MIDDLEWICH Town Council has strongly objected to plans to build 370 homes in Centurion Way, with one member describing it as ‘deplorable’.

At a meeting on Monday night, councillors unanimously agreed to oppose an outline application from Persimmon Homes to build houses and a new premises for Middlewich Community Church.

The proposal is split across east and west Cheshire with the decision to be made by Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Cllr Jean Eaton said: “The first thing that comes to mind is what schools and doctors will they use?

“Ours can’t take the extra demand at the moment and the nearest west Cheshire town to the site is Winsford which they will have to go through Middlewich to get to.”

Cllr Simon McGrory said: “This only adds to the argument that the boundary needs to be pushed out further but that is another matter.

“This is a problem because the decision will be made by a different authority but it impacts on us directly.

“West Cheshire have not approached this council and said what they are going to do.

“There seems to be a wider issue here that they think everything can be dealt with by money. Need doctors? We’ll build a medical centre. Poor roads? We’ll put money into the bypass. Lack of school places? We’ll build a school.

“Money doesn’t cure the problems and it certainly doesn’t solve the safety concerns, particularly around the M6.

“Maybe I’ll buy a plot of land next to Winsford, build 370 homes on it, and see what they say.”

If approved Persimmon Homes will make a ‘contribution to education’ and build 30 per cent of the homes as affordable.

Cllr David Latham told the meeting: “It is awful that we are in a position where we can’t say a great deal and just have to watch the planning process.

“They will get what they want one way or another and through a process that has been mentioned before, money.

“What I can’t get my head around is that Middlewich Community Church in Brooks Lane to my understanding have helped get Persimmon involved in this project.

“It strikes me that a church of all places is bringing this to our town for the benefit of itself and making money from it.

“This is a deplorable planning application and the developers should have had the manners to consult this council.”

MTC will write to Cheshire East Council for support and to CWAC opposing the application.

A decision target date is set for December 13.