The Bay Leaf – a victory for common sense and good judgement

It was the most ill-conceived plan since the (thankfully now defunct) Macclesfield Town Centre Redevelopment scheme.

However, even I – one of that schemes strongest opponents – could never accuse it of being a threat to life and limb.

Fortunately for Bollington residents – particularly the young, infirm and elderly – the majority of councillors on Cheshire East’s Northern Planning Committee were having none of it – so plans to turn the Bay Leaf restaurant (old Waggon & Horses pub) into a Sainsbury’s store were firmly rejected.

I’ve rarely seen planning and highways officers given a rougher ride by council members – as the reasoning and logic for their support of the dreadful scheme were slowly but surely eroded.

I’ve been a vociferous critic of local planning committees in the past, complaining regularly of them being too eager to accept the conclusions and recommendations of their officers. Thankfully, these councillors were made of sterner stuff. Each of the ‘acceptable’ stats claimed by the officers – parking provision, sight lines, traffic volumes – were, one by one questioned, taken apart, then effectively rubbished.

The volume of through-traffic data, provided by officers was flawed, the acceptable level of parking provision was flawed, the ability to manoeuvre vehicles in the car park was flawed, the potential traffic related footfall was flawed – at one stage I was wondering if anything the officers had written or assured the committee of being factual could be believed or trusted.

The only dissenting voice in the whole debate was from Counc Stewart Gardiner, Conservative member for Knutsford – who appeared to be opposed to refusal purely on the basis that the applicants may choose to appeal – costing taxpayers money. Chairman Counc George Walton, Conservative, Chelford declined to speak for or against, but voted with Counc Gardiner against the motion to refuse. Maybe there’s something in the water in that part of Cheshire.

This wasn’t just a victory for Bollington but for good common sense and judgement. However, I can’t help but wonder why – given the virtually non-existent reliable statistical data – Cheshire East’s planners and Highways officers had led the applicant to believe this scheme had a hope in hell of being approved.

Questions should be asked of both departments as to their levels of skill and judgement – and what motivated them to encourage the plan’s applicant to pursue – and permit this potentially lethal scheme to get so far.

This scheme was deplorably flawed from the start – and should never have reached committee stage.