CHESHIRE East Council has defended its decision to use money allocated for affordable housing in Holmes Chapel to clear the way for a gypsy and traveller site in Middlewich.

East Cheshire residents are currently being asked to have their say on a draft housing strategy which aims to address the need for affordable housing across the borough – with the council proposing a commitment to ‘facilitate the delivery of 355 affordable homes per year’.

In its strategy, CEC claims that the borough needs ‘a mix of small and family-sized homes to meet housing needs, including overcrowded families and people looking to downsize’.

But the council is using section 106 (S106) money from a development in Holmes Chapel, which was allocated for affordable housing across the borough, to demolish Cledford Hall Barn – which is set to provide space for CEC’s proposed transit site.

Cllr Jonathan Parry, Middlewich Town Council member, said it was ‘sickening’ that CEC was using the money ‘just to build pitches for caravans’.

A CEC spokesman said: “In this particular case the developers were not in a position to provide affordable housing in Holmes Chapel and the council, at that time, was unable to identify a suitable site where affordable housing could be provided in the village with the contribution received.

“This particular S106 agreement did not specify that the contribution should be spent in Holmes Chapel and, as the council at that time was looking to provide a transit site for travellers, the council opted to allocate this contribution to the project.

“We would also point out that 144 affordable homes have been built or are in the pipeline for construction in Holmes Chapel, underlining the council’s policy that local people wanting to get on the housing ladder, have the opportunity.”

The spokesman added that CEC is required to address the housing need of gypsy and traveller families under the 2004 Housing Act.

Leader Cllr Rachel Bailey said: “Within affordable housing there is consideration for provision for our travelling community because they are equally deserving of it.”