I AM extremely disappointed at the decision of Cheshire West and Chester Council's planning committee to approve an application by United Utilities to build 26 houses on land at Whitby's Lane, Winsford.

Although the Winsford Neighbourhood Plan contains a generic policy to support the development of previously developed brownfield sites, the plan earmarks brownfield land for over 1,000 houses, including the nearby former Woodford Lodge and Handley Hill school sites, which between them are expected to yield over 500 new homes.

The Neighbourhood Plan is not intended to be a tablet of stone, but this particular site was not allocated for development because other more appropriate sites met the requirement for 3,500 new homes by 2030, and the council also had concerns on highway grounds.

I was very disappointed at the meeting to see that none of the displayed plans showed the junction of Pinewood Road with Delamere Street, as this is a very busy junction, with a nearby pedestrian crossing, new supermarket and a post office, all of which generate a large amount of traffic.

The NP was endorsed by local people and now forms part of the Local Development Framework, which means that CWAC have to take it into account when determining planning applications.

I do not feel that the officers present at the meeting did so sufficiently in this case.

Clr Gina Lewis Town Mayor of Winsford