CAMPAIGNERS against hundreds of new homes in their village featured on a national TV programme.
People in Tattenhall were interviewed for BBC2’s The Planners which examined the process used to determine four planning applications before Cheshire West and Chester Council’s strategic planning committee last September.
Members of the community were shown opposing three greenfield schemes which would have resulted in 317 new homes.
One female campaigner, standing by the Harding Avenue site for 70 homes, said: “It’s a small insignificant little field but it means a lot to the neighbours here.”
But residents supported a plan by Robin and Amanda Blackham, of Nomansheath, near Malpas, to refurbish the disused Oak Room pub and build 31 homes on a brownfield site at Newton-by-Tattenhall.
Speaking about the couple’s vision, the woman campaigner added: “It’s a brownfield site, yeah, develop it. What they are suggesting is not a massive development. It will be an improvement on what we have got now.”
The action turned to the committee where members of the public applauded the planning committee’s rejection of the large scale housing schemes against the advice of officers.
Committee chairman Cllr Jill Houlbrook described those applications as ‘surrounding Tattenhall with one great big housing estate’.
Cllr Mark Williams said: “It appears to be almost a free for all and it’s wrong. I can’t support this. Sorry.”
Tattenhall ward Cllr Mike Jones also opposed the large housing plans but spoke in favour of the Oak Room scheme having objected to earlier versions.
The Blackhams – who have three children – embraced on learning their pub plan had finally been given permission following huge expense and frustration since 2008.
