A decision to refuse plans for a watersports centre hang in limbo after a council blunder meant the vote went ahead without the applicant.
Councillors on the Strategic Planning Board refused plans for a wakeboarding park and kayaking and swimming lake at the old Chelford quarry after hearing objections focused around the detrimental impact on biodiversity particularly birds and restoration work being done at the site.
When the planning committee asked for the applicant Tim Woodhead from Cheshire Lakes and his supporters to speak in favour of the application, it became apparent that none of them were present at the meeting.
The committee went on to vote five to four to refuse the application, with one abstention.
But later applicant Mr Woodhead interrupted the meeting during another agenda item and complained to councillors he was told his application had been removed from the agenda. It was only when he saw news of the refusal break online that he was alerted.
The council had emailed Mr Woodhead in error to say his plans had been adjourned.
Tim said: “We were told we weren’t on at the meeting due to a council admin error and I felt sick when I heard it had been refused. “This is my livelihood. I’ve spent an unbelievable amount of money and time on the application and couldn’t believe it had gone ahead without us. The last few days have been horrendous.”
The council has now admitted its error and apologised. The Strategic Planning Board will revisit the application and vote again at the next meeting on August 24. The former Mere Farm Quarry was a sand and gravel quarry for many years but now the lakes are being filled in and it’s being restored into a nature area. The northern lake would be used as a wakeboarding park and aerial ropes course and the southern lake would be used for kayaking and swimming.
Mr Woodhead says the application would create jobs and well-needed recreation.
Cheshire Lakes is run as a social enterprise and is applying for a £140,000 grant from Defra for the project.
Tim said: “I’ve been looking for a lake in the area for three years, we’ve done a massive consultation and there is nothing like this around. Its a tourism and leisure facility and would be great for the area.”
Airport bosses objected to plans for a watersports centre over fears it would increase the risk of bird strikes on planes.
Manchester Airport lodged an objection with Cheshire East the day before the planning committee heard proposals for a watersports centre at the old Chelford quarry. It said the centre could increase the risk of birds flying into planes because long grassland would be cut back making the area more attractive to large birds like Canada geese. Visitors feeding the birds would also increase numbers, it said.Councillors refused the application, which will be revisited on August 24 after an admin error, after the airport objection played a part in the decision.
Coun Barry Burkill said: “We daren’t go against the airport objection. If we get it wrong, that’s 200 people dead. It’s a straightforward refusal.”
But Tim Woodhead, from Cheshire Lakes which is behind the plan, said the centre would not increase geese numbers.
He said: “We would not destroy the long grass in the way they think and visitors would not be allowed to feed the birds. We will meet with Manchester Airport and try to mitigate their concerns.”
