MEMBERS of the public and councillors have presented a united front against the proposed sale of public open space at Higher Downs by Cheshire East Council.

A crowded public gallery broke into spontaneous applause on a number of occasions as Knutsford Town Council discussed the potential sale, described by a newly-formed residents’ group as ‘a conspiracy with a small ‘c’’.

The land, opposite Higher Downs and just south of the Longridge estate, sits adjacent to a local plan-approved strategic site earmarked for 225 homes. The western boundary of the development site, closest to the Longridge estate, is protected by a covenant.

While residents and the Knutsford Residents of Over Ward (KROW) group did not oppose the development, the principle and possible precedent of selling off extra land for an access road to bypass the covenant was deemed ‘unacceptable’.

A further gripe for residents is the manner of the proposed sale, with details – including the exact piece of land in question – having initially been withheld from the public. Councillors echoes these sentiments, with mayor Cllr Neil Forbes concerned by the ‘unseemly haste’ of the decision.

A petition with more than 180 signatures was handed to the council by Knutsford Academy student Nicky Hulse on behalf of KROW, with spokesmen Debbie Jamison and Jeff Gazzard addressing the council.

Mr Gazzard said: “We have no objection to this site being developed as in the initial plans. Covenants are tricky, covenants can be overcome.

“My view is that this is a conspiracy with a small ‘c’ – this is not right in terms of process. It’s not proper, and it needs to be.”

With the proposed sale due to be discussed by CEC cabinet on October 10, ward members have been fighting the sale in private meetings.

Ward member Cllr Tony Dean said: “Cllr Hayley Wells-Bradshaw and I have been negotiating to stop this happening, because it’s absolutely wrong.

“We have given them a hierarchy. The preferred option is to see if they can get through the covenant, and we have offered to help them find a way around it.”

The options of a wayleave and smaller access road, following by a sale of around four per cent, have also been put on the table by CEC.

Cllr Mrs Wells-Bradshaw said: “CEC got this one wrong. It’s as simple as that. I very much welcome the strength of feeling from the residents of Knutsford.

“Four per cent will facilitate an access road. That is something we have managed to get on the table when it certainly was not to begin with.

“We should object most strongly to any sale of this land.”

Cllr Andrew Malloy said: “Even talking about other options greatly concerns me. CEC have a local plan and they have to make it work.

“We need to make sure that the initial plans are the ones taken forward. This is too soon to take any other options forward.”

Councillors voted through six decisions – to write to CEC to amend the use of the word ‘land’ to ‘public open space’, to apply to register the land as an asset of community value, to accept KROW’s petition, to object to the principle of any land sale, to offer CEC support to discharge the covenant, and to ask ward councillors to support the town council decision.