BY PETE HENSHAW

CONTROVERSY has erupted over the decision to approve the plans for a new link road in Crewe.

The road is to connect Crewe Green to the A500 Shavington Bypass and is intended to open up land which has been allocated for employment development.

Supporters of the road, between Crewe Green roundabout and Weston Gate roundabout, say it is a vitally important development.

However, residents of nearby village, Weston, feel they have not been properly consulted about the project and that question marks hang over the safety of wildlife habitats in the vicinity.

Approval for the road came after heated debate at a meeting of Crewe and Nantwich Planning Committee last week.

Cllr Maureen Campbell led the criticism in the meeting saying that in Crewe Green 93 people were informed but 63 were not: "Crewe Green Parish Council and the parishioners were informed but they were not consulted and there is a difference," she said.

"The council never had a reply from a letter requesting a direct consultation with them.

"This is not about stopping the road, but about getting it right and not setting it up to fail," she added.

Lynn Halliburton, a Crewe Green resident and parish council member who was also at the meeting, said afterwards: "We have had a raw deal, we are designated as a conservation area and we deserved to be talked to and consulted.

"The parish council wrote an extensive letter to Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council asking them on several points to consider and consult us, but we did not get a reply," she added.

Concerns were raised in the meeting about the safety of wildlife habitats in Quakers Coppice, an area of wooded land close to the site of the new road.

Cllr Gwyn Griffiths said: "Quakers Coppice is a non-statutory nature reserve so this application is contrary to policy."

Andrew Dobson, Senior Planning Officer, defended the officers' decision to recommend approval: "The application has been published in accordance with the law, the application was submitted on August 31 and letters had gone out by November 13," he explained.

"The issue is whether the proposal adversely affects and the Environmental Impact Assessment says it does not," he added.

Cllr Brian Cherrington spoke in support of the application: "This is one of the most important applications this council has received in the last 12 months."

The road is expected to take around 50 per cent of traffic off Weston Road and the proposal was voted through easily by councillors.