Full text:
I am writing to strongly object to the proposed housing development in and around Ashley and to ask that the proposed sites affecting our village are carefully reconsidered as part of the Local Plan process.
Ashley is a small, rural village with a distinctive character and setting that I believe should be protected. The surrounding countryside is an important part of what makes Ashley special, and it supports a wide variety of wildlife and habitats. I am deeply concerned that building significant numbers of houses would result in the permanent loss of countryside and would have a detrimental impact on the wildlife, landscape and natural environment.
Green Belt Protection
The land surrounding Ashley forms an important part of the North Cheshire Green Belt and provides a vital narrow buffer between the urban areas around Hale and Trafford and the communities towards Knutsford and Mobberley. It is an important area of open countryside and provides valuable separation between settlements.
I am particularly concerned that releasing this land for large-scale housing development would contribute to urban sprawl and permanently alter the character and openness of the area.
Any proposed release of Green Belt land should be subject to rigorous assessment against national planning policy and the relevant Green Belt criteria. I do not believe that open, working farmland around Ashley should simply be regarded as land available for development because of the pressure to meet housing numbers.
Settlement Hierarchy and Sustainability
Ashley is a small rural settlement with very limited public transport and very few local facilities. We do not have a local school, dentist or doctor, and existing residents already experience difficulties accessing these essential services.
I therefore question whether Ashley can reasonably be considered a sustainable location for large-scale housing growth.
The lack of local services would result in a significant reliance on private cars for employment, education, healthcare, shopping and other everyday needs. Ashley's train station does not provide the level of service or capacity that would, in my view, make substantial development here genuinely sustainable.
Housing growth should be directed towards locations where appropriate infrastructure, services and sustainable transport options are available or can realistically be provided, rather than placing substantial additional pressure on small rural communities.
Transport and Road Safety
The roads around Ashley are already busy, with significant numbers of people using them as routes to cut through to other areas. The existing rural road network includes narrow lanes and constrained routes, and there are already concerns about congestion and road safety.
The surrounding road network, including the A538 and routes towards the M56, already experiences significant traffic. I am concerned that substantial additional housing would inevitably increase traffic and car dependency, placing further pressure on roads that were not designed to accommodate large-scale development.
The impact of additional traffic should therefore be assessed cumulatively, rather than considering each proposed site in isolation.
Loss of Best and Most Versatile Agricultural Land
I am also concerned about the potential loss of agricultural land, including land that may fall within the definition of Best and Most Versatile (BMV) agricultural land.
Once productive agricultural land is built upon, it is permanently lost. At a time when food security and the protection of agricultural land are increasingly important, I do not believe that high-quality farmland should be sacrificed for housing where more sustainable alternatives may exist.
Landscape and Heritage
The proposed development also raises significant concerns regarding landscape character and the setting of heritage assets.
The countryside around Ashley contributes significantly to the character and setting of the village and surrounding area. Development on this scale could cause direct and indirect harm to important landscape features and the setting of heritage assets, including listed buildings and Ashley Hall.
The historic field patterns, hedgerows and wider landscape associated with the Tatton Estate are also important elements of the area's character and should be properly protected.
Ecological Impacts
The countryside surrounding Ashley provides important habitats and wildlife corridors.
I am particularly concerned about the potential impact on ancient woodland, protected trees, wildlife habitats and ecological corridors, as well as the wider effects on areas such as Cotterill Clough and its associated ecological importance.
The loss and fragmentation of habitats caused by multiple housing developments could have consequences far beyond the boundaries of any individual site. These impacts should be properly assessed before any land is allocated for development.
Infrastructure and Environmental Constraints
There are also significant infrastructure and environmental constraints that I believe need to be fully understood before any development is considered.
These include surface water and flooding risks associated with the River Bollin and surrounding drainage systems, as well as the constraints associated with Manchester Airport, including aircraft noise and relevant safety considerations.
It is essential that the capacity of existing drainage, utilities, transport infrastructure and other services is properly assessed before additional housing is allocated.
Cumulative Impact
I am particularly concerned about the cumulative impact of the number of sites being considered around Ashley and the wider surrounding area.
The issue should not simply be whether an individual site can technically accommodate a certain number of houses. The Council must consider what happens when multiple sites are developed together and the combined effect this would have on traffic, infrastructure, healthcare, education, drainage, wildlife, landscape, agriculture and the character of our village.
Ashley is already a community with limited facilities and infrastructure. A significant increase in population would place additional pressure on services that are already difficult for existing residents to access.
I appreciate that Cheshire East Council has housing targets to meet. However, I do not believe that meeting a housing target should come at the expense of unsuitable rural locations or the character, environment and quality of life of established communities such as Ashley.
Housing requirements should not override the need to identify genuinely sustainable and appropriate locations for development. Where development is proposed, it should be supported by the necessary infrastructure and should avoid unacceptable harm to the Green Belt, countryside, agricultural land, landscape, heritage and ecology.
I therefore ask Cheshire East Council to carefully consider the suitability and sustainability of all proposed sites around Ashley and the wider cumulative impact that this level of development would have on our village.
I strongly believe that Ashley's countryside, wildlife, Green Belt, agricultural land, village character and quality of life should be protected. I do not support the proposed housing development in this area and respectfully ask the Council not to allocate these sites for housing development within the new Local Plan.
