A GROUP of disappointed local people have learned that they have lost their fight to stop a much-loved tourist attraction / sales outlet becoming yet another housing development in the Nantwich area.

   And for once, I actually believe this is a plan that has some merit. For the first time that I am aware of locally, there are "affordable" homes planned here. This being the site of Stapeley Water Gardens.

   In case you think that I am in favour of the development because it is outside of town, and therefore not in my backyard, let me stress that what does it for me is those affordable homes. Affordable, that is, to people who are not natural buyers of the other developments in town where £250,000 has recently been suggested as the cost of a town house.

   The plan - approved by Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council in September - will mean the relocation of the sales area to the other side of the site, behind The Palms Tropical Oasis, on land already part of the water gardens, with a new access from Peter de Stapleigh Way. The relocation will make way for 150 homes and business (B1, if that means anything to you) accommodation.

   The Palms Tropical Oasis is the row of properties in the car park picture on the right. For those not familiar with Stapeley Water Gardens, the current (2007) sales area is across the car park behind the camera.

   Moving the sales area as suggested will put the buildings into one block, leaving the London Road access for the new housing and business accommodation. At the moment the water gardens are basically two blocks of buildings at either end of a very adequate car park - space for 1,500 cars and 50 coaches (with an overflow car park on the site).  

   One objection from the 109 residents who signed a petition opposing the plan is that the development will be another strain on the town's already pressed infrastructure (the town is short of doctors, dentists, schools and car parking, say the petitioners) - a point with which I have to agree.  

   The new entrance for the water gardens off Peter de Stapleigh Way (which I presume will be the one pictured

Part of the sales area at Stapeley Water Gardens

 Photographed with permission - even if it does look as though I am hiding among the plants to snatch it. 

below, left) opposite the road called Pear Tree Field) is another point of objection. I don't know who signed the petition, but I am guessing it is people local to the area.

   This crossroads is currently a T-junction with an entrance to the water gardens land in the far distance.

    While you can have sympathy with the people who live on that road, it must be said that until a few years ago, Peter de Stapleigh Way and the other roads in that area were green fields. (London Road is an old road, of course). The Cronkinson Farm Estate has brought more traffic to the area - and altered the layout of the London Road, Stapeley, area drastically (though not unpleasantly).

    [Under the definition of land previously used for another purpose, Cronkinson Farm was brown field and so qualified as an area to be built on.]

   When I first heard about the objections, I wondered if the local people were really being fair in objecting on traffic grounds to a proposal which is along the lines of something to which they were parties in the recent past - a new development.

Clearly the staff of the water gardens will arrive and leave outside of opening times - in the rush hour -but they are already part of the traffic on the local roads.      

    The demolition of Stapeley Manor - which was

on one corner of the water gardens site - the affect on wildlife and a strain on the sewers are other objections to the new homes plan.   

   The plans before Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council show that 33 per cent of the proposed homes will be in the "affordable" category - that's two per cent below the borough council's target for the site. But it was clearly considered to be close enough for the plan to be approved. 

   A water gardens spokesperson was quoted by the Nantwich Guardian (September 27) as saying: "The redevelopment will improve the overall visitor experience and facilities at Stapeley Water Gardens ensuring its future as a key tourist destination in the area."  

   [Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council was superseded by Cheshire East Council in 2009.]

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