Cllr Graham Gowland

23/06/2026

Interesting application for the Church Green

23/06/2026

You may want to comment about this application in the greenbelt.

https://online.warrington.gov.uk/planning/index.html?fa=getApplication&id=216059

And

https://online.warrington.gov.uk/planning/index.html?fa=getApplication&id=216055

A similar application was refused in 2024 as;

The proposal is inappropriate development that is by definition harmful to the Green Belt. No
exceptions to development in the Green Belt or very special circumstances to outweigh the harm
have been demonstrated. As such the proposal is contrary to national Green Belt policy set out in
the NPPF and Policy GB1 of the Warrington Local Plan.

https://online.warrington.gov.uk/planning/index.html?fa=getApplication&id=213281

https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/26219156.aparthotel-residential-plans-spring-farm-lymm/

21/06/2026

Update on the Pepper Street Green Belt planning decision🌳🐾

Many of you have been following the application for the dog exercising field at the end of Pepper Street here in Lymm. Warrington Borough Council has now officially refused the certificate of lawfulness for the site.

While the dog walking aspect itself hasn't been the main issue for most, I know from speaking with many residents that the real worry was what this might open the door to in the future.

To be absolutely clear: I am not against appropriate, sustainable development where it makes sense. However, Pepper Street is already under immense pressure. The limited access down the road is at absolute capacity, and any future development on this plot would present major traffic and safety concerns for our village.

Read the full details here:

Plans for a dog park on Green Belt land in Warrington have been refused by the council.

21/06/2026

Local Planning Activity – What You Can Do Now

A few people have asked about potential development around the village. If there’s land you care about, the key point is simple: act early to make sure the right information is on record.

This isn’t about blocking development — it’s about making sure decisions are based on the full picture and what the area actually needs.

A few practical steps:

Check footpaths – is it a registered public right of way?



Protect important trees – some may qualify for Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) if they’re at risk


Capture how land is used – long-term recreational use may support village green status


Record wildlife – bats, badgers and other protected species can significantly affect planning decisions

Look at history – old maps can reveal important features or boundaries
https://maps.nls.uk/

Engage with the neighbourhood plan – this carries real weight in planning decisions
https://www.lymmparishcouncil.gov.uk/neighbourhood-plan

Why this matters:
Once planning applications are submitted, it becomes much harder to introduce new information. Getting facts formally recorded now makes a real difference later.

Balanced view:
Development will happen, and some sites will be chosen. The aim is simply to ensure it’s appropriate, proportionate, and supported by infrastructure — not driven by incomplete information.

Bottom line:
If something matters to you locally, now is the time to evidence it — not after decisions are already in motion.

19/06/2026

This isn’t my petition, but it’s one I’m happy to share because it highlights a common-sense change that could prevent a lot of frustration for motorists.

The petition calls for toll operators to send an email reminder before issuing online toll fines. Many people are used to automatic payments, direct debits and reminder notifications for other services, so receiving a penalty notice weeks later for a missed online payment can come as an unwelcome surprise.

Nobody is suggesting that tolls shouldn't be paid. The proposal is simply that where a driver has registered contact details, a reminder should be issued before additional charges or penalties are applied.

It seems a sensible and proportionate approach that could help people who have made a genuine mistake while still ensuring tolls are collected.

As I said, this isn't my petition and I'm not involved in running it, but I do think it would be a positive step if a reminder system was introduced.

If you'd like to read more or support it, you can find the petition here:

[https://www.change.org/p/require-email-reminders-before-issuing-online-toll-fines](https://www.change.org/p/require-email-reminders-before-issuing-online-toll-fines)

The petition is seeking email reminders before online toll fines are issued.

17/06/2026

New planning application – Cheshire Grange Care Home, Booths Hill Road

Residents may wish to be aware of a new planning application affecting Cheshire Grange Care Home on Booths Hill Road (Lymm South Ward).

The proposal seeks permission for:
• Extension to the existing care home to provide additional bedrooms
• Creation of a new vehicular access
• A new car park
• Associated works

The application is currently pending consideration.
📅 Deadline for comments: 29 June 2026
👉 View the application and submit comments:
https://online.warrington.gov.uk/planning/index.html?fa=getApplication&id=215874
If the link doesn’t work:
• Go to Warrington Borough Council’s planning portal
• Click “Search applications”
• Enter application number: 215874
• Select the correct result

As always, I encourage residents to review the plans carefully. Important considerations include:
• Impact on nearby residents
• Traffic and access arrangements
• Parking provision
• Scale and impact on the local area

All views—whether supportive or raising concerns—will be taken into account before a decision is made.

If you need any help understanding the application or submitting comments, please feel free to get in touch.

16/06/2026

Resetting the rules for childhood: What the new under-16 social media ban means

As your local councillor, I know from speaking with many parents, teachers, and young people across our ward that navigating the online world is one of the biggest challenges families face today. Following a massive national consultation where 9 in 10 parents backed a ban, the government has published a definitive fact sheet outlining a total social media ban for under-16s.

I wanted to share the exact details of what is changing, when it happens, and how it will affect our local community.

🚫 What is being banned?
Using the same model as Australia, the government will ban under-16s from using major social media platforms. High-risk features—like livestreaming and letting strangers contact children—will also be restricted for under-16s on other online services, including gaming platforms.

❌ BANNED for Under-16s: Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter).

✅ STILL ALLOWED (Exemptions): Pure messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal are exempt so children can stay in touch with known friends and family. Young people will also still be able to access the online world safely for learning, news, and games.

👶 What about 16 and 17-year-olds?
Teens aged 16 and 17 will still be allowed to access social media. However, high-risk features like livestreaming and communication from strangers (including inside online games) will be switched off by default to keep them safer.

👤 Will adults have to prove their age?
Many adults won't need to do any new checks if they already have an account that has been open for more than 16 years, has a credit card connected to it, or uses an age-verified email. For others, Ofcom will be setting out a range of robust options, which could be as simple as a facial recognition check. (Unfortunetly, I tend to pass that one easily!)

🗓️ When does this start?
The first set of Regulations will be laid before Parliament by the end of this year, with the changes fully implemented in Spring 2027. Parents and children do not need to do anything right now—the government will provide further detail to families ahead of the rollout.

What do you think about these changes? Do you feel this is the right approach to improve the well-being of young people in our community? Let me know your thoughts in the comments....

16/06/2026

I’m flabbergasted that 1 in 10 people have been fined using a bridge that used to cost 12p to use.

A concerned councillor has warned that drivers are being caught in a “penalty trap” at the after it emerged that around 138,000 penalty toll notices have been issued since the new system came into operation.

16/06/2026

New planning application – Keate House Care Home, Brookfield Road

Residents may wish to be aware of a planning application relating to Keate House Care Home on Brookfield Road.

The proposal seeks permission for a single-storey extension to the existing care home, which would provide additional bedrooms and expand the facility.

This is not the first time an extension has been proposed at this site, and a revised scheme is now being considered through the usual planning process.

As always, there are important factors to weigh up, including:
• The need for additional care provision locally
• The impact on nearby residents (including outlook, privacy, and light)
• Traffic and parking pressures in the area
• The site’s location within the Lymm Conservation Area

📅 Deadline for comments: 21 June 2026
👉 You can view the application and submit comments here:
https://online.warrington.gov.uk/planning/index.html?fa=getApplication&id=215832
If the link doesn’t work:
• Go to Warrington Borough Council’s planning portal
• Click “Search applications”
• Enter application number: 215832
• Select the correct result to view documents and comment

All views—whether supportive or raising concerns—are important and will be taken into account before a decision is made.

If you need any help understanding the plans or submitting comments, please feel free to contact me.

16/06/2026

🗺️ Knowing Your Ward & Finding the Right Support

Ever wondered how council boundaries work? Wards are the specific areas councillors are elected to represent, with boundaries set so that each councillor supports roughly the same number of residents.

💧 Here in Lymm, the Bridgewater Canal serves as the dividing line, splitting us into Lymm North & Thelwall and Lymm South. Because of our location, Lymm South directly borders Cheshire East and sits close to Cheshire West and Trafford.

📍 My specific area includes the village centre. As a Lymm South ward councillor, I am kept informed about local issues and have a voice in council matters affecting our area. Naturally, I have less influence in other wards, and none at all in entirely different local authorities like Cheshire East, which operate under a completely separate council.

❌ I’m never one to shrug off a problem, but if an issue falls outside my area—or across the border into Cheshire East—I will generally point you toward the correct councillor for that locality. This isn't about being lazy; it’s because they are the best-placed people to get things resolved with the right council team.

ℹ️ Of course, if you need to report something, I will happily send you the right link, and I will always step in to help during an urgent situation. But for day-to-day issues, your own local representative is always your best advocate. Of course there are also issues that pass boundaries - Warburton toll, Bridgwater canal breach, Woolston Hub - all areas that impact Lymm south even though they may be in other wards.

👉 You can find your local representative using these links:
🔵 For Warrington Borough Council:
https://www.warrington.gov.uk/councillors

🟢 For Cheshire East Council:
https://moderngov.cheshireeast.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?bcr=1