Council chiefs are poised to consider a petition by an alliance of parish councils calling for greater protections for the borough's green belt.

Cheshire West and Chester's overview and scrutiny committee meets on Monday where it is poised to discuss a 1,985-name petition submitted by the Chester Green Belt Alliance. 

The alliance is comprised of Christleton, Littleton, Waverton, Guilden Sutton, Mickle Trafford and Great Boughton Parish councils, as well as community groups.

Its stated aim is to safeguard the green belt around Chester, and ensure that future planning decisions made in the borough 'respect the environment, heritage, and infrastructure needs'.

The green belt refers to planning policy which protects rural land around cities and towns to prevent urban sprawl.

But there have been controversial changes to national planning policy which have placed some of that green belt under threat.

Referred to as 'grey belt', some green belt areas can now be built on under certain circumstances – such as the land being regarded as 'poor quality'.

The Government says the overhaul was needed to boost house building, but critics claim it will lead to the loss of precious green space.

The petition calls on the council to:

• Promote new housing in areas of highest need and regeneration which are close to existing employment areas
• Update the brownfield land register (land previously built on) to maximise development on suitable, mainly urban brownfield sites
• Reject 'speculative and premature applications', on the green belt to the east of Chester

It said such an approach would 'discourage speculative solely profit motivated planning applications'.

It concluded: "Wealth and prosperity within Cheshire are currently unfairly distributed with marked difference in life expectancy and quality of life.

"In order for the borough of Cheshire West and Chester to thrive, prospective developments should look to address this imbalance by improving and investing in areas which need it most."

During next week's debate the committee can decide whether or not to consider the requests contained within the petition itself or recommend any other appropriate action be taken.