Cheshire East Council chiefs have bowed to pressure and switched a public inquiry into the Muller Homes Stapeley plan from Macclesfield to Crewe.
The four-day inquiry, originally scheduled for Macclesfield town hall on February 18, will now take place in Crewe Municipal Buildings.
Cllrs Peter Groves and Andrew Martin, of Nantwich South and Stapeley ward, hailed the decision as a victory for common sense.
Many residents were furious at the idea if staging an inquiry into the controversial “Nantwich South” Muller plans some 30 miles away. It was feared it would deter many residents from attending.
Cllr Groves told Nantwichnews: “We have managed to move original bookings that were in the Municipal Buildings to other venues so we can now use for the public inquiry.
“There was no where else we could have gone.
“So this is wonderful news. We have been very concerned as Macclesfield is a 50-mile round trip and the travel and cost would have been too much for residents who want to attend this.
“Now hopefully a lot more people will be able to attend this important inquiry.”
MP Edward Timpson waded into the row last week and called for Council Leader Michael Jones and chief executive Mike Suarez to find an alternative venue nearer to the site.
The appeal is over Muller’s original outline applications for phase one of their planned “Nantwich South” 1,100-home village on land between Peter de Stapleigh Way, Broad Lane and London Road.
The applications are for the first 189 homes and an access road off Peter de Stapleigh Way.
Muller representative Carl Davey was keen to point out at a public meeting in Stapeley earlier this week that they had nothing to do with where the inquiry was originally scheduled for.
Stapeley Parish Council has earmarked £20,000 to pay for a legal team to fight Muller Homes at the appeal.
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