CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating a major victory in their battle to stop two massive sites being develope

But this week, independent government inspectors said the plans should be scrapped - because they would damage the countryside and create traffic chaos on the Northwich bypass.

"It's a very significant step," said Arthur Wood, chairman of Davenham Parish Council.

"The recommendation made by the panel is to delete the sites - largely for the reasons given by the parish council and other concerned groups.

"When an independent assessor of the situation comes out with quite a decisive view like that, I think it would be rather remiss of the county council and the borough council to not comply with it," he added.

The two man panel sat for three weeks in October hearing evidence about the county council's structure plan - which sets out planning policy until 2011.

Their 160 page report is not binding, but its recommendations will form the basis of discussions leading up to the publication of the amended plan in the summer.

And Michael Fellows, vice chairman of Lostock Gralam Parish Council is convinced they will decide to drop their plans for Northwich.

"Given the number of reasons against the sites staying in, I don't see how the county council can fail to comply with the recommendations.

"As far as the Lostock site goes, they haven't just opposed it for general reasons but for specific reasons relating to the site. We are absolutely over the moon."

The county council wants to earmark 160 acres of land West of Gadbrook Park for a development suitable as the UK base for an international firm while they plan to set aside 100 acres at Long Wood for a distribution centre - bigger than Morrison's.

If the plans for the sites are deleted from the final version of the county plan, due to be published at the end of the year, Vale Royal would almost certainly have to reconsider its similar plans for the sites.

In the meantime, both Lostock and Davenham parish council will continue to lobby county councillors, urging them to support the panel's findings.

CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating a major victory in their battle to stop two massive sites being developed.

County planners want to earmark green sites near Lostock and Davenham for massive commercial development.

But this week, independent government inspectors said the plans should be scrapped - because they would damage the countryside and create traffic chaos on the Northwich bypass.

"It's a very significant step," said Arthur Wood, chairman of Davenham Parish Council.

"The recommendation made by the panel is to delete the sites - largely for the reasons given by the parish council and other concerned groups.

"When an independent assessor of the situation comes out with quite a decisive view like that, I think it would be rather remiss of the county council and the borough council to not comply with it," he added.

The two man panel sat for three weeks in October hearing evidence about the county council's structure plan - which sets out planning policy until 2011.

Their 160 page report is not binding, but its recommendations will form the basis of discussions leading up to the publication of the amended plan in the summer.

And Michael Fellows, vice chairman of Lostock Gralam Parish Council is convinced they will decide to drop their plans for Northwich.

"Given the number of reasons against the sites staying in, I don't see how the county council can fail to comply with the recommendations.

"As far as the Lostock site goes, they haven't just opposed it for general reasons but for specific reasons relating to the site. We are absolutely over the moon."

The county council wants to earmark 160 acres of land West of Gadbrook Park for a development suitable as the UK base for an international firm while they plan to set aside 100 acres at Long Wood for a distribution centre - bigger than Morrison's.

If the plans for the sites are deleted from the final version of the county plan, due to be published at the end of the year, Vale Royal would almost certainly have to reconsider its similar plans for the sites.

In the meantime, both Lostock and Davenham parish council will continue to lobby county councillors, urging them to support the panel's findings.

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