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Gladly withdrawn joy

Kate Speedie
5/ 8/2003

NEIGHBOURS were victorious in their campaign to prevent the destruction of two traditional houses in Chorlton - with a little help from their friend local singer Badly Drawn Boy.

The application to demolish two red-brick semis on St Clement's Road and replace them with 19 flats was unanimously rejected by council officials at the Planning and Highways Committee.

Singer Damon Gough, aka Badly Drawn Boy, lodged his objection against the plans before they went before chiefs at the meeting.

Campaigner Keith Smith said: "It was an excellent decision and a victory for common sense I think. It's nice to have stopped the bulldozers in their tracks."

But developers Capitol Developments were convinced their application should have been approved because it met all the right guidelines.

Their agent said: "The applicant has bent over backwards to meet the needs of the residents and the planning officers and we have before us now a very balanced application, and it complies with every council policy."

Chorlton councillor Sheila Newman supported the residents' protest.

She added: "A large number of local residents are unhappy about this application. It is far too large for the site and the semis that are there already could be refurbished. It is just not suitable.

"I am not against apartments or flats but it would cause problems, it is a narrow road, with double yellow lines, two churches and a school so the congestion is already bad, if you add 19 flats it would be unacceptable."

Councillor Hugh Barrett from the planning committee, said: "This is an over-development of the site. There is a large amount of traffic and the flats would cause a lot of problems.

"By virtue of its intensity it would have a detrimental affect on the residents and the character of the area. There is inadequate space for amenity for future occupiers and the people of Chorlton."