Boost for community or a nightmare on Elm Street?

Outline plans have been submitted to Vale Royal Borough Council for extra care housing, a nursing home and associated facilities, including hospital facilities, at Elm Street but residents feel the development would be inappropriate for the area and have started a petition against the application.

Simon Granville, of Peter Street, said: "The proposal looks innocuous enough but if you live in this area, I urge you to visit Wyvern House and look at the plans. You may well be as horrified as I was.

"The development is enormous and if you live on, or are associated with, Peter Street, Elm Street, Wade Street, Manchester Road, Station Road, Barton Place or Hadfield Street, it will affect you."

Russell Birkenhead, also of Peter Street, said the area earmarked for development was also problematic.

He said: "The problem is subsidence - unstable land stretching from here to Hadfield Street.

"Under here is a massive plate of water washing the solid rock bed away.

"I'm 65-years-old and have lived here since I was 15, so I know what the problems are."

Developer Martin Hulme, of Wordsworth Homes, said: "This is a facility the community needs and that there is a shortage of in this area."

He explained that the new facilities would be for people aged over 55 who need different levels of care, ranging from none at all to round the clock requirements.

Martin said: "It's based on giving more of a service to people that the NHS is not supplying."

He also said the development would regenerate the area by Manchester Road, a main route into Northwich.

He said: "There are a lot of grotty, horrible buildings in and around the area, which is a major trunk route into Northwich - this will enhance the design of the area and people's opinions when they drive into the town."

He added: "Development helps to clean up and regenerate the land - improving roads, pavements, street lighting and public open space."