Strines villagers reject a proposal to double the size of their village

On a cold dark snowy evening of 5th. February, just about every resident of the village of Strines displayed unity by meeting in the local church hall to discuss how they felt about a proposal to create 132 dwellings, not all individual house plots, some of them in a three storey block, on the site of the old Strines print works. The hall was so packed that people had to stand and gather in the kitchen with the serving hatch open, peoples faces pressed into the room to hear what was being said by their neighbours.

The meeting had been called and organised by Mrs. Mandy Hatch, a local resident, the chairman that night was Adrian Taylor, a former Stockport councillor and the current Chairman of the Community Council. Two local ward councillors were present Cllr. Mrs. Alexander and Cllr. Mrs. Elwood to listen to what was taking place.

Villager after villager expressed their view about the concerns they had about the application which would double the size of the village. Strines is a genuine rural village in the south east corner of local authority Stockport on the banks of the river Goyt, bordering on to High Peak, Macclesfield and is close to the Derbyshire border.

Concerns were voiced about the impact of such a development on the community of the village, the scale of the development, design of the properties, threat to the green belt, amenities for children and young people, services to the public including transport, highway safety, recreation opportunities, schools, doctors and police, impact on local wild life of which there is considerable evidence, and of course flooding by the river Goyt - these were just some of the concerns of the meeting. In fairness, a number of individuals saw some advantage to the development and felt that more resources could result from the proposal - the meeting listened carefully to such views, such was the balance of the discussion.

At the end of a lively evening the chairman took a view of the gathering and asked the questions "those in favour" and "those against" please show - the verdict of the meeting was unanimous in it's rejection of the proposal, and requested that a letter summarising the reasons for their rejection and objection should be lodged with the local planning authority. Residents also agreed to send separate letters of objection, the letters sent to the meeting by those unable to attend would also be sent to the local authority.

Letter of Objection

To: Mr. M. R. Robinson, Development Control, Stockport MBC, Hygarth House, 103 Wellington Road South, Stockport SK1 3TT

From: Mrs. M. Hatch, Broad Carr, Strines, New Mills, High Peak. SK22 3BA

Date: 6th. February 2003.

Dear Mr. Robinson,

Re: Planning application No. DC010124 - permission being sought to construct 132 dwellings on the site of the former Strines Print Works.

I am writing to inform you that in accordance with neighbourhood consultation concerning planning proposals, a public meeting, which resulted in over 100 residents being present, was held on the night of 5th. February at Strines Church Hall to discuss the above planning application.

The unanimous view of the meeting was that the planning application should be refused on the grounds of:

1. The detrimental impact because of scale and character, on the existing rural village of Strines.
2. The impact on the existing green belt, and the potential for further encroachment effecting the green belt.
3. The impact and increase that such a development would have on the existing road network and surrounding roads.
4. Highway safety, and lack of sufficient highway safety measures being proposed.
5. Lack of public and local amenities both on site and in the vicinity.
6. Lack of efficient local transport to cope with such an increase.
7. Insufficient on site parking.
8. Risk of flooding and consideration and the consequence of measures required by the Environment Agency.
9. The impact that such a development may have to wildlife on the site, and to wildlife on adjoining land and woodland, a proper survey and assessment is required to be certain.
10. The proposal is considered to be overdevelopment.
11. Employment opportunities are at a premium, and should be offered protection and opportunities for appropriate expansion on this site.
12. Concern for the dangers and safety (separate from flooding) of future occupants of all ages being so close to the river Goyt.
13. Public services concerning schools, policing, doctors and access for emergency services may be inadequate for a development on such a scale.

• It is understood that the developer owns the adjacent football field - although not the subject of a current planning application, we would like to know what may be proposed on this part of Strines land?
• The Strines tennis club and associated recreation areas are protected in trust to the people of Strines and are run as a fee paying organisation - has the developer been in communication with the trustees concerning the planning application, and is there any impact that the application may have on the club?
• The plan layout is perhaps misleading where it concerns the tennis club and associated areas, because these areas are subject to trusteeship and covenants for the benefit solely to the residents of Strines village and therefore we believe should be outside any proposal concerning this development.
• There was local concern about existing road slippage requiring investigation.
• Concern was voiced about sewage and storm water disposal.
• Have the adjoining local planning authorities been consulted, and if so, what is their view?
• There is a general concern about the demolition of the existing premises and the methods of dealing with material and anything "unpleasant" which may be found on a site of this age and previous use.

We would ask to note and report our reasons for objecting to the proposal for this development, and hope that our reasons will be presented both in the written report and discussed when the application is decided upon.

Yours faithfully,

Mrs. M. Hatch - on behalf of myself, and those residents present at a public meeting held on the night of 5th. February 2003.