Shawclough suffering death by a thousand cuts!

Date published: 20/02/2008

Shawclough is suffering "death by a thousand cuts" says ward Councillor Elwyn Watkins!

Councillor Watkins was speaking on behalf of residents to Rochdale Township Planning Committee objecting to an application to change planning permission for a small development at Sunbank, Shawclough Road. He said that he could not understand why planning officers in their report said the development would not exacerbate traffic congestion when Shawclough Road is "already a car park between 7am and 9am each weekday morning".

Councillor Watkins also objected to four mature trees being removed to make way for access to the development, however, in what he called a "substantive" reason to refuse permission at this stage, he said the committee should insist on seeing the environmental report on potential asbestos contamination before they granted permission, as after permission is granted they would not have the opportunity to do so.

Planning Committee councillors sought the advice of planning officers and it was explained that as a house previously occupied the site the chance of asbestos contamination was low and the contamination report asked for was now standard practice for brownfield sites.

Councillors voted by a majority of six to two, with one abstention (ward councillor Tom Bailey) to grant permission.