Council’s no to adventure golf plan

Cheshire East planning officers said it would harm the green belt!

Adlington Golf Centre’s plan was backed by 100 supporters and two parish councils, but Cheshire East said no.

The owner of the golf centre wanted to set up the adventure golf course on the site off London Road, Adlington.

There had been a nine-hole graduate course on site, which had to be replaced because it would be severed by the proposed Poynton Relief Road.

Cheshire East’s Planning officers said the scheme should be refused because ‘whilst not inappropriate development by definition, [it] would lead to a loss of openness and encroachment in the green belt’.

Can you believe it – they approved building nearly 1,000 houses on what’s become known as Danegate moss, but the adventure golf course at Adlington would encroach on the green belt?

Cllr Barry Burkhill agreed and proposed refusal, saying the planning officer’s report stated: “Taken as a whole the various structures, features and associated means of enclosure would have a material impact on the openness, causing encroachment in the countryside, thereby undermining the purposes of including land within the green belt.”

He said he went along with the officer’s statements and proposals ‘otherwise we’re going to lose green belt’.

Clllr Nick Mannion agreed and seconded the proposal to refuse, saying: “The green belt is a precious thing. In a previous meeting of the northern planning committee, a member said ‘once it’s gone, it’s gone’ and I think that is the case here.”

Cllr Suzie Akers Smith said: “I think this would be a great scheme for the residents of Poynton and Macclesfield. What have we approved in the last few years that helps people get fit? It gets people interested in golf.”

Call me a cynic but a pound to a penny one or more of the planning officers or critical councillors live nearby!