Cheshire East planners and campaigners are set to lock horns again this week over controversial proposals to undertake disputed 'safety' works at Poynton Pool reservoir.

Poynton Pool is classed as a large high-risk reservoir, which means an uncontrolled release of water could endanger human life.

There is no record of it ever flooding but the council, as landowner, has a legal obligation to carry out works to ensure it is safe.

Campaigners say Cheshire East's 'flawed' proposal would destroy numerous trees and have branded it 'wanton environmental vandalism'.

Even the council's own planners, who recommended the scheme be approved when it first went before the strategic planning board (SPB) in April 2024, admitted the environmental impact would be 'brutal' and 'significantly harmful'.

Following a lengthy debate at that meeting the application was deferred.

One reason was so the accuracy of the data presented in the council's report could be assessed.

Poynton Pool (Image - Andy Robinson)

Another was to 'encourage engagement with third parties to consider/explain alternatives', after the campaigners' engineering expert said there were alternative, less harmful options.

On Friday (January 16) the application, with a few amendments, will be considered again by the SPB.

And, to the 'dismay' of residents and campaign group Friends of Poynton Pool (FoPP), it has again been recommended for approval.

A report from the council's planning officer states: "There remains some disagreement between the parties on the stated inaccuracies, but it is considered that there is sufficient information available in order to make an informed decision on the application.

"Similarly, there remains disagreement regarding the impact of trees on the dam."

It adds: "The overall planning balance remains similar to that outlined in the original report, however, the amendments that have been made to the application have reduced the number of trees to be removed from 78 to a maximum of 34 (minimum of 17), and the overall impacts on the woodland and to the visual amenity of the area has been reduced."

Poynton Pool (Image - Andy Robinson)

Regarding an alternative proposal put forward by FoPP, the report states: "The presence of a viable alternative that meets relevant standards is a material planning consideration.

"However, there remains some uncertainty regarding the impacts of Option 1D (suggested by FoPP) and whilst these remain, only limited weight can be afforded to it as a realistic, and better, alternative to the current scheme.

"As such this is not considered to be sufficient to tip the planning balance against the application proposal."

Campaigners are planning to stage a protest outside Friday's meeting.

FoPP chair Mike Ellison, who is an arboriculturist, said: "Despite years of trying to get Cheshire East Council to engage with us to find a more suitable, environmentally friendly solution for the spillway improvements at Poynton Pool, we're dismayed the council's planning department continues to stand by this flawed scheme that amounts to wanton environmental vandalism.

"It flies in the face of common sense, and it flies in the face of public opinion, and we appeal for anyone who agrees with us to join us outside Macclesfield Town Hall ."

FoPP argues the controversial scheme could result in more than 120 trees being felled and countless others cut back and irreparably damaged by excavations.

The group says since the proposal first came to light more than three years ago there have been close to 10,000 negative responses from members of the public.

The SPB meeting takes place at Macclesfield Town Hall on Friday, January 16 at 10.30am.

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