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Councillors approve Black Road scheme
by Ben Turner9/ 7/2008
PLANS to build a ten-bed young people’s hostel on Black Road were approved by councillors in controversial circumstances this week.
At a packed town hall meeting, Macclesfield Borough Council’s planning committee narrowly approved an application by Dane Housing to replace Black Road Community Centre with homeless accommodation, alongside five "affordable" homes – after more than two hours of discussion.
Committee members’ repeated attempts at motions of refusal were turned away by planning officer John Knight on the grounds they were not valid. In the end, they voted seven to six in favour of the scheme, with Councillor Brendan Murphy unable to take part having arrived late.
An earlier motion to refuse had failed to carry by the same margin. Councillor Barry Burkhill left the meeting on Monday (July 7) in protest, calling the handling of the item "chaos".
Speaking afterwards, he said: "Officers didn’t come here prepared with reasons for both approval and refusal and that is why one member changed his mind."
Coun Roger West, who abstained before voting in favour, responded: "The planning officer said we couldn’t sustain a motion to refuse, which put another couple of bags on the seesaw as far as I am concerned."
To add to the controversy, notes appeared to be passed to committee members more than once during discussions.
"People should not be taking messages from the audience," Councillor West said.
The scheme was approved subject to 22 conditions outlined by planning officers, including pedestrian visibility at access points and landscaping.
Mike Kershaw, project manager for Macclesfield Accommodation Care and Concern (MACC), which will manage the hostel, said afterwards: "Ultimately, all along this has just been about the young people and offering the best service to them. We want Black Road Area Residents’ Association (BRARA) to be involved and for this to be a success."
The hostel will replace similar ten-bed accommodation run by MACC on Glegg Street, but no longer deemed "fit for purpose".
After the decision, Paul Tovee, chairman of BRARA, which has fought the scheme from the start, said he was annoyed that no one from MACC had so far approached them.
"We are disappointed with the decision," he said. "We have to admit defeat graciously and humbly. This (scheme) can work if they (MACC) will work with us."
Coun Davenport feared that if they failed to sell, the homes would ultimately be incorporated into the hostel – providing the 20 beds in the original application rejected in January.
David Nielson, a councillor for the Black Road area, told the committee he feared the site would become "a honey pot for teenagers".
A Dane Housing spokesman said: "We are very positive about the planning approval that has been given and will continue to work with the local community and councillors to make the development as successful as possible."
The price agreed for the land between the council and Dane Housing is believed to be around £300,000.
Arthur Pritchard, Macclesfield Council assets and property manager, denied rumours that any other formal bids had been received since agreement was reached with Dane Housing last autumn.
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10/07/2008 at 12:33
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