An Alsager town councillor has criticised Cheshire East's decision to approve a temporary remote compound at land opposite the town's existing water treatment plan, which will see 10m of hedgerow removed to construct a temporary access to the site.

The site is part of a field opposite the Alsager Wastewater Treatment Works on Hassall Road.

United Utilities sought full planning permission for a temporary remote compound including 10m of hedgerow being removed to create a temporary access.

Alsager Town Council had concerns about the loss of the hedgerow which was contrary to the Alsager Neighbourhood Plan.

These concerns were voiced at Wednesday's Cheshire East full council meeting, by Alsager town councillor Jane Smith.

The Animal Welfare party councillor said: "I would like to know why Cheshire East has given the permission for the removal of 10 metres of mature hedgerow in open countryside on Hassall Road in spite of Alsager Town Council submitted concerns which referred to policies in our adopted neighbourhood plan.

"A recent survey showed that 10m of a similar hedgerow in Devon was home to 235 different species and the loss of these incredible biodiverse habitats is a key driver of habitat fragmentation.

"Neighbourhood plans are supposed to help communities play a stronger role in shaping their local areas, policy NBE4 of our Alsager Neighbourhood Plan specifically states that we feel the loss of mature hedgerow cannot be mitigated by new planting and therefore should be avoided wherever possible.

"Cheshire East is a council that did declare a climate emergency back in 2019, I do not really understand how that sits with approving the loss of mature hedgerow for temporary vehicular access, surely there were ways around this loss of crucial habitat."

Cllr Toni Fox, Cheshire East's portfolio holder for planning, highlighted that policy PG6 (open countryside) of the borough's local pan "allows for development of public infrastructure and essential works undertaken by public service authorities or statutory undertakers".

Cllr Fox added: "Unfortunately, the works are essential for the upgrading of the water treatment works and the proposal was therefore considered to be acceptable in principle.

"Policy NBE4 of the Alsager Neighbourhood Plan states that if a result of development trees or hedgerows are lost they should be replaced by native species and this has been secured by condition four [of the planning approval]."

The site is more than 200m away from the nearest residential property and as such it was deemed that the plans would have "no adverse impact on residential amenity".

The proposal included a temporary access either side of Hassall Road.

The temporary access would have "limited visibility", but United Utilities has "agreed" with Cheshire East Highways to have a temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) in place during the life of the development, which includes signals to overcome the visibility issue.

The application was approved by Cheshire East planning officers through delegated powers.