Cheshire East Council has voted unanimously to oppose plans for a new town of up to 20,000 homes at Adlington.

About 90 campaigners who had turned up at the council meeting at Tatton Park to protest against Belport's proposals to build on the green belt, jumped to their feet applauding and cheering after the vote.

And there were cries of 'thank you' from the protesters, whose earlier outbursts during the meeting hadn't been so cordial.

Eight members of the public addressed Wednesday's (December 10) meeting of the full council, including retired town planner Peter Emery.

He said: "The Labour Party's manifesto states it is committed to preserving the green belt, to adopting a brownfield first approach, to protecting wildlife habitats and ensuring food security by supporting farmers. ANT (Adlington new town) would break all these commitments."

Protests took place before the meeting (Credit: LDRS)

Sarah Burrows, representing Supporters of the Adlington Green Belt, told the meeting: "This is not simply about additional housing, thousands of new residents, pressure on services or the lack of infrastructure, this is about the permanent and irreversible loss of our countryside, our heritage and its value as green open space."

She added: "This development would destroy 15 productive farms at a time when domestic food security is more important than ever."

A motion calling on the council to formally object to the Adlington new town proposal was jointly submitted by Cllr Fiona Wilson (Macclesfield, Lab) and Cllr Mike Sewart (Poynton & Adlington Con) and backed by all 69 councillors present, of all political colours.

Even the mayor – who usually abstains from voting – voted in favour of the motion to oppose the new town proposals.

Twenty one councillors stood up to speak in favour of the motion.

Cllr Wilson told the packed hall at Tatton Park: "The decision maker for the proposals for Addington is the Secretary of State [for housing].

"No decision has yet been made by Cheshire East Council, and this motion [to object] makes our view clear."

Referring to anger at a letter sent to the New Towns Task Force in the summer by the council's leaders, which appeared to back the new town proposal, Cllr Wilson said: "I also call on councillors, the community and campaigners here to move forward as one.

"Campaigns are successful on this type of issue if we all stand together.

"If we allow ourselves to be divided, we will spend our time arguing and not stopping this ridiculous proposal."

She continued: "At the end of the day, we are saying here, we formally object to the proposal for a new town at Adlington, we authorise the leader and deputy leader to write to the secretary of state regarding this matter, giving our opposition."

Adlington campaigners applauding Cheshire East Council's decision (Credit: LDRS)

Cllr Sewart said: "I do call on those gentlemen [leader and deputy] if this motion is approved…to acknowledge today that they will write that letter; two, in doing so, do it as a matter of urgency; and three, confirm to members of council that they've done it."

After the vote council leader Nick Mannion (Macclesfield, Lab) assured councillors and the public: "The deputy leader and myself will be writing in accordance with what we've agreed today unanimously, and that letter will go as a matter of urgency."

The government revealed in September that Adlington is one of 12 sites being considered for a new standalone town and that up to 20,000 homes could be built on greenfield land around the existing village if the proposal goes ahead,

A decision on whether the site will proceed to the next stage is expected from the government next year.