Cheshire East officers are recommending councillors ground plans for a microlight centre to relocate to Barthomley.

The Cheshire Microlight Centre, which has operated for nearly 30 years at Arclid, has applied for planning permission to relocate to Walnut Tree Farm at Barthomley.

But Cheshire East planning officers are recommending councillors refuse the application for a number of reasons, including safety concerns because a major hazard pipeline crosses the site.

Barthomley Parish Council and the local action group have opposed the proposal, as have 46 households who have sent letters of objection.

But Cheshire East has also received 45 letters in support of the application.

The proposal involves the creation of a grassed landing strip and the extension of an existing barn to store microlights.

The application form states the field will be retained for grazing.

Among the objections from residents are claims that microlights fly low and are intrusive in terms of noise and privacy; the development and any lighting will be an eyesore; it would be intrusive to local residents and businesses, it would disrupt local wildlife and cause distress to horses nearby.

Supporters argue that, as part of the application for the Arclid site in 1993, the Congleton Borough environmental health officer accepted that there would be no harm in terms of noise.

They say for three decades the Arclid site has operated in close proximity to residential properties, livestock and equestrian activity and that, across the country, there are many airstrips which coexist harmoniously with rural dwellers and livestock.

But planning officers are recommending refusal on a number of grounds.

In a report due to go before Wednesday's (October 27) meeting of the southern planning committee, the planning officer states: "The application does not preserve the openness of the Green Belt and on this basis the development represents inappropriate development in the Green Belt.