The Romiley Gazette

25th June 2026

To the Council’s Insurers,

I am writing as a local resident and stakeholder with longstanding concerns regarding the Padden Brook development site and the Council’s handling of matters associated with it.

This letter is intended to draw your attention to a number of issues which, taken together, may have implications for governance, risk management, liability exposure and reputational risk.

For approximately 22 months, residents have raised concerns relating to the Padden Brook site, including matters connected with planning control, planning enforcement, environmental protection, public transparency and administrative decision-making.

Among the issues that have been raised are:

• The continued presence of a structure which residents describe as having evolved from a derelict butty van into a site office.
• Concerns regarding the handling and timing of planning applications associated with the site.
• Allegations that questions relating to the development have been restricted or prevented from being heard at Council meetings.
• A substantial volume of Freedom of Information Act and Environmental Information Regulations requests submitted by residents seeking clarification regarding the development ignored.
• Concerns regarding potential contamination issues.
• Concerns regarding flooding and drainage.
• Concerns regarding ground stability and possible landslip risks.
• Concerns regarding impacts upon a Local Wildlife Site, protected visual amenity land and W1 woodland.
• Concerns regarding the adequacy and effectiveness of planning enforcement.

Residents have sought answers from a range of Council departments and officers over an extended period, including Planning, Planning Enforcement, Information Governance and the Monitoring Officer’s function, together with elected representatives.

Notwithstanding these efforts, many residents remain concerned that significant questions have not been adequately addressed and that confidence in the Council’s decision-making processes has been undermined.

I therefore respectfully ask whether the Council’s insurers are satisfied that:

1. Appropriate governance arrangements have been followed in relation to the Padden Brook development.
2. Risks associated with contamination, drainage, flooding and ground stability have been properly identified, assessed and managed.
3. The Council’s planning and enforcement functions have been exercised in accordance with applicable legislation, policies and procedures.
4. Adequate records have been maintained concerning complaints, enforcement investigations, planning decisions and officer involvement.
5. The Council’s potential exposure to future claims arising from environmental, geotechnical, planning or governance issues has been fully considered.
6. The Council has taken all reasonable steps to mitigate foreseeable risks affecting residents, future occupiers, wildlife habitats and public assets.

This letter is not intended to make findings of fact. Rather, it reflects the genuine concerns of residents who have spent almost two years attempting to obtain satisfactory explanations regarding matters that they consider to be of significant public interest.

Given the duration of these concerns and the number of Council functions involved, I believe it is reasonable to ask whether the Council’s insurers have reviewed the potential risks arising from the handling of the Padden Brook development and whether they are satisfied that appropriate controls and oversight have been maintained throughout.

I invite the Council’s insurers to consider these matters carefully and to satisfy themselves that all relevant risks have been properly assessed and managed.

Yours faithfully,

Sheila Oliver