TWO Cheshire villages remain firm in their opposition to several major housing developments that they say will ‘tear the heart out’ of their communities.

This week, hundreds of Malpas residents packed out the Jubilee Hall for a six-day planning inquiry into developer Gladman’s controversial planning application to build 140 houses between Chester Road and Well Street.

In a room that was so packed people had to stand in doorways, inspectors heard evidence for and against the proposals and more than 20 residents spent a day and a half making detailed public representations on specific issues.

Representatives for Gladman spoke about why Malpas would benefit from 140 new homes, while pressure group Action For Greenfields also put their views across.

At a meeting of the Cheshire West and Chester Council strategic planning committee back in February, the application had initially been unanimously refused on the grounds that building on an area of characteristic views would destroy open countryside and be outside the village envelope.

But almost immediately Gladman submitted their appeal, calling for a public inquiry to be held.

Rachel Redshaw, from Malpas’s Action for Greenfields Group, described the inquiry as ‘very hard-going’.

“I feel it went as well as it could, it’s now just a case of waiting for the inspectors to make their decision,” she said.

“There’s so much evidence to sort through but by no means will we sit back, we have to keep fighting as there are more planning applications coming in all the time.

“But this is the big one, the one that would increase the footprint of the village by 50%.

“The support from everyone has been phenomenal – Malpas has really acted as one on this, and really, considering none of us are professional planning people, we’ve just tried to make a voice for the community. I think we’ve done well.”

Meanwhile, Kelsall residents have become so frustrated with CWaC’s attitude to their attempts at correspondence, they’re threatening to report the authority to the Local Government Ombudsman.

For the past year villagers have been staunchly opposed to Rowland Homes’ proposal of building 11 homes on Willington Lane, claiming the scale, density and impact on those surrounding this land is unprecedented.

After weeks of appealing to the council to call in the longstanding application, their wish was finally granted last week when councillors agreed to bring it to committee.

But despite this, residents still hope planners will embrace a new, forward-thinking approach to the development but they claim they’re still getting nowhere with CWaC.

Chris Spray, chair of Kelsall Residents Group, said the entire planning process has been handled ‘appallingly’.

He said: “It seems planners have finally decided, after an acrimonious battle, the scheme is too controversial to be handled under delegated powers.

“Throughout this appalling episode the planning team have demonstrated a rude, terse and dismissive attitude to the requests of a whole community.

“We don’t understand why CWaC seems to be taking the most arduous route through this process, only responding to threats from both sides.

“We’re offering a golden opportunity to engage with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) requirement and we want CWaC to deliver a model approach that will achieve the support of a whole community.”

Mr Spray added: “We’re open to sustainable development but so far everything proposed has been a race to the least worst option and we want a dialogue that brings together planners, community, developer and landowner to develop a scheme that delivers a sustainable future for Kelsall.

“In the run-up to committee we just want all parties work together to develop a sustainable scheme acceptable to all – we’ve all invested far too much to walk away from our aim of achieving a suitable and sustainable solution.

“If we haven't received comment by next week we will be raising another official complaint from the whole community.”

However, in an email to Mr Spray, Fiona Edwards, CWaC’s development planning manager, said: “Whilst I fully appreciate the principle of what you espouse, the reality of the situation is there is only one planning proposal on the table at present and that has to be considered objectively in the light of current planning policies, planning guidance, the responses received from statutory and other consultees and the representations received from local residents.

“This will be presented to members on July 2 in the form of a comprehensive report.

“The council has no authority to require the developer to amend his plans in order to meet the aspirations of the local community.

“His proposals deserve to be considered and assessed on their individual planning merits. The NPPF does not alter this basic premise.”