The Correspondent is at a packed meeting of Tameside Council’s Speaker’s Panel (Planning) committee, where proposals to build more than 150 homes at Stalybridge’s Hartshead Power Station will be discussed.
Objector Lee Holden called it a ‘very shameful application.’
Rachel Glover-White, speaking for Casey, adds: “This application has demonstrated that very special circumstances exist (for development on the Green Belt). Casey is committed to delivering a scheme that minimises disruption. There are no technical reasons why planning permission should not be granted.”
Cllr Doreen Dickinson asks officers about whether this scheme would in fact merge villages like Millbrook, Carrbrook and Heyrod. Cllr Dickinson says: “It’s in a wilderness, there’s nothing there. How can you say it won’t impact on traffic?”
- Highways chiefs state they have asked for improvements to traffic infrastructure and have addressed concerns the nearby junction of Huddersfield Road and Mottram Road has the highest pollution levels in Tameside.
- Cllr Dickinson also raises concerns a cycle pump track is planned for the Sandhills car park in Stalybridge. “I’ve never heard of it,” she says.
- “Every development comes out on to Huddersfield Road. You can’t say it doesn’t have a cumulative impact,” Cllr Dickinson adds.
- Cllr Mike Glover raises why Wakefield Road is not being considered as a point of access. He also questions the financial viability of the scheme.
- By a majority of four to two, the application has been approved.
Does councillor glover have a clue about access from Wakefield road. Single carriage way beyond the bridge and single points on printworks road. Sure casey refused to improve these roads last time. Pathetic.