Cheadle Area Committee last night considered a planning application for the site of the former Greyhound Pub, at the junction of Ladybridge Road and Councillor Lane in Cheadle Hulme. A new Morisons “M” local store plus an additional unit are proposed, along with 21 parking spaces.
The committee were being asked to pass comments onto the Planning and Highways Committee. They meet on 31st January at the Town Hall when the final decision will be made.
Residents and local traders opposed to the proposals came out in force, and an active discussion followed including a well-argued presentation against the proposals on a number of grounds. These included there not being enough space on the site for delivery and refuse vehicles to maneuvre, and issues of safety and anti-social behaviour.
Despite concerns, residents said they did want to see the site developed, and felt one unit would be more appropriate than two.
The applicant argued that without development of this scale, the financial case for the site didn’t stack up and it would most likely remain in its current derelict state for some years to come. His company has worked with Council officers over the last 18 months in developing the scheme and bringing forward modifications to answer some of the concerns. There was some criticism that little effort had been made to consult directly with local residents and traders.
After nearly 90 minutes of debate and discussion, councillors proposed that the Planning and Highways Committee should have the benefit of visiting the site to look at the issues first hand before a decision was taken, so a request for a site visit was agreed.