Parents, a disability charity and Cheshire East itself have all supported an equestrian-based therapy centre for autistic children near Holmes Chapel – but the council keeps delaying the planning process.
Gadwall Estates applied to Cheshire East in April last year for permission to construct the centre at Saltersford Farm at Twemlow for autistic children to enjoy holidays and short breaks, (writes local democracy reporter Belinda Ryan).
The applicants later supplied additional information required by the council in September.
The scheme has received overwhelming support from the public, and requests for information about the specialised service have flooded in from parents of autistic children.
Enquiries have also come in about using the site from Cheshire East Council itself and Riding for the Disabled.
But Chris Bates, who bought the 70-acre site three years ago, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “With planning still not yet approved, we’re not in a position to respond positively to those enquiries.”
The proposals include:
• Provision of specialist on-site facilities catered towards people with autism;
• Equestrian facilities, including indoor arena and provision of specialist stud facilities to support the site’s breeding, foaling and youngstock activities;
• Specialist holiday accommodation to support the specific needs of autistic people and provide short-break respite for families;
• Education centre and craft workshop spaces and
• Staff facilities and on-site living accommodation.
Mr Bates and wife Vicky have enlisted the expertise of Alex Northover and her wife Leanne to help run the venture.
Qualified
Both are qualified schoolteachers and Alex has an MA in autism spectrum conditions.
They work with young people who need nurture, structure, understanding and support.
But the new centre can’t be built until Cheshire East planners grant permission.
Mr Bates said: “We initially agreed an extension of time with the planners to 28th October, to allow them time to review the application and supporting materials.
“Since then, we’ve agreed further extensions to 2nd December, 13th December and then 16th January.
“We’ve had no further requests for information.”
The LDRS understands one reason for the delays was due to the council converting to a new IT system.
Mr Bates said: “We are very conscious that a centre such as the one proposed might not neatly fit into the local planning framework and that Cheshire East Council has had additional work to undertake with IT upgrades, but the unexpected delays to approving the scheme clearly impact when the site will go live and the cost of developing it.
“We do understand that there is complexity.
“But ultimately the public interest in, and benefit from, the site is very significant so we’re hoping that the planners take a pragmatic view of the application and recognise the benefit of having such a centre within Cheshire, which would be the only one of its kind in the country.”
