Full text:
Dear Strategic Planning Team,
I wish to formally object to the potential allocation of Tatton Estate land at Ashley for substantial residential development.
I live at [REDACTED ADDRESS], with open agricultural land adjoining my property.
My objection is based on the fundamental suitability and sustainability of Ashley for development on this scale, rather than simply the impact on my own property.
Flooding and drainage
The proposed land, particularly Parcel 6, is low-lying and has a significant history of surface-water flooding. I have personally witnessed extensive standing water across the fields, flooding affecting existing properties and severe overland water flows along Ashley Road during periods of heavy rainfall.
This raises serious concerns that development, roads and additional impermeable surfaces could displace or concentrate water towards existing homes.
I request a comprehensive independent hydrological and drainage assessment, considering the site’s topography, existing flow routes, historic flooding, drainage capacity, climate change and extreme rainfall. Flood risk should be a fundamental consideration in determining whether this land is suitable for allocation.
Ecology and wildlife
The railway embankment, hedgerows, mature vegetation, agricultural fields and seasonally wet areas provide valuable habitat.
I regularly observe bats and other wildlife, including badgers and a wide range of birds, while swifts nest at my property. The flooded fields are also used by waterfowl.
Appropriately timed ecological surveys should therefore be undertaken before the land is considered suitable for allocation, including assessment of bats, badgers, birds, hedgerows, trees, wetland habitat and wildlife corridors.
Transport and infrastructure
The existence of Ashley railway station does not, by itself, make substantial development sustainable. The station has a very short platform and significant practical limitations. Its actual capacity, services and ability to accommodate a substantial increase in passengers should be independently assessed.
Ashley also has no village convenience store, GP surgery, pharmacy or mainstream primary or secondary school. Residents therefore rely heavily on surrounding settlements for everyday needs, creating additional car journeys.
The capacity of local schools, healthcare, transport and other infrastructure must be demonstrated before substantial growth is considered appropriate.
Highways
Ashley Road, Mobberley Road, Back Lane and surrounding roads are constrained rural roads and would face significant additional traffic from substantial development.
The Tatton Estate itself has previously recognised the limitations of these roads, including describing local unclassified roads as unsuitable for HGV use in its representations concerning HS2.
The cumulative highway impact of substantial residential development should therefore be independently assessed.
Green Belt, landscape and rural character
The open agricultural land surrounding Ashley is fundamental to the village’s rural character, landscape and setting.
Development on this scale would permanently alter the existing settlement edge, introduce housing, roads, traffic and artificial lighting into open countryside and significantly reduce the sense of openness currently enjoyed by the village.
The Council should rigorously assess Green Belt purposes, landscape and visual impact and whether development could be accommodated in less sensitive locations.
Scale and cumulative development
Ashley is a small rural settlement, and the scale of development being contemplated could represent a disproportionate increase in its size and population.
The Council should also consider the potential for an initial allocation to facilitate further expansion into surrounding countryside in future Local Plan periods. Flooding, ecology, highways, infrastructure, landscape and settlement character should therefore be assessed cumulatively.
CONCLUSION
For these reasons, I strongly object to the proposed allocation of Tatton Estate land at Ashley.
In my view, the combination of existing flooding and drainage constraints, ecological value, limited railway capacity, lack of everyday services and schools, constrained rural roads, Green Belt and landscape impacts, infrastructure limitations and the disproportionate scale of development means that this is not an appropriate location for substantial residential growth.
I respectfully request that Cheshire East Council does not allocate this land for all the above reasoning & rational, therefore please formally record my objection as part of the Local Plan consultation process and notify me of future consultation stages concerning the proposed Tatton Estate land at Ashley.
