A FOUR-DAY public inquiry to finally rule on controversial plans for 100 new homes in Tarporley is under way.

The crucial hearing, which opened on Tuesday in front of the television cameras and more than 20 campaigners in the public gallery, is being held at Winsford Town Council HQ.

Developer Fox Strategic Land and Property (FLP), who are behind the proposed development on land off Nantwich Road, called for a public inquiry after Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC) failed to decide their application within the statutory eight-week period.

Tarporley parish councillor James Blackford and lead campaigner Michael George are spearheading the case against FLP on behalf of the parish council.

During the opening submissions on Tuesday – which was filmed by a BBC TV crew for a new series on planning issues faced by rural communities – barrister Ian Ponter, representing FLP, told the inquiry the level of housing shortfall in the borough was ‘chronic’.

He said a housing development on the proposed site would be ‘wholly acceptable’ and ‘sustainable’.

“The objections advanced by the parish council fall well short of the harm required to outweigh, demonstrably and significantly, the benefits delivered by the scheme in the form of a valuable contribution to the supply of much-needed open market and affordable housing,” added Mr Ponter.

Opening the case against the scheme, Cllr Blackford said: “We can demonstrate there is in fact a five-year housing supply.

“We are pro-proper growth and planned development. There are a number of adverse impacts which the appellant hasn’t addressed.

“The appellant has over-egged the benefits and ignored the adverse impacts.”

Cheshire West and Chester Council solicitor Daniel Dickinson told the inspector the authority’s position had not changed.

Back in February the planning committee met and voted in favour of the scheme in order to inform the public inspector how they would have ruled on the plans.

CWaC councillor Eveleigh Moore-Dutton, who is opposed to the plans and will give evidence during the inquiry, said ‘additional factors’ affected the committee’s decision and it was important to put it into context.

She told the inspector members were ‘not minded to support it’ but changed their stance after being informed that an inspector had given the go-ahead to a similar scheme in Cuddington the previous day – put forward by the same developer – and heavily criticised the council.

“The costs going against advice could have been substantial,” explained Cllr Moore-Dutton.

“Their decision was indicative only, it wasn’t given for weight.”

Inspector Keith Manning will consider all evidence given over the four days before making his decision at a later date.