Local plan scoping consultation

Comment

Representation ID: 6074

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Cllr Paul Woods

o Employment areas should be suited to the location. Rural locations are suitable for small developments of offices etc in disused farm buildings, whereas science sites are best co-located with similar businesses e.g the Alderley Park science facility.
o Employment sites should have adequate transport links. Gawsworth and the A536 are unsuitable for carrying additional industry traffic or indeed, large volumes of commuters. There are no active transport links.

Comment

Representation ID: 6075

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Cllr Paul Woods

Macclesfield waste centre is in Gawsworth Parish. Recent closures of other centres have caused practical problems which the local plan should address, taking account of future increased need created by new housing.
o The Macclesfield waste centre has proved problematic for recently increased volume of visits. The potential for serious accidents caused by queuing on A536 has been created. A permanent solution for current and projected usage levels should be proposed.
o Parishes that host waste and recycling centres should benefit from local environmental grants. EG Gawsworth Parish hosts the Macclesfield centre and should benefit from grants for tree and hedgerow planting or similar.

Comment

Representation ID: 6077

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Cllr Paul Woods

Active transport options are lacking in and around Gawsworth Parish making it difficult for future growth to be accommodated in this area if the aspirations for sustainable modes of transport are to be achieved. There are no north – south routes linking Congleton and Macclesfield through Gawsworth.
o The footpaths in Gawsworth that are currently used for access to the countryside and should be further developed to promote walking for leisure and wellbeing.
o There is no viable and safe walking or cycling route linking Gawsworth with Macclesfield or Congleton. These should be put in place if any new development in Gawsworth Parish is contemplated.

Comment

Representation ID: 6078

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Cllr Paul Woods

I strongly support the role that the Local Plan can play in protecting and enhancing the environment.
o Gawsworth Parish includes the Danes Moss SSSI and borders North Danes Moss. There are significant peat deposits elsewhere in the Parish. An analysis that identifies sensitive environmental sites in Gawsworth has been prepared by Gawsworth Parish Council in connection with the Peak Cluster Ltd proposals and has been provided to Cheshire East Council. This, together with input from Cheshire Wildlife Trust and others should be included in the evaluation of possible development sites.
o The Peak Cluster Ltd project will cause significant environmental damage across its routes, around the many installations and in particular in the Parish of Gawsworth, as determined by independent assessments and contrary to the assertions of the Peak Cluster Ltd company. The local Plan must take this potential destruction into account when considering additional developments near to the proposed route of the pipeline and all installations along the route, particularly the AGI planned for Gawsworth green belt.

Comment

Representation ID: 6079

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Cllr Paul Woods

o Health and well being can indeed be influenced significantly by deprivation which should be addressed in the local plan. The ‘Tartan Map’ reaffirms the coexistence of deprivation and health problems and can help confirm areas where green spaces, leisure and cultural facilities etc are lacking. The Tartan Map per se must not however be used beyond its purpose and meaning. Understanding the reasons that drive lower than average scores in individual cells must be fully explored and understood in order to guide policy. The Tartan Map should not be misused to direct health and wellbeing interventions and resources away from rural communities and their health needs. ALL residents of Cheshire East should have equal rights to health and wellbeing support matching their needs.
o The Local Plan should signal the development of a plan to support rural health and wellbeing. CEC should work with Parish Councils and the NHS to develop and implement this plan.
o 5.108 Add improving access to the countryside as a deliverable highlighted by the Local Plan. Green spaces, walking and cycling routes and peaceful countryside destinations are important to the health and wellbeing of town residents. Villages rely on towns for GPs, hospitals and other health services but they offer an environment that town dwellers can visit to improve their wellbeing. Gawsworth is one such venue with excellent walks, a playground, duck feeding, an ancient and interesting church, summer open air entertainment etc and set a short distance from the expanding towns of Macclesfield and Congleton. Access to the countryside, identifying green destinations outside but close to towns, protecting their character and providing active transport links to them should feature in future planning policies as an action to promote health and wellbeing.

Comment

Representation ID: 6080

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Cllr Paul Woods

• The adverse effects of Peak Cluster Ltd pipeline and AGI proposals during construction and beyond should be noted. Where possible communities affected by the pipeline and AGI construction should not also be subjected to other infrastructure building projects.

Comment

Representation ID: 6081

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Cllr Paul Woods

• See comment on 5.104f. Access to the countryside and nearby green spaces and villages is also important.
• Country parks such as Teggs Nose near to Macclesfield are important. The Local Plan should aspire to assess current usage and positioning and aspire to allocate additional country parks or access to countryside walk starting locations etc.

Comment

Representation ID: 6082

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Cllr Paul Woods

• I support this objective. Active travel opportunities south of Macclesfield are lacking. Only the bravest would cycle or walk alongside the A536 between Gawsworth and Macclesfield. With or without development southwest of Macclesfield and whatever happens with Danes Moss North, safe active travel routes to the south of Macclesfield to Gawsworth and on to Congleton should be identified as a priority.

Comment

Representation ID: 6083

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Cllr Paul Woods

• The plan should identify the need for CEC to work with Town and Parish Councils implement measures that will help adapt to climate change and reduce carbon emissions. Parish Councils can’t do much without help and direction from CEC.
• The Local Plan should commit to a plan of extensive new planting, working with Parish Councils and landowners to identify suitable sites and plant trees and hedgerows. Immediate action should be taken to identify Highways verge sites and sites on Cheshire Farms that could safely accommodate new planting.

Comment

Representation ID: 6084

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Cllr Paul Woods

• The plan should recognise the importance and need to support facilities in villages near to towns.
o EG in Gawsworth Pilates classes in the Village Hall attract many from Macclesfield, our Park, community woodland and Playground are visited by Macclesfield residents and Gawsworth Hall mounts outdoor events for the benefit of thousands from across Cheshire East and beyond. In Mottram St Andrew folk concerts in the Village Hall are often sold out with attendees from many miles around.
• It would be helpful to identify the facilities that it would be useful for villages and rural communities to be able to offer. This would be customised to different situations but a ‘shopping list’ could be helpful. CEC could then identify the support they could provide in delivery, work with Parish Councils.
• Support for Community Hubs is vital to rural communities. This can take many forms and can help the hubs to expand the good they do in the community. As well as providing local services the benefit to mental health of volunteer involvement should be recognised. Community Hubs could become the focus for health and wellbeing enhancement but this will need planning and support from CEC.