Town centre development plans decided

Jun 20 2008 by David Norbury, Chester Chronicle

CONTROVERSIAL plans for a £20m redevelopment of Neston town centre were decided by a handful of out-of-town votes after a stormy three-hour meeting.

Conservative councillors on the borough’s planning committee, including Tory leader Cllr Myles Hogg (Willaston & Thornton), were unable to take part in the decision as it was deemed they had previously expressed a view.

The future of the scheme was left in the hands of five Labour councillors, all representing seats in Ellesmere Port.

Four of those were in favour of the development, granting permission to developers CTP and Sainsbury’s for a 3,250 sq m supermarket and cafe with 14 flats above, a 2,000 sq m public square, which will also be used for an 111 stall market and the fair, a three deck car park with 221 short stay spaces for shoppers and the public and 14 for the flats and two community units.

The scheme, which is subject to a referral to the Conservative controlled Cheshire West and Chester Council and to local government secretary Hazel Blears, could see the supermarket opening at the end of next year.

It is planned on car parks between the High Street and the railway line and Raby Road and Brook Street.

No objections were raised by Neston Civic Society with a majority of the committee being in favour. The Wirral Society objected mainly on traffic grounds and the loss of amenity space in the town centre.

There were 110 objections and concerns raising the lack of need for the supermarket, the effect on the 100 commercial premises in the town centre, inadequate parking, increased traffic and other issues including inadequate consultation.

A petition against with more than 500 names was also raised, arguing there are 22 supermarkets within 20 minutes of the town.

A dozen letters were sent in backing the scheme.

Plans were also agreed for a temporary market with 108 stalls along Brook Street and on Belmont Cottage and for a permanent car park with 27 spaces on Belmont Cottage.