ANOTHER attempt to open a water park at a former quarry in Chelford will be debated on Wednesday.

Cheshire Lakes Adventure Company wants to turn the North Lake at Mere Farm Quarry, which closed in 2014, into an open air watersports and outdoor activity site.

Cheshire East Council officers are recommending the plans for approval ahead of the strategic planning board’s meeting, in Crewe.

In its planning statement, developer ADV Holdings said: “The application proposals will complete the restoration of this former mining site by delivering a viable, beneficial and much needed leisure use into the area.

“The proposals will deliver around 30 new jobs into the local rural economy and will deliver various spin-off benefits in terms of boosting the local economy in a variety of ways.”

It is the fifth time in four years that the board will consider plans from Cheshire Lakes Adventure Company to convert the former quarry.

The first proposal was to use both the North Lake and South Lake for the water park.

It was rejected in July 2016, but an administrative error meant the developer was not given chance to speak to the committee, so the board considered it again a month later and approved the plans.

But CEC performed a U-turn in November 2016 after it was felt the council had not properly considered the scheme’s impact on biodiversity, and the proposal was rejected.

Another attempt to win approval was turned down by the same committee in May 2017, before the developer lost an appeal in October 2017 due to the scheme’s impact on the openness of the green belt.

READ > 'I expect to pay, but charges should be fair' – Council to review car parking in its towns

The latest plans reflect the Planning Inspectorate’s comments, with the size of the buildings reduced by 86 per cent and activity taking place at only one of the lakes.

CEC officers say the water park’s impact on the green belt would now be ‘limited’ and its effect on biodiversity ‘would not be so significant’ to justify refusal, although Chelford and Nether Alderley parish councils have both objected on those grounds.

The council has received letters of support for the scheme, suggesting it would be a unique tourist attraction for the borough, while objections include the impact on noise and traffic.