Residents living near Reaseheath College in Nantwich claim construction work on new sporting facilities has started – without planning permission.
Families living close to the college grounds off the A51 raised their concerns at a Worleston parish council meeting.
Reaseheath College has applied to relocate and construct some of its sports pitches.
However, the planning application is still to be decided – and these photographs seem to show work already underway.
Now it has emerged Cheshire East Council is aware of the work, but has so far decided against enforcement action.
The council has said they are “looking into” complaints.
One resident said: “On Cheshire East’s planning website, approval has not yet been granted, and that one of the sports pitches will not be on the current pitch footprint.
“However, work has already commenced. At 7.15am one morning, work was in full progress. Noise and disturbance!
“The lorries removing the top soil mound continue to visit all day, and the soil spillage on the road gets worse when it has rained.”
Another resident said the enforcement team at Cheshire East Council is “aware that the college has started”.
“Although they are not happy, they were approached to start on the grounds they needed to begin even without formal permission because there was a deadline on receiving funding,” he added.
“If for any reason permission is refused, the college runs the risk of a financial sanction.
“There is no automatic application of restricted hours on any site, however Cheshire East is to investigate any complaints of nuisance.”
A Cheshire East Council spokesman told Nantwichnews: “We are aware of complaints about work being undertaken at the college and we are looking into this.
“The college has submitted an application for full planning consent, which has yet to be determined, but that does not prevent them from carrying out any preparatory work at their own risk.
“The council understands the college chose to make a start on this project in order to secure some funding prior to the expiry of a deadline for that funding.
“Carrying out works without the benefit of planning consent does not constitute an offence, only a breach of the Town and Country Planning Act.
“The works may be liable to enforcement action should retrospective planning permission not be obtained.
“We will continue to monitor the situation.”
Reaseheath College has so far declined to comment on the complaints.
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