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WHEN a resident of Chatterton House in
Church Lane - the modern luxury development that stands where the
Lamb Hotel once stood - e-mailed me to tell me of a proposed
change of use for one of the shops I was, I have to
admit, incensed.
Not only was it for yet
another cafe, restaurant, or bar (the third to be accommodated
in Chatterton House if permitted)
but there was - "Jill" (I don't have her
full name) told me - a proposal for the
frontage
 and
the side access of the building (pictured right) to become an
"outdoor (smoking) area" to be squeezed into the conservatory area
and frontage.
"Jill", the resident of Chatterton
House, flatteringly told me that she had contacted me because she "saw your site and read your sensitive comments on Nantwich - for
which I have equal passion."
How can I not react to that
. . . ?!
But, I have to admit that - smoking area
apart - I think it could be an attractive
feature to have chairs and parasols in the front and side areas.
With one proviso that I am not sure could be insisted upon. If the
cafe/restaurant/bar were permitted to open on a Sunday - and the
plan apparently proposes all-year opening - I would like to
see the outdoor seating banned on that day.
"Jill" also has concerns
about fire assembly points in the area and others which would involve her and
her fellow residents more directly. Read her objections
below.
CHURCH Lane, which
isn't all that wide, is one of the main approaches to St Mary's and
it wouldn't be very nice to have to walk along there in a cloud of
cigarette smoke from the smoking area. And smoke drifting into
church during the service is the last
thing the congregation needs during
their meditations.
[Tell me, why do people who
are going outside for a cigarette - now that indoor smoking in
public buildings is illegal - say they are going for a breath of
fresh air? Fresh smoke-flavoured air.]
Noise from the outdoor area could
be another problem. The south porch area of the church is a matter
of yards away from the area and even though there will be two glass
doors (plus a wooden one) in the porch area when the
restoration/alterations are completed, the voices of people happily
indulging in coffee, food or drinks could well carry into the church
and interrupt the church service.
I am always aware that when
there is an entertainment on The Square, such as bands, anything
happening in St Mary's - even something as happy as a wedding - is
going to be disturbed.
And, of course, it would be tricky to try to impose any silence on the
proposed outdoor area for the duration of funeral services which are
held on weekdays.
TO return to "Jill", the resident of Chatterton
House (that's the building pictured, left, from the churchyard), she told me: "I have
been notified of a proposal for development between Chatterton House
and the churchyard. I have reviewed all of the proposals and have a
balanced view on the development - but it will change
the nature of the Chatterton House, Church Lane and the Church area
itself for good.
"In short, there is a proposal to squeeze another cafe-cum-bar into
the space between Chatterton House and the boundary wall - then to
put outdoor (smoking) areas squeezed into the back of the
conservatory and all along the front up to Bang and Olufsen's."
Pictured right is the
area between Chatterton House and the church boundary (taken through
the gates; no trespassing on my part to get it).
"Jill" continued: "This would be the third cafe/bar/restaurant unit in Chatterton
House. It is a project with no feeling for the town at all,"
she claimed.
THE plans can be found on the Cheshire East Council website. For copyright reasons I cannot
print them here, but try this . . .
On the
Cheshire East Council
website, select "Do It On-line" then "View it > Planning
Applications" - don't forget to read the Copyright Notice. Click on
"Current building applications submitted to Cheshire East Council".
You will be linked to a Borough of Macclesfield web page, but that's
all right. In a box
labelled "Planning Reference" type in a planning reference number
(see below). Go down the page and click on Search. Click on the link
to the left (the same planning reference number, in blue and
underlined). Select any plan - such a Site Layout - and click on it
to reveal it. Remember that it is copyright. [You will have to
"switch off " any pop-up blockers you have on your computer in order
to see the plans.]
No-one said it was easy !
Objections to the planning application had to be in by Monday, August 3, and changes to the listed building proposals on the 4th. The planning reference numbers are 09/1835N and 09/1905N.
The resident's objections |
