Nationwide boss Debbie Crosbie to be made a Dame in Birthday honours
Crosbie, 55, who has led Britain's biggest building society since 2022, hopes it will inspire others to follow her path.
'Lots of people talk about me being a female but I think most of my peer group have come from a much higher social demographic and they tended to be educated in either Oxford or Cambridge,' she said.
'I think having that diverse social mobility as well as gender is really important.'
Crosbie, who started at Clydesdale Bank in Scotland, said: 'I am actually hugely proud. I grew up in Glasgow, I wasn't different to any of my peer group, so to be given the opportunity to lead – I've had a massively rewarding career.
'As a woman, I hope that sends a message of opportunity and hope.'
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A retrospective application has been submitted seeking full planning permission for a change of use of land associated with Tan House Farm. The documents state the change of use is for a gypsy and traveller residential site, with four pitches and associated landscaping, and the installation of a farm gate to a footpath on the corner of Tan House Lane and Farmers Lane. Applicant John Varey said the pitches can accommodate a mix of 16 caravans and mobile homes, occupied by Romani gypsies. The report added: 'All of the proposed occupants grew up in nomadic families and have continued to follow that way of life. The families travel in caravans for work and to attend fairs. 'The site is in the greenbelt, however, the land represents 'grey belt', and on that basis, the development is not necessarily inappropriate within the green belt.' Planning documents continued: 'The proposed site provides four gypsy and traveller pitches which are safe, well-designed, and ensure that the site will be private and provide a favourable living environment. 'The proposals include substantial planting and screening, which will result in an on-site biodiversity net gain 'The site will be well screened and capable of integrating with the area, which is characterised by farmland and some other pockets of residential development. 'The site is already connected to water, and connection to the electricity grid is proposed and achievable. 'The package treatment plant and welfare units facilitate the effective management of foul waste. 'The entire site remains permeable, ensuring that surface water will soak away, and the site is well drained with a ditch along the northern boundary. 'Given the families' lack of alternative accommodation, their living standards have been greatly improved since moving onto the application site.' Villagers have already expressed concerns that a metal gate has been installed on a public right-of-way. The planning document read: 'The metal gate is 3.6m, and a 1.2m gap is left to the right-hand side for pedestrians which enables continued access to the public right of way. 'The road is owned by the applicant and the gate is locked with a padlock. For reasons relating to fly-tipping and security, we would argue that the gate should be approved as part of the planning application.' The council has been inundated with objections by villagers. One objector wrote: 'The land has been destroyed without any planning permission, our greenbelt completely vandalised with absolutely no regard to the rules or residents. 'It is absolutely disgusting that this has been allowed to happen.' Another said: 'The site has damaged the natural beauty of the area and transformed once green belt land into a caravan park. 'Not only this, but a footpath has been obstructed with little to no consideration for anyone who plans to use this regularly used route. 'Failure to reject this planning application will only lead to further exploitation of the system in similar ways around the area, which will seriously damage an area of considerable natural beauty and wildlife.' But one letter of support read: 'I have spoken with some of the people on the caravan park at the village café. 'They were polite, friendly, and explained the situation of Warrington having no caravan sites for them to live on. I am happy with them being there. It is better than them on our parks.' The council is expected to reach a decision on the retrospective planning application later in the year.
