RESIDENTS up in arms over plans to turn their road into an access for a proposed housing estate have won the support of councillors.

Strategic Team Group and Adactus Housing is seeking planning approval for 21 apartments, 16 houses and two bungalows on land at the end of Peter Street in Northwich.

Peter Street is a no through road, and if the plans are approved it would serve as an access point for the new housing.

The scheme has provoked a storm of protest, with Peter Street residents claiming their road cannot cope with any more traffic.

They say cars are often parked nose to tail on both sides of the road, making it impossible for two cars to pass each other.

Drivers often have to reverse onto the unmade turning circle at the end of the road to allow the other car to pass, land which would form part of the planned housing scheme.

Residents have sent numerous letters opposing the scheme to Cheshire West and Chester Council, and met Cheshire West councillors Sam Naylor and Paul Dolan and Northwich town councillor Brian Jamieson last Saturday to express their concerns about the scheme.

The application is to be discussed by councillors at Cheshire West’s strategic planning committee after councillors Dolan and Naylor asked for the scheme to be ‘called in’ so it will be debated by the committee.

Councillors Dolan and Naylor have also asked to speak about the scheme at the committee.

They asked for the application to be ‘called in’ on a number of grounds, including the major traffic congestion which they claim the scheme would create.

They say the scheme is premature in the context of the East Gateway plan/consultation for Northwich, the Neighbourhood Plan and residents’ own plans for the site.

The estate would be out of character with the terraced street, they claim, there would be insufficient turnaround and extra parking provision and access for emergency vehicles would be difficult at a site with a history of water pipe bursts.

“There was a very strong feeling from the residents that this scheme is just not feasible,” said Cllr Naylor.

“Councillor Dolan and I are totally against it, and we will do whatever we can to stop this development.”

Councillor Brian Jamieson echoed the concern that the scheme was premature in terms of the Northwich Neighbourhood Plan, which is in the process of being developed.