Local plan scoping consultation

I would like to register my strong opposition to the development deal that is being proposed by Cheshire East in conjunction with Trafford Estates. I have read the proposals and have also seen the cover letter that was sent to the Strategic Planning Team at your council which accompanied the " Call For Sites Submission 2026".

It is absolutely outrageous that green belt land/open working farmland should be allowed to be built on in the suggested manner. Even if it is no longer used fully as active farmland because it has been sold off, the law under national UK Policy states that Green Belt land can only be used if it fulfils the definition of Grey Belt. It does not.

Ashley Village has a teeny train station, small country roads, one small primary school and as far as I know does not even have a shop. Residents already have to use their cars to get to a supermarket as there are no buses or other forms of transport but imagine that on a big scale. It also puts ridiculous pressure on doctors surgeries, any public services, main roads and motorways that connect with rural roads. The main road into Manchester and out towards the new airport terminal are already really crowded. Knutsford train station doesn't even have a direct service to Manchester as far as I know due to long known issues. The small bridge between Ashley village and Hale village has recently been repaired - it took absolutely ages ( 2 years ?) and still think it's not completely repaired. The road still floods badly and the council have not resurfaced the road in that section - so dangerous. It's the only back road to Knutsford from Altrincham and it caused a lot of disruption. If this happens with the population we have already one can only expect it to get worse.

Ashley is an absolute jewel of a place providing much loved wildlife, greenery/peace, walking and cycling areas all essential for a good mental health. Cannot put a price on that.

Large scale development is not sustainable. Growth needs to be focused on Tier 1 and Tier 2 town centres. 'Affordable housing' as defined by developers rarely benefits poorer people in the end. This is pretending to be about caring for people but it's glaringly profit motivated and the council have to meet deadlines by national government 2029 or face punitive measures so they are not independent. Look what has happened in Wigan with the Whistl warehouse build. There are examples after examples of procedure not being followed for commercial gain.

Cheshire East Council do not have the resources to police it once underway and will cause utter chaos not only by the building but the traffic load and small rural irregular rail service. Creating these new towns without infrastructure and motivated by greed is simply short term planning and deeply saddening. One only has to look at towns like Reading that have been completely destroyed by developments of this size. This is about quality of life for local residents.

Losing farmland in this way is forever. The soil is rich and must be protected at all costs. Look what has happened in Limerick with the absolute environmental mess that is aluminium extraction in the name of providing jobs for locals. The damage has been done.

The damage to wildlife in this development is obvious and I will leave to others to add more detail to this point.

Please listen to us.