HOUSEBUILDER Harvey Homes says it is being refused an agreement to allow it to install traffic calming measures and footpath lighting unless it agrees to provide floodlighting.

The company was granted approval in 2015 for a development at Swan Green, Lower Peover, which is set to be completed by May 2021.

It says there was no requirement at the time to provide lighting on Middlewich Road, but it has received a request by Cheshire West highways to create a lighting link from the entrance to the development to Holly Tree Drive.

The company said the floodlighting would worsen speeding along Middlewich Road, cause light pollution for residents and spoil the village character.

A company spokesman said: “Cheshire West highways is now refusing to issue a 278 works agreement that will allow Harvey Homes to carry out previously agreed traffic calming measures and low-level footpath lighting, unless Harvey Homes agrees to provide the new floodlighting.

“The parish council and Swan Green and Middlewich Road residents believe this late request to create this lighting is excessive. The proposed street lighting will floodlight rear gardens of plots at Swan Green and Holly Tree Drive and cause a nuisance to residents along Middlewich Road.”

Tom Ratcliffe, director at Harvey Homes said: “We have worked closely with the community speed watch group, and incorporated traffic calming measures into the 278 works approved by the planning inspectorate.

“The new lighting proposal for Middlewich Road by the highways department seems superfluous, was never mentioned in the original planning consent and there is no other similar lighting along other parts of Middlewich Road.

“We are more than happy to carry out traffic calming measures and low-level lighting along the footpath as part of our 278 works, but are now being prevented from doing so unless we agree to this new lighting scheme.

“Harvey Homes would like Cheshire West planning and highways authority to respect the views of the parish council and consult the Lower Peover electorate to get their views on the matter.”

Lower Peover Parish Council said: “The parish council is aware Cheshire West and Chester Council requires a street lighting scheme to be installed on Middlewich Road because of the new housing development there.

“The parish council has queried the need for this scheme, and informed CWAC that in our view the scheme is inappropriate for this location.”

Rory Gorton, a new resident at the Swan Green development said: “The proposed floodlighting on Middlewich Road seems excessive and will go against the look and feel of the local village.

“Not only this, it will also light our entire front garden and side of the house which will disturb our young family and is unwanted and unnecessary. It doesn’t seem fair this is being forced through when it wasn’t part of the original plan for the site.”

Ian Dickinson is a resident on Middlewich Road and an active member of the local Community Speed Watch Group, and has been working for many years to improve traffic calming measures in the area.

He said: “All the proposed floodlighting is going to do is cause light pollution for residents and increase the speed of cars as they approach the village – something that is already a problem.

“The general feeling is that there is no need for high rise lighting, and the proposed low level footpath lighting and traffic calming measures are much more beneficial.

“Delaying the implementation of the road speed measures because of this lighting dispute makes the whole thing even more irrational.”

A spokesman from Cheshire West and Chester Council said: "The new entrance to the housing development must be lit to ensure safety for drivers, additional lighting is required on Middlewich Road either side of the entrance to the appropriate British Standard (BS5489).

"The road lighting design for the Section 278 Agreement has been completed in accordance with the British Standard (BS5489) and the lighting equipment being specified is designed to ensure that light is directed only onto to the adopted highway.

"As a new footpath is being installed alongside Middlewich Road to join the existing footpath on Holly Tree Drive, the British Standard requires it is also lit to the correct standard as part of the Section 278 Agreement."