Local plan scoping consultation

Dear Cheshire East,

I am writing to object to the proposed development sites around Mobberley.

I recognise the need for new housing, but I do not believe these locations are suitable. Mobberley is a small rural village, and the scale of development proposed would have a significant impact on its character, countryside and existing infrastructure.

My main concern is the road network. Many of Mobberley’s roads are narrow rural lanes without pavements and are already busy with local and through traffic. They are also regularly used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders. The railway bridge on Smith Lane and the bridges over Mobberley Brook on Slade Lane and Station Road create particular bottlenecks which would be very difficult to overcome. The proposed sites between the railway and Smith Lane and west of Smith Lane are especially concerning in this respect.

Public transport is also limited. The train service can already be very crowded at commuting times, while bus services are restricted. As Mobberley has relatively few employment opportunities, many additional residents would need to commute to Manchester, the airport, Stockport and surrounding towns, adding further pressure to the roads.

There would also be increased demand on the village’s school, GP surgery and other facilities, which are not necessarily capable of supporting a substantial increase in population.

The surrounding fields are also important agricultural land, wildlife habitat and recreational space, with numerous public rights of way. Developing them would permanently alter the rural character of Mobberley.

I believe brownfield sites and locations with better access to the M6 and M56 should be prioritised instead. Such sites would provide better transport connections while avoiding unnecessary additional pressure on Mobberley’s roads.

I therefore ask that these proposals are reconsidered and that more appropriate alternatives are explored.

Yours faithfully,

Ollie

I am writing to object to the proposed allocation of a number of sites for development around Mobberley.

I appreciate that Cheshire East needs to identify locations for new housing, but I do not believe that these particular sites are appropriate. The cumulative impact of the proposals on Mobberley would be considerable, particularly when the limitations of the village’s existing infrastructure are taken into account.

One of my main concerns is transport. Mobberley’s road network consists largely of narrow rural lanes, many of which have no pavements. These roads are already used heavily by local traffic and by vehicles travelling between the surrounding towns. They are also regularly used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders. Adding a substantial number of new households would increase traffic on roads which are simply not designed to accommodate it.

There are particular problems at the railway bridge on Smith Lane and at the bridges over Mobberley Brook on Slade Lane and Station Road. These are natural pinch points, and it is difficult to see how they could accommodate a significant increase in traffic without causing congestion and creating additional safety concerns. The proposed land between the railway and Smith Lane and the land west of Smith Lane seem especially unsuitable for this reason.

This is also a village where road safety is already a concern. Traffic can travel too quickly along some of the narrow lanes, despite the presence of pedestrians and other vulnerable road users. More vehicles would inevitably increase the potential for conflict between traffic and those using the lanes for walking, cycling and riding.

Public transport does not provide an obvious solution; Mobberley’s rail service is relatively limited and trains can already be crowded at commuting times. Bus services are also limited, particularly for some of the areas being considered for development. Since Mobberley itself has relatively few major employment opportunities, a significant proportion of new residents would be likely to commute towards Manchester, the airport, Stockport and the surrounding towns. This would simply transfer additional traffic onto an already constrained network.

There is a similar concern about local services. The village has limited facilities, including its school and GP surgery. A large increase in population would place additional demand on these services, and if they cannot expand at the same rate as the housing, residents would have to travel elsewhere for healthcare, education and other necessities.

The environmental consequences should also be given considerably more weight. The fields surrounding Mobberley are not merely empty spaces waiting for development. They are productive agricultural land, provide habitats for wildlife and form part of the countryside which gives the village its distinctive setting. The network of public footpaths also makes this landscape an important recreational resource for residents and visitors from nearby towns.

I am not opposed to development in principle, but I believe its location is crucial. Brownfield land and sites with substantially better strategic transport connections should be investigated before established countryside around Mobberley is lost. The proximity of the M6 and M56 provides opportunities for development elsewhere which would offer much easier access to major employment centres without funnelling additional traffic through narrow village roads. As they are, the current plans would represent a major change to Mobberley and could fundamentally alter its rural character.

I therefore ask that these sites are not progressed in their current form and that alternative locations, particularly suitable brownfield sites, are given serious consideration.