THE business behind three of the best service stations in the UK wants to build another on green belt land outside Trafford – but not all residents are on board with the proposals.
Tatton Services Ltd, a partnership between Westmorland and the Tatton Estate, submitted an application for the site at Junction 8 of the M56 to Cheshire East Council last month.
Westmorland is the business behind Tebay Services, the popular service station at Junction 38 of the M6, as well as Cairn Lodge Services in Scotland and Gloucester Services in the south west.
The trio make up the top three in a list of the best service stations in the UK, according to Which?
In partnership with the Tatton Estate, it hopes to create another service station of similar standard.
The application reads: "Our approach has been proven to have positive impact on the localities in which we operate.
"We calculate that Tatton Services will bring significant economic and social benefits to its local area, in terms of employment, supply chain and for the wider community and visitor economy."
Included in the plans is a main structure with a farmshop, indoor and outdoor dining and takeaway food and drink.
There are also separate structures for a 12-pump petrol station and a hotel with 100 bedrooms.
Tatton Services Ltd carried out a consultation before it submitted its application and altered its plans accordingly.
But the council's own consultation has attracted almost 20 comments, not all of them in support of the proposals.
One Altrincham resident commented: "Westmorland's Tebay site is in a remote location with no other services within 10 miles to the south or 20 miles to the north.
"There are also scant employment opportunities locally as the nearest large conurbations are Penrith more than 20 miles to the north and Lancaster more than 40 miles to the south.
"In contrast, the land contained within this planning application is in an affluent area of high employment less than two miles from the large conurbations of Trafford, such as Hale and Altrincham, and just eight miles from Manchester city centre.
"The area is also very well provided for in terms of motorway services already, including overnight accommodation, so there is no justification to build more – especially in the green belt."
The consultation closes in two weeks, and the deadline for a decision by Cheshire East Council is July 8.
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