THE residents of Northwich have been let down by two significant agencies.

In 2013, the Environment Agency did not oppose the building of a housing estate on the flood plain of the River Dane, to be named Northwich Meadows. This played an important part in outline planning permission being granted for the estate, by a narrow vote, by CWAC’s strategic planning committee (local politicians) in November, 2013.

Now in 2015, the highways authority has also let us down.

The deadline for consultants, including Highways, and for local residents to make comments on the proposed new road to service the Northwich Meadows housing estate was August 7.

Highways did not put in a report by the deadline, thus providing no expert judgement to guide others’ views. Instead the authority waited until August 20 when the planning department lodged its detailed report on its website. In effect, this report, with some minor provisos, approves the proposed new road, by the lights on London Road.

Those who opposed the new road, virtually all of the 27 residents who sent their comments to the planning department by August 7, have no right of reply.

The Environment Agency and the highways authority are public services, paid for by public funding.

Neither has served us well.

Frances D Findlay

Northwich