Below is a joint statement from both RAMS and the Parish Council on the the next steps in the Ilford Way development battle. As most of you will be aware very strong objections to the Ilford Way development were voiced by your Parish Council, Residents Against Mobberley Sprawl (RAMS) and many residents. This objection was supported by our Cheshire East Councillor Jamie McCrae. The application was taken to Cheshire East Planning on 10 July 2014, with an Officer recommendation for approval. After a lengthy debate by Councillors of the Strategic Planning Board, the vote was tied at six for and six against a motion for refusal. The Chair used his casting vote against the scheme. However, at this stage those supporting the application argued for a deferment, pending a Health Impact Assessment. This was highly irregular and the Parish Council has lodged a formal complaint to the Council and to our MP. You will appreciate that this could be a very tight decision and the Parish Council and RAMS have decided that we should become more actively involved. We believe we have an extremely strong case. To this end, we are looking to appoint Consultants either to undertake an independent report on our behalf or to peer review reports that will be prepared by the Council and the applicant. This will cost money, but we feel this is the most important decision that will be taken in Mobberley for the foreseeable future. If the development is allowed it will increase the population of Mobberley by more than 25% at one go, add no additional service facilities and adversely change the character of our Village. The Parish Council has offered some financial support to sustain the objection, but we, the residents, will have to make our contribution. Please look to the RAMS website and future Newsletters to see how you can help with pledges of money. In addition, we are seeking help in a number of other areas. The first of these is any information that you may have about industrial tipping that took place on-site during the years Ilfords were resident. We are aware that some employees were obliged to sign ‘gagging orders’, but we are sure there are some who have not. In addition, information from anyone with garden ponds under the flightpath that have visual experience of fuel dumping would be appreciated. Next, if, when travelling, you could keep records of congestion (location, time of day and length of delay) you experience gaining access to Town Lane or passing into and through Knutsford and/or Wilmslow this would help. This could also apply to difficulties experienced travelling by rail. Finally, anyone interested could assist by downloading a free mobile phone app called “Widenoise” (more information can be found here http://cs.everyaware.eu/event/widenoise) to measure individual plane noise would help us build up a picture of actual noise. Again, location, time and measurement are all that are required. Please keep in touch with the RAMS website www.mobberleyrams.com, the Newsletter and let us know if there is anything else you can think of to help us resist this development. If you have not already done so, a letter of objection to George Osborne MP would reinforce the weight of objection. Mobberley Parish Council and Residents Against Mobberley Sprawl Please share this statement with people using this weblink http://mobberleyrams.wordpress.com/2014/08/15/jointstatement/ so we can get the message out! Finally if you have any information on industrial tipping or want to get involved in the noise gathering or traffic monitoriing effort please contact me, RAMS Campaign Co-Ordinator on gareth@mobberleyrams.com or by phone 07787 448 337.