Campaigners win battle to stop Hack Green RAF base turning into travellers camp

Villagers near Nantwich are celebrating after the Planning Inspectorate dismissed an appeal to turn former RAF camp at Hack Green into a travellers camp.

Applicants representing nine traveller families, known as Hack Green Group, wanted to turn the former camp into nine plots.

These would be designed to house up to 10 showpeople families and their vehicles, caravans and fairground rides.

But villagers in Austerson and Hack Green fought the plan, calling it the wrong location because of the narrow lanes and impact on the surrounding countryside.

Cheshire East Council refused the application two years ago, which sparked an appeal from the Hack Green Group.

The appeal was heard over two days at Crewe Alexandra FC in February last year.

But now the Planning Inspectorate has dismissed the appeal.

In its report, the inspectorate said the proposal would have “certain significant and adverse effects on the character and appearance of the area”.

It adds that these adverse impacts would “significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits, and it would not represent a sustainable form of development”.

Applicants had also requested a five-year temporary permission while other longer term travellers sites are identified.

But this idea was also dismissed by the inspectorate.

It concludes: “Taking into account all material considerations, I am satisfied that the legitimate aim of protecting the countryside can only be adequately safeguarded by dismissal of the appeal”.

Reuben Davies, one of the lead campaigners against the plans, said: “Both the immediate and the wider community are relieved that the planning inspector found in favour of Cheshire East Planning Department’s decision and dismissed the appeal.

“We have always felt strongly that this application was wholly inappropriate for the proposed site, and the potential effects on both the local community and the wider area were extremely worrying.

“The decision brings to an end nearly three years of campaigning against this proposal. We hope that the character of the open countryside here will now be preserved.”