Plans to build a motorway service station with a farm shop selling delicious pies near the M56 has sparked a row between two councils. The proposed site, on Green Belt land between Junction 7 and 8 of the motorway - not far from the Altrincham, Hale, Bowdon and Sale retail centres - is inside the Cheshire East council boundary.
That authority has asked neighbouring Trafford council for its views on the plan. At last night’s planning and development management committee meeting members agreed to write to Cheshire objecting to the service station.
Councillors say the plan to build on Green Belt is ‘not a special circumstance’ as required under planning law to build on such land. There are also fears that the service station - similar to the revered Cumbrian stopping point at Tebay - would adversely affect affluent local retail centres and become ‘a destination’ for shoppers.
