VILLAGERS living near to a proposed affordable housing site on green belt land have penned almost 60 letters opposing the plans.

Mosaic Town Planning, on behalf of MCI Developments and Your Housing Group, has submitted an application to Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) to create 17 affordable homes on land off Linnards Lane, in Wincham.

The scheme has sparked anger from residents determined to protect the future of the green belt site, and have voiced their concerns to planning officers in the form of direct letters of objection and to members of Wincham Parish Council, with a 30-strong group attending its April meeting.

In one of many strong letters of opposition to the plans, villager Patricia Hughes said: “The field has been untouched for years and has now gained a variety of wildlife, of which have found save haven and return year after year.

“This has become a popular walk through for families to enjoy the peace and nature, children to play, for dog walking and a running track.

“The extra traffic will only add pressure on the already saturated services in the village, not to say wear and tear on the road surfaces, already we are feeling the aging of the roads and potholes that already need attention.

“This is a small village and has no room for more houses, especially in such a small secluded beauty spot.”

And Wincham councillors sitting on its planning committee have backed residents and given the thumbs-down to the plans.

Concerns relating to poor drainage and flooding on the site, as well as lower water pressure and regular power cuts in the village have been flagged up as reasons why the development should be refused, in addition to its green belt location.

Councillors highlighted that the developers had made ‘no reference or regard’ to Wincham’s Parish Plan, which stated 81 per cent of respondents did not think there was a need for new housing in the village and 94 per cent of people wanted to preserve the green belt within the village.

It added: “There have been numerous concerns over the width of Linnards Lane at the point of the development and there are concerns that the existing problems caused with cars parking and the resultant narrowing of the road would be exacerbated.”

A spokesperson for Mosaic Town Planning, made on behalf of the applicant, said the plans were based on ‘the current need’ for social housing in the area.

He said: “Although the site is in the green belt, the policy allows for exceptional development such as this type of scheme.

“The housing would be for local people only and would remain affordable in perpetuity.

“The public consultation responses have not raised issues which have not been addressed in the accompanying submission.

“In terms of the responses regarding the recreational use of the site by local residents; this site is and always has been private land.

“Residents using this land have effectively trespassed and no acquired rights have been gained. “There are signs fronting Linnards Lane that have been in place for over 20 years stating the land is private.

“This scheme provides a balance between meeting an identified need for affordable housing and achieving a small-scale residential scheme which is sympathetic to its surroundings.”

COUNCILLORS representing the Marbury ward have called in the planning application for 17 affordable homes.

Clr Norman Wright and Clr Malcolm Byram made the decision after receiving correspondence from residents.

This means that the application will be heard by a planning committee and residents, the parish council and the applicant will have their chance to speak.

A date for the meeting has not yet been set.

PLANS to create three stable rooms and associated facilities on land off Linnards Lane have been submitted simultaneously to the affordable homes proposals.

Mosaic Town Planning, acting on behalf of applicants MCI Developments and Derwent Holdings, have put forward a planning application to Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) to change the use of the land for the keeping of horses and the erection of a stable block.

The stables, which are will be for the use of the applicant, will be constructed from timber, with a metal roof.

In the application’s design and access statement, it said there was an ‘overwhelming case’ to give the plans the thumbs up.

It said: “Historically the area has attracted a mixture of rural uses which invariably included equine related development.

“The proposals help to maintain Wincham as a vibrant village with a mixture of complimentary uses contributing towards a sustainable settlement.”

Wincham parish councillors declared their opposition to the plans at its last meeting.

Clr Annie Makepeace said: “There is no need for it.

“I can’t see the point of having a stable block when we have got riding facilities that are under used.”

Retiring chairman clr Kenton Barker said: ”Any development in the village is going to have more of an impact on the water pressure and the drainage issues we had in the objections to the housing development.

“I can see creep development happening here but no planning reason we can prove it.”