CONTROVERSIAL plans for a new housing development in Barnton have been given the go ahead.

A Vale Royal Borough Council planning committee gave the green light for the 13-dwelling development to be built on land adjacent to Tunnel Road, opposite Barnton Wharf.

Barnton Parish Council are disappointed at the decision as they vehemently opposed the plans as they felt it was an over-development of the small site, it would lead to a hazardous increase in traffic and there would not be sufficient parking.

Councillors also felt that there had not been a sufficient environmental assessment of the land, which was known to be home to a badger sett.

Clr Roy Garton said: “There is a big badger sett where they are planning to build. What’s going to happen is this will kill them off.”

The existing car garage – Tunnel Motors – and a number of lockup garages will also have to be demolished to make way for the new homes, which include provisions for eight apartments and five dwellings.

Members did raise concerns during the planning meeting that the modern houses proposed would be out of character in the canal side conservation area and were also worried about vehicle access.

But the application was still granted approval by eight votes to four with one councillor abstaining from the vote.

The garage currently employs two people, but an alternative site has been found for the business so this was not deemed to be an issue.

Clr Garton said it was given planning permission because Vale Royal Borough Council has a housing quota to fill.

“They will deny it to the back teeth, but Vale Royal have got a major problem,” he said.

“The Urban Village has gone pear shaped and they were relying on those houses to be built, so to make up the number they have got to accept these smaller applications otherwise they will get a mighty fine.”