Local plan scoping consultation

Dear Cheshire East Council,

I am writing to strongly object to the proposed allocation of the large area of land surrounding Ashley for housing and other development.

Ashley is a small rural village surrounded by open countryside and farmland, and the scale of development being proposed would completely change the character of the area. Building thousands of homes here would, in my opinion, be totally disproportionate to the size of the existing community.

One of my biggest concerns is the loss of Green Belt. The countryside around Ashley provides an important green gap between Greater Manchester and the villages of Cheshire. Once this land is built on, it cannot simply be replaced. It would mean losing productive farmland, open countryside, wildlife habitats and the rural landscape that makes this area what it is.

I am also extremely concerned about the impact that this number of houses would have on the local roads. Ashley is reached by small country roads with narrow sections and restricted railway bridges which already make travelling through the area difficult. These roads simply do not feel suitable for the huge increase in traffic that development on this scale would create. It would also inevitably put further pressure on surrounding roads towards Hale, Altrincham, the A538 and M56.

Ashley does not have the infrastructure you would expect for a development of this size. Public transport is very limited, there is no meaningful bus network and the train service is already infrequent. This means that the vast majority of people living in thousands of new homes would be reliant on cars.

There are also serious concerns about drainage and surface-water flooding, as well as the effect such extensive development could have on the River Bollin and surrounding countryside.

The area is also home to valuable agricultural land, wildlife and historic buildings and landscapes. Development across approximately 291 hectares would not just mean adding some new homes to Ashley; it would fundamentally and permanently change a small rural community and a significant area of Cheshire countryside.

I understand that new homes need to be built, but I do not believe that placing development on this enormous scale around a small village with limited roads, public transport and infrastructure is a sustainable or appropriate way to achieve this.

I therefore strongly urge Cheshire East Council to protect the Green Belt around Ashley and remove these sites from the Local Plan/SHELAA proposals.
Kind regards
[REDACTED]