MIDDLEWICH Town Council has given its backing to the plans to build a Gipsy site in the town and turn a listed building into a wash facility on the site.


Planning applications were submitted in December last year by Cheshire East Council to turn grade two listed building Cledford Hall barns into wash facilities as part of a Gipsy transit site on Cledford Lane.


The plans spawned a backlash among Middlewich residents with several submitting objections to the plans and more than 100 members of the public signing a petition to reject the application.


Despite the uproar, Middlewich Town Council has given its support to the planning application but reiterates the need for a bypass in the town.


Sonya Edwards, head of the Middlewich Town Council planning committee, said: “The planning committee approved it because you have to have a good reason to refuse it and Cheshire East would have just gone above us anyway.


“The site will help us stop travellers from illegally going onto fields and Pochin Way.


“The access point to the site is not ideal and we really need the bypass, it really is key.


“In terms of the listed building, it is bringing it back into life so that has to be good.”


The application is to convert Cledford Hall barns from an agricultural barn into washing and sanitary accommodation for the transit Gypsy and Travellers. Office accommodation is to be provided for the permanent warden and for the Cheshire East office staff.


The application will be considered by a planning committee on Wednesday, February 25 and a decision will be made by Wednesday, March 18.