An example of the valuable local work being carried out by Labour councillors in Crewe is exemplified by the ongoing issues surrounding the building work that has begun at the derelict former Crewe Chronicle offices on the High Street despite the fact that the planning application relating to the property is not due to be decided until the beginning of September at the earliest. A Newbury-based property management company has applied to convert the upper floors of the building into two apartments but work already appears to have commenced on the property.
Labour Councillor Ant Critchley, who represents Crewe Central ward where the building is located, called in the application at the start of August, asking for the application to be decided by the southern planning committee rather than a planning officer under delegated authority.
Speaking in an interview with Belinda Ryan from the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Critchley said; “As far as I’m aware it’s not been decided yet, hence my call-in last week,” adding that, although he accepted the need for the building to be renovated, he had “grave concerns about the change of purpose being made without representations from council members, nearby traders and the wider public,” as well as expressing concern that a full and detailed planning application had not been submitted.
“Without a full application being presented to the southern planning committee, there is potential that issues around amenities like waste, vehicle/cycle parking and air quality will not be discussed and therefore conditions cannot be put in place to combat and mitigate the effects of these issues,” Critchley was reported as saying.
“Without thorough scrutiny, this application is open to the potential of becoming an HMO (house of multiple occupation) with the associated problems. I must add that this particular location is of great significance for the local area,." - Councillor Ant Critchley