ahead. Local residents cannot possibly attend on a working day on the other side of the borough…
What’s the point in opposing it? We just live here!
Common sense would suggest you check the availability of suitable local accommodation for the public enquiry before you set or agree to a date! But then again just maybe you don’t really want local residents to attend!
Can they not move the date to when a venue is available, that would make sense to me.