In August 2024, local Lib Dem councillors, LibDem MP, the council Chief Executive, Monitoring Officer and person in charge of planning were informed that a legally protected wildlife site at Padden Brook was being cleared for housing development, according to local residents who provided Stockport Council with documentary evidence the protected nature of the site. The Council subsequently admitted, in writing, that it was a Local Wildlife Site. Despite early notification, no enforcement action was taken for almost a year, during which time substantial damage occurred to the site’s habitats.
Recent conversation between Cllr Angela Clark and a local resident suggests that the council has now taken a stricter stance on planning enforcement. About time.
Residents have expressed frustration over the delayed response, particularly as the landowner is now reportedly pressuring councillors regarding planning permissions. One resident commented: “It’s deeply concerning that action wasn’t taken sooner. The damage to this protected site may be irreversible.”
The site in question is subject to legal environmental protections, but it remains unclear why enforcement was not undertaken sooner. Residents are calling for a full investigation and clearer accountability on how protected land is monitored and safeguarded in future.
