Controversial development granted permission

A hugely controversial housing development has been granted planning permission.

Great Places Housing Group applied for permission to build 27 dwellings on land off Woodbine Street and Elder Street, Wellfield, land that Rochdale Online recently revealed the Council wants to sell to the Housing Group for just £1.

Nearby residents turned out en masse at Rochdale Planning Sub-Committee vociferously objecting to serious congestion and parking problems already causing a traffic hazard. However, planning officers told the sub-committee, to the astonishment of anyone who knows how bad the congestion is on Woodbine Street, that they had visited the site and declared there is no congestion - prompting shouts from residents that they must have visited in the early hours of the morning.

Residents supplied the councillors on the sub-committee with photographs of the problems of parked cars on Woodbine Street, used not only by existing residents but also visitors to Wellfield Surgery, Lloyds Pharmacy, nearby businesses and industrial estate, to no avail.

Lib Dem Ward councillor David Clayton spoke eloquently in support of objecting residents and took the applicants to task on their claim of extensive consultation with residents, saying to his knowledge there had been little to no consultation. Councillor Clayton also condemned the wording of council officers report, which he said mentioned targeting the houses at young Asian families, saying "that sort of language gives the BNP the propaganda excuse they need".

Councillor Clayton reinforced residents’ objections about parking and congestion problems and said the application should be rejected on those grounds.

In a further controversial twist Councillor Clayton objected to his Lib Dem colleague Councillor Mohamed Sharif being allowed to vote. A member of the planning sub-committee, Councillor Sharif is also the portfolio holder for regeneration and a member of the Lib Dem cabinet, raising, according to Councillor Clayton, an issue of pre-determination by Councillor Sharif. Chairman of the meeting Councillor Peter Clegg intervened and explained that Councillor Sharif had sought the Council's legal advice and been cleared to vote.

After the meeting Councillor Clayton continued to express his surprise that a planning committee member who had already made his mind up he wanted the application to succeed was allowed to vote, observing that his contribution to the debate had swung the vote which was 5 in favour, 3 against with 1 abstention.

Councillor Jean Ashworth, who has family and friends living nearby, also strongly objected. She said "I visit the area every week." Councillor Ashworth agreed with residents that the land would be better used for "much needed recreational space". She too, like Councillor Clayton, objected to the "targeting of young Asian families" saying: "This kind of targeting is disgraceful." A word she also used when talking of Council plans to sell the land to the developer for £1.

With planning consent granted, the developers must now wait to find out if the council is to approve the controversial sale of the land for £1.

Sharon Taylor of Woodbine Street, speaking on behalf of residents, said they would continue to fight the proposed development.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/36218/lib-dems-row-over-housing-development-proposal