Helsby train station’s former house, waiting room and booking hall can now be transformed into shops, offices, restaurants or drinking establishments after planning consent was granted – but councillors fear car parking chaos.
Members of Cheshire West and Chester Council’s planning committee reluctantly agreed the Network Rail plans while having sympathy with ward councillor Les Ford who raised concerns that the railway station car park was already at capacity with no extra spaces provided in the new scheme.
Cllr Ford worries parking will spill onto neighbouring streets with a knock-on economic impact for the village’s shopping centre. The plans had been deferred from the last meeting to try and resolve the matter but the only change was that seven spaces would be formally designated to the commercial units and marked out accordingly.
Cllr Ford told members: “We have a difficulty here. We want these buildings back in use but I think the rail company have got to be persuaded to put the proper resources in and I don’t think that’s been done. We have made a proposition and they have come back with the easiest answer of doing nothing and spending as little money as possible.”
He said it must be possible to convert some grassy areas into hard-standing for at least nine more spaces.
Planning committee member Cllr Don Beckett agreed: “It seems a nonsense to me that Railtrack are asking us for extra facilities on that site to gain some sales and then they won’t help us provide space that can support the rail travellers and the sales that they are proposing and the community.”
Principal planning officer Nick Smith said Network Rail could occupy the building for office use without any change of use planning consent, along with the associated parking that would be generated. He felt the authority had no grounds on which to refuse permission.
Cllr David Armstrong, a rail passenger who uses the station, joked that he found himself agreeing with Cllr Ford which “troubled” him.
He asked whether there was any point deferring the application again but when the answer came back in the negative he moved approval with “great reluctance”.
Cllr Jill Houlbrook, who seconded approval, said: “I’m not sure there is any way out of this one.”
