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Local plan scoping consultation
Identifying and assessing sites
Respondent: Ms Heather Kirby
Representation Summary:
I object to the development of site 4376, farmland between The Coppice and Waterloo Road, Poynton. The site is productive pasture within the Green Belt, adjacent to ancient woodland, and contains former coal mines. Development could worsen existing flood risks, including fluvial, surface water, groundwater and sewer flooding. The land supports diverse wildlife and plant species and provides important environmental, recreational and wellbeing benefits. I am concerned that local infrastructure, including utilities, roads, schools, healthcare and transport, is already under pressure. Brownfield land should be prioritised to protect productive farmland, food security, biodiversity and Green Belt assets.
Full text:
Cheshire East Local Plan Scoping Consultation
I am responding to the above request for consultation as a local resident regarding site 4376 - farmland between The Coppice and Waterloo Road Poynton.
This is productive pasture farmland in current full use. It is sensitive green belt land adjacent to ancient protected woodlands - The Coppice.
This land contains 4 Victorian flooded deep coal mines and a concrete bunker.
This land helps prevent flooding damage incidents as experienced in 2019 when several homes were severely flooded and damaged from Poynton Brook.
The recent Poynton Town Council report explains this:
The Cheshire East Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) (2024) includes
Poynton as one of fourteen priority areas where flood risk is significant. The SFRA
confirms that Poynton is at risk from numerous types of flooding:
• Fluvial Flooding from rivers and associated watercourses (Poynton Brook).
• Surface water risk – Poynton is identified as at high risk of surface water flooding.
• Groundwater flood risk – Poynton and surrounding area form one of the two areas of
highest groundwater flood risk in the whole of Cheshire East.
• Flood risk from sewers – the SFRA names Poynton as an area where sewer flooding
has occurred. Some sewers, for example on Coppice Road, are too narrow for existing
levels of discharge and could not accommodate any new developments.
Environmental protection and biodiversity must be preserved here. I walk these fields daily en route to my allotment and regularly see deer, badgers, foxes, weasels, voles, field mice, lapwings, heron, woodpeckers, owls, white egrets, thrushes and nuthatches and more. Wildflowers include bee orchid; marsh orchid; teasel; wild garlic; bedstraws; knapweed; vetches; burnets, Brooklime; mints; germander, helleborine and more.
This local nature and heritage is important to my mental and physical health as it is to my family and neighbours.
There are many brown field areas in Cheshire East which have not been developed, favouring precious green field and productive farmland. This has to stop.
Infrastructure here is poor with already overwhelmed and frequently failing electricity supply, water supply, sewage pipes. There are no plans to improve this for current or further development.
Transport links, work opportunities, shopping centre parking, GP and schools are currently poor and not coping with current demand. Roads are small and overwhelmed with recent developments traffic increases.
Please take every opportunity to prevent suburban creep into prime farming (food security) and green belt assets.
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