Controversial plans by Cheshire East to 'desecrate' a woodland to undertake disputed 'safety' works at Poynton Pool reservoir could increase the risk of flooding rather than reduce it, campaigners claim.

Poynton Pool was created as an ornamental pond in the 1700s and is classed as a large high-risk reservoir, which means an uncontrolled release of water could endanger human life.

There is no record of it ever flooding but the council, as landowner, has a legal obligation to carry out works to ensure it is safe.

Cheshire East's proposal, which involved uprooting 78 trees and removing sections of hedgerow, was deferred by the strategic planning board (SPB) in April 2024 when councillors questioned the accuracy of data in their own engineer's report.

Ward councillor Michael Beanland (Con) and campaigner Andrew Emmerson called for an 'honest and independent assessment' of the situation.

Speaking at Thursday's (September 4) scrutiny committee meeting, councillor Beanland said: "The strategic planning board instructed further investigations asking for a site investigation, a flood study and, importantly, collaboration between parties.

"We were informed at that meeting that there are no viable alternatives to the proposed plan, but this is evidently not true."

Poynton Pool was created as an ornamental pond in the 1700s and is classed as a large high-risk reservoir (Credit: Andy Robinson)

He gave details of the Tredegar Dam which, he said, has been installed by Newport County Council with instructions to preserve the tree environment, adding this was similar to Poynton Pool.

Councillor Beanland told the meeting: "The destruction of 80 trees is counter to any green policy that Cheshire East pretends to practice.

"What is proposed, is a plan that will mean a huge loss of a highly valued local nature environment, currently estimated at £5 million, an increase in water level and a plan that ignores tree root deterioration, which only increases flood risk."

Mr Emmerson, representing Friends of Poynton Pool (FoPP), told the scrutiny committee: "From the very start the flood risk at Poynton Pool was calculated incorrectly."

He said the SPB, last April, asked for collaborative meetings to generate an alternative approach to resolve the key issue, which is the removal of at least 78 trees.

"It was 10 months before the first meeting took place despite repeated requests," said Mr Emmerson.

"The reason given for the delay was that CEC wanted to complete the site investigation beforehand, this still has not yet been completed."

The proposals include uprooting 78 trees and removing sections of hedgerow (Credit: Andy Robinson)

Mr Emmerson said FoPP even obtained quotes and had a sponsor from within the community to fund it.

"This was refused, saying it would take four months for a tendering process and so will not be done before returning to the SPB," said Mr Emmerson.

"We believe the results are likely to show the proposed works will increase the risk of dam failure during the works and after, incurring significant additional cost and reputational damage for the council."

He added: "The engagement with FoPP has not been collaborative, the meetings have been used to denigrate constructive alternatives put forward by FoPP.

"To be clear, there has been no compromise and no change to the impact on the trees.

"There is no transparency on changes to be resubmitted to the SPB."

Councillor Liz Wardlaw said, as chair of scrutiny, she would take the matter up with the appropriate service committee.