PLANNING chiefs have once again poured cold water on a bid to build a water park in Chelford.

For the fourth time, a Cheshire East Council committee has blocked a bid by Cheshire Lakes to build the centre at the former Mere Farm Quarry.

CEC officers had recommended the plan was approved, praising its boost for local tourism, giving developers hope the scheme would finally get the green light – having been rejected, approved, called back in and rejected again last year.

But at a strategic planning board meeting at Macclesfield Town Hall on Wednesday, May 24, members went against the advice of CEC’s officers.

Both Chelford and Nether Alderley parish councils had objected to the proposals, with residents raising fears over the future of wildlife on the site.

Andrew Kay, from Nether Alderley Parish Council, told members that he was sure they ‘would not support an application to kill birds’, but Cllr George Walton, CEC member for Chelford, backed the scheme.

Its benefits convinced Cllr Sarah Pochin to give her vocal support.

“We know there are 30 new jobs to be provided, and we shouldn’t underestimate this as a tourist attraction in the local area,” she said.

“I think tourism is a very key issue and we know that this company has a proven track record.”

Cllr John Hammond agreed that the water park would boost the borough, and expressed his frustration at the planning saga.

He said: “There has been a lot of perseverance by the applicant to get this done. It would be a great tourist attraction, it doesn’t affect the greenbelt.

“I think several members of this committee have supported the application from day one, and we’ve finally reached a much-deserved conclusion for this scheme.”

But Cllr Fox opposed the scheme, and criticised councillors who welcomed a ‘purely commercial scheme’ on a site which had been allocated for use as a nature site by the former Macclesfield Borough Council once extraction at the former quarry came to an end.

“I feel very sorry for those residents who put with the quarry, who were promised by the council that this would be restored, and now some members are inclined to turn their backs on that.”

Cllr Smetham echoed her colleague, admitting that while ‘it would be nice to provide this for local people, I don’t think we would be doing the right thing’.

Members voted to refuse the application by six to five, on the grounds of unsustainability of the site and to protect biodiversity.