A DRAMATIC U-turn was hailed after the council decided against demolishing garages.
Cheshire West and Chester Council had given tenants on two garage sites in Ellesmere Port seven days to leave before the buildings would be razed to the ground.
But council officers last week put the decision on hold.
Tenants, some of whom had used their garage for 40 years, were given just a week’s notice to leave the sites in Stoke Gardens and Carlisle Crescent.
Concerns were raised by councillors about the lack of consultation, the impact of the demolitions on street parking and access for emergency vehicles.
After pressure from councillors Justin Madders, Derek Bateman and Paul Donovan, the council has agreed to put the work on hold and look at other options.
Cllr Justin Madders (Lab, Central & Westminster) said “It may be the council still wishes to demolish the garages if it is uneconomic to repair them, but if it decides to do that then it looks like it will now take on board the local community’s views before making any final decisions.”
Cllr Derek Bateman (Lab, Central & Westminster) said: “This council has had to back down in the end. We have shown there is significant opposition to these proposals being taken without proper consultation. Maybe next time they will listen more to local councillors and people power.
Cllr Paul Donovan said: “This does not just affect the garage tenants, around the Carlisle Crescent site, there are many elderly residents who are worried about security of their properties, other residents have decorated the garage walls at the end of their gardens with plants, ornaments etc.
“None of this was taken into account after yet another example of this council forcing through its policies without consultation with local people.”
