A COUNCILLOR is demanding to know who is behind a Jersey-based company seeking planning permission for up to 142 homes in Chester at a meeting today.
Bark Street Investments Ltd has applied to Cheshire West and Chester Council to build the houses on playing fields in Clifton Drive, off Sealand Road, which would mean the loss of football pitches and a rugby pitch.
Residents are worried because the land, leased and also used by the University of Chester, is in a flood plain and they also fear roads and the sewage system would not cope.
Blacon Labour councillor Reggie Jones is also concerned the identities of the directors behind Jersey-based Bark Street Investments are not publicly available.
Cllr Jones said: “I am aware that residents are watching this planning application with a great deal of apprehension and fear that the council’s real ambition is to allow building anywhere and everywhere, without a real consideration for residents’ views and the impact of unrestrained growth on their lives.
“With Clifton Drive, we have raised a number of planning matters such as flooding, traffic impact and the loss of sporting facilities that need answering, but it is much more than that. Questions are being raised about ‘who are Bark Street Investments Ltd?’”
The scheme is recommended for approval at today’s strategic planning committee. Sport England objects to the loss of playing fields despite the applicant making an offer of £165,000 towards replacement pitches. Welsh Water has reaffirmed its objection.
Planning agent Colin Griffiths has told the Chronicle he is not prepared to reveal the names behind Bark Street Investments but insists there are ‘no links’ with the council.
He said issues had been addressed to the satisfaction of the highways department and the Environment Agency and would be resolved with Welsh Water soon.
Mr Griffiths said in addition to the financial contribution towards replacement pitches, the university had agreed to open up its facilities to community use.
