Flixton residents up in arms as work begins on electricity sub-station (From Messenger Newspapers)

Flixton residents up in arms as work begins on electricity sub-station

12:48pm Thursday 26th November 2009 in News

A NEIGHBOURHOOD in Flixton has been left seething after building work for a new electricity sub-station on a well used greenspace began unannounced last week.

Residents of Flixton’s Snowden Avenue were stunned after workmen started excavating foundations for a new sub-station building on a piece of land which has for years been designated a play area for under-11s.

The plans were submitted by United Utilities and approved by Trafford Council, although the move has united a community who say the building will be an unsightly blot on an otherwise pleasant green space and could pose a health and safety risk to children in the area.

“We’ve had no letters through or anything to warn this was happening,” fumed Snowden Avenue resident Hazel Clifford.

“United Utilities have told me they don’t need planning permission for these types of things which I think is just disgraceful. We need permission to make any type of change to our own properties that we own, but the same rules don’t apply to them even on public land.”

Fellow Snowdon Avenue resident, John Wheathley, said: “It’s taken everybody by surprise really, but people are outraged.

“This is a nice looking neighbourhood but this building will completely spoil the look of the area.

“I’m no health expert, but you don’t have to look too far to find information about these things being harmful to people, and yet they’ve decided to put this on a children’s play area.

“It’s the council we are really angry with though for actually letting United Utilities do this.”

United Utilities said the council had been happy for the work to go ahead there, although the council tell a slightly different story.

“No one told us it was a play area, but it was the only open space available,” a United Utilities spokesman said on Tuesday.

“This falls within permitted development as it’s vital infrastructure – it has to be built and it can’t be prevented by planning policies.

“But we would have approached the council and asked if it was OK to site it there.

“We’ve also agreed to plant trees and shrubs to shield it from view.”

Commenting for the council, executive councillor Mike Cornes said: “Under permitted development rights Unitied Utilities do not require planning permission to carry out this work.

“The company did, however, contact the council, and while we advised this site was not ideal it is the only viable option to maintain the essential infrastructure.

“We advised that work would be need to be undertaken to ensure this land was still available for the community and that works be carried out around the sub-station to minimise impact on the visual aspect of the site.

“United Utilities have agreed to provide funding for new screening and hedges.”