Petition for Cheshire East Council to reject the South Macclesfield Development Area and withdraw the site from the Local Plan
Cheshire East Council
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The newly designated Danes Moss North Local Wildlife Site, which contains some of the deepest peatlands in Cheshire, is set to be built upon through the construction of the South Macclesfield Development Area. Much has changed since this land was first proposed for development and the signatories of this petition wish for the Council to review its support for the development of the SMDA site.
The Government’s Peat Action Plan[1] warns that ‘some areas of peatland are susceptible to development pressure.’ It states that planning policies should ‘reflect the importance of managing peatlands and avoid detrimental climate, water and biodiversity impacts from development.’
It goes on to recommend that peatlands should be protected ‘including those which are damaged but recoverable, from potentially damaging development that would hinder restoration and recovery of the habitats and species.’ Leading peatland scientists and conservation organisations have all objected to the SMDA on very such grounds.
Given the decision to update the Local Plan to ‘reflect the priorities of the council’s new corporate plan, which includes the requirement for much stronger action to help tackle the climate emergency’[2], this petition poses the question whether it is appropriate for the Council to continue with the development given the proposals contradict both local and national policy.
The signatories formally request:
1) All reserved matters planning applications associated with the SMDA are rejected.
2) The site be withdrawn from the Local Plan as part of the current five-year Local Plan review.
[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/england-peat-action-plan
[2] https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/council_and_democracy/council_information/media_hub/media_releases/cheshire-east-to-update-its-strategic-plan.aspx
Sponsored by
To:
Cheshire East Council
From:
[Your Name]
We, the undersigned, petition the Council to reject the South Macclesfield Development Area and withdraw the site from the Local Plan.
The newly designated Danes Moss North Local Wildlife Site, which contains some of the deepest peatlands in Cheshire, is set to be built upon through the construction of the South Macclesfield Development Area. Much has changed since this land was first proposed for development and the signatories of this petition wish for the Council to review its support for the development of the SMDA site.
The Government’s Peat Action Plan[1] warns that ‘some areas of peatland are susceptible to development pressure.’ It states that planning policies should ‘reflect the importance of managing peatlands and avoid detrimental climate, water and biodiversity impacts from development.’
It goes on to recommend that peatlands should be protected ‘including those which are damaged but recoverable, from potentially damaging development that would hinder restoration and recovery of the habitats and species.’ Leading peatland scientists and conservation organisations have all objected to the SMDA on very such grounds.
Given the decision to update the Local Plan to ‘reflect the priorities of the council’s new corporate plan, which includes the requirement for much stronger action to help tackle the climate emergency’[2], this petition poses the question whether it is appropriate for the Council to continue with the development given the proposals contradict both local and national policy.
The signatories formally request:
1) All reserved matters planning applications associated with the SMDA are rejected.
2) The site be withdrawn from the Local Plan as part of the current five-year Local Plan review.