A POLITICIAN has stepped in as part of a village's fight to preserve an aristocratic mansion which could soon be converted into luxury apartments.

Tory MP for Eddisbury, Stephen O'Brien joined the fight to save the Arderne Estate House in Tarporley from re-development.

In its heyday the 1920s Arderne Estate and Arderne Hall shared the same prestige as the Cholmondeley Estate.

The property, formerly known as Cobblers Cross House, was built for Lady Grisel in 1925, daughter of George, 11th Earl of Haddington, and the Hon Henrietta Arderne, owners of the Arderne Estate.

Though Arderne Hall was demolished in the 1950s for structural reasons, the estate house has passed through many hands during the years, its last resident being county councillor Andrew Needham, who has since moved and sold the house to a relative.

The house is regarded as an important holding due to its large grounds.

Residents stepped in last year after learning of plans to demolish the house and convert it into 10 terraced homes and a selection of apartments.

However, that application, from Greater Manchester-based developer Roland Bardsley Homes, was later withdrawn due to pressure from residents, parish councillors and Mr O'Brien.

Nowanew applicationhasbeenlodged by Roland Bardsley, which wants to develop 10 three-storey flats, which may each have a price tag of £400,000.

Villagersareagain angrythattheplans could mean the demolition of the secluded estate house, which they would like to see restored as an existing building and sold to one family for £1m.

Though the latest application does not include developing the frontage of the property, villagers feel such a redevelopment will do nothing to attract first-time buyers to Tarporley.

Although Mr O'Brien has no jurisdiction overplanningissues,he haswrittentoVale Royal Borough Council's chief executive, Anne Bingham-Holmes, to ensure the views of worried residents are taking into account before any decision is made.

Villagers fear the council will support the re-development plans as changes are saidtohavebeen madebythedevelopers to make the application acceptable. Others fear the concerns of residents are not being taken into account.

Mr O'Brien said: 'Whilst MPs, quite properly, do not have a role in planning, I have written to the council's chief executive to ensure the concerns put to me are listened to at the highest level of the planning authority.' Tarporley Parish Council is opposed to the plans, saying they do nothing to aid their desire for affordable homes in the village.

The campaign against the latest development is being led by villager John Warrington, of Foxhill Court, Tarporley.

He says the demolition of the estate house would lead to a loss of wildlife, cause undue traffic problems and create extra parking problems in Tarporley.

The application is expected to be decided upon by Vale Royal's planning committee on Tuesday, April 20.