A COUNCILLOR is calling for a much-needed medical centre to be built on the Hartford Manor site.

Cllr Susan Kaur, Cheshire West and Chester Council councillor for Hartford and Greenbank, has called in a planning application to build 43 homes on the site, saying it would add to the current traffic issues at peak times.

The Conservative councillor also slammed CWAC’s Highways department, saying it was ‘oblivious’ to the congestion issues around the site.

Cllr Kaur met with Hartford Investments Ltd – which own the land – earlier this month to discuss its application.

She suggested to the developer that it should make a purpose built medical centre and sell it to CWAC, which at one time owned the site.

Cllr Kaur said she does not support the application.

“We’re already over-developed in Northwich, we need infrastructure,” she said.

“The reason I am saying no to this and future ones like it is because we need to get the infrastructure first.”

As part of its application, which is being handled by Peter Brett Associates, Hartford Investments Ltd has also applied for permission to convert the Grade II listed manor house, into 16 apartments.

She said the area is already a danger to pupils from nearby schools and said adding further houses would worsen the issue.

“There are five schools surrounding this site,” Cllr Kaur said.

“Who is going to be responsible for safeguarding and danger aspect for all these kids?”

She added: “The traffic coming down through Greenbank and past the school in the morning is horrendous.

“We need a medical centre and this site is perfect.”

In December, Mereside Education Trust, which is operated by the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, applied for planning permission to convert Hartford Manor into a school.

The school will employ 50 to 100 staff and serve 150 to 160 pupils aged eight to 18.

Cllr Kaur said she did not support the proposals.

“A school would probably be the worst thing to happen,” she said.

Hartford Investments Ltd’s application is due to be discussed by CWAC’s planning committee later this year.