A FRESH row between two rival politicians has erupted days before planning chiefs make a decision on controversial proposals for a warehouse on green belt land.

The logistics firm’s proposals to construct a £75 million national distribution centre were turned down by the authority in November but it lodged an appeal against the decision, as well as submitting a fresh planning application.

The revised application is due to come before the development management committee at the Town Hall on July 24.

If built, the site would be built on land north of Barleycastle Lane, opposite the firm’s existing headquarters at Stretton Green Distribution Park.

Cllr Ryan Bate (LD – Grappenhall), Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Warrington South, says: “We are doing everything we can to fight this proposal.

“The council leader claims he is listening to the people and we welcome this, but in this case, he is ignoring the wishes of the vast majority of the residents.

“The people strongly oppose this application, as he knows from the leader’s forum he held recently in Appleton.”

Cllr Bate also revealed the South Warrington parish councils’ planning group, which he is a member of, has taken on a barrister so legal advice can be presented to the committee arguing that the application is wrong on both green belt and prematurity grounds.

He added: “If the members of the planning committee reject our barrister’s advice and approve Stobart’s second application, then the application must go to the Tory secretary of state for his approval, which gives us a second opportunity to put our case.

“We are also considering a judicial review to challenge the flawed decision should the committee grant planning permission.”

But council leader Cllr Russ Bowden has hit back after being accused of ‘ignoring the wishes’ of residents by Cllr Bate.

The pair were involved in a row earlier this month after Cllr Bate described the current state of the Labour-run authority’s planning department as unfit for purpose.

It resulted in Cllr Bowden accusing him of turning planning into a political football after putting officers in the ‘firing line’.

Cllr Bowden says he is surprised with the latest comments from Cllr Bate, while labelling the previous comments about the planning department as ‘out of order’.

“Everyone on the committee needs to go into the meeting with an open mind, take the information presented and come to a decision in accordance with planning law,” he said.

“Ryan seems to be doubting the ability of his own members to make a decision.”