A Nantwich councillor admits people in the town have been “let down” after plans for the massive 1,100-home Kingsley Fields development were approved.
Cllr Jon Hopkins (pictured) was among several councillors to speak out over the impact the development could have on Nantwich.
Developers North West Nantwich Consortium, which include Reaseheath College and Mosaic Estates, were granted outline permission by Cheshire East Council last month, it are expected to submit detailed plans soon.
But Cllr Hopkins said the town and borough council should have “nailed down” more conditions and details around the development before the approval went through.
Referring to the impact on traffic, the local road network, school places, and council tax contributions, he said: “All this should have been nailed down before we gave away approval.
“I am disappointed and a little bit astonished by all of it. All the thoughts we have had on this have possibly not been listened to.
“The people of Nantwich have been let down in this process.”
The discussion at a Nantwich Town Council meeting centred on comments made by Cllr Michael Jones, leader of Cheshire East Council.
He said a new school may not be needed on the development and that money could go towards providing additional places at nearby Millfields, Highfields, Wyche and Acton primary schools.
It also emerged that people moving onto the new development would actually be in the Acton, Edleston and Henhull parish boundary, and would therefore not contribute to Nantwich Town council tax.
Cllr Penny Butterill said: “I spelled all this out to them at the last meeting on the Local Plan at Cheshire East, that we are not getting any of this council tax. They are aware of our concerns.”
Cllr Stuart Hutton asked: “How can we make sure all these things are considered before a single brick is laid in this new development?”
Cllr John Lewis, mayor of Nantwich, said: “We have to make a stronger case once we have seen the more detailed plans from the Kingsley Field developers.”
Council clerk Ian Hope said the developers are likely to submit detailed plans for the first phase in the coming weeks, which will go out to public consultation.
Interesting comment that the people of Nantwich have been let down by the process (thus diverting blame from the councillors). The comment might be correct and, if it is, it begs the question “What are councillors for?”. If they are not listened to, what is the point of electing them? Poncing about with fancy robes and chains, Christmas lights and other marginal stuff is not really what we want. Or maybe it is!