SO CHESHIRE West and Chester Council have finally adopted a local plan for the council, including the townships of Northwich and Winsford and the surrounding villages.
Providing a credible plan that helps support a sufficient level of regeneration, jobs and housing to meet the needs of residents over the next 15 years is welcome, but why did it take so long in getting here?
After all CWAC took on shadow powers nearly six years ago, and the Localism Act was first unveiled five years ago.
By the 2011 elections, a framework local plan should have been available for full public consultation and earlier adoption, ideally aligned with neighbourhood plans.
Ironic that a self-proclaimed Tory flagship council faced so many impediments and delays from its own Westminster masters.
Instead residents and elected representatives faced five years in which communities, whether in Northwich, Hartford, Davenham or other villages lost the opportunity to effectively defend against the assault of speculative planning applications and unfettered development that threaten to blight some areas for generations to come.
Cllr Paul Dolan Winnington and Castle Ward
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