A LIBERAL Democrat councillor says he is ‘thoroughly disgusted’ with the decision to approve a housing development that was not included in Winsford's Neighbourhood Plan.

Cheshire West and Chester Council Don Beckett and Tom Blackmore were thwarted in an attempt to block a proposed 26-home development opposite Oak View Academy on Whitby’s Lane.

The councillors, who both represent Verdin Ward, argued during a planning meeting that the development would increase anti-social behaviour due to the removal of a gate in the area.

Winsford Town Mayor Gina Lewis also spoke at the meeting, calling for the committee to reject the application as it did not form part of the recently-approved Neighbourhood Plan.

However development planning manager Fiona Hore advised the committee there was ‘no planning policy reasons’ for rejecting the application and voted seven to four in favour.

Clr Charlie Parkinson, representing Over ward, said: “I am thoroughly disgusted with Cheshire West’s planning application committee.

“Since the meeting I’ve spoken to lots of people who feel let down by the council, and I feel let down. They feel their concerns aren’t being heard.”

Ms Hore told the committee the Neighbourhood Plan carried no weight to stop the application as it supported the development of previously developed land, which applied to the site in question.

But Clr Parkinson believes his fellow councillors were ‘bullied’ into submission.

“I think our councillors made a poor show to be honest,” he said. “They should have stuck to their guns.

“In my opinion, Clr Beckett and Clr Blackmore allowed themselves to be bullied by Fiona Hore.”

However Clr Blackmore says those who objected to the application had no choice but to back down.

“Fiona can’t bully us,” he said. “She can only tell us the truth and the fact is there wasn’t a planning reason to reject it.

“If we rejected it all that would happen is there would be an appeal and it would go to court.

“It simply wouldn’t be a case we could win without a planning reason and it would be very costly for the council.”

After the meeting, Winsford Town Mayor, Clr Lewis, wrote to the Guardian to fully explain her disappointment at the planning committee’s decision.

She wrote: “I am extremely disappointed at the decision of Cheshire West and Chester Council's Planning Committee to approve an application by United Utilities to build 26 houses on land at Whitby's Lane Winsford.

"Although the Winsford Neighbourhood Plan contains a generic policy to support the development of previously developed ‘brownfield’ sites, the plan earmarks brownfield land for over 1,000 houses, including the nearby former Woodford Lodge and Handley Hill school sites, which between them are expected to yield over 500 new homes."

Clr Lewis said the site was not allocated for development in the Neighbourhood Plan because other more appropriate sites met the requirement for 3,500 new homes by 2030.

She also said the council had concerns on highway grounds.

She said: "I was very disappointed at the meeting to see that none of the displayed plans showed the junction of Pinewood Road with Delamere Street, as this is a very busy junction, with a nearby pedestrian crossing, new supermarket and a post office – all of which generate a large amount of traffic.

"The Neighbourhood Plan was endorsed by local people recently and now forms part of the Local Development Framework, which means that Cheshire West and Chester Council have to take it into account when determining planning applications.

"I do not feel that the officers present at the meeting did so sufficiently in this case."