Update 16-Jan-201211-Jan-2012 – PAG submitted a detailed response to the Council in response to the latest round of consultation. Please contact
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for more information 12-Jan-2012 – The inspector announced the date of the LDF pre-hearing on 7th Feb 2012, and hearings in March and April. If you wish to attend these events you need to inform the LDF Programme Office. Please send an email to Darren at
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to let him know if you will be attending by 31-Jan-2012 (tel No. 01744 676195 / 07771 834333). Some of you may have already received a letter concerning the details of the LDF hearings (details, letter #1, letter #2) LDF More Consultation More of the SameFollowing questions and comments made by the appointed LDF planning inspector in the latter part of next year, the Council were obliged to make further amendments to several areas of the LDF documentation which are now open for comment again (closing date 11th Jan 2011 – click here to view the documents) . In general there are small but subtle changes to policy CAS 3.2, but in spite of several years of community objection to the policy, the Council is still persisting with an approach to lay the ground for the development of a huge freight terminal with a declaration of support for removal of land from the Green Belt both to East and West of Parkside Road. The policy would also be well received by a developer who’s primary business was warehouse leasing! We have always known that the scheme was more about sheds than modal transfer. Some of the documents in this round of consultation are almost illegible (click here to see an example), perhaps formatted so as to confuse and distract? As with some previous rounds only comments to changes are invited. It is likely that the inspector will move to examination in public in the February/March timeframe. PAG have requested a seat at the table with regards discussion of Parkside planning policy and we will try and keep this web site up to date with progress. PAG have always ascertained that the environmental impacts of a freight terminal in the area out way any alleged benefits, particularly given the potential destruction of vast areas of open countryside and massive increases in traffic and air pollution. There is also strong evidence to suggest that a scheme like the one previously proposed by Astral would not be viable. The policy also prohibits any other form of development at the site other than a freight terminal, limiting future opportunity at the site. Background There is currently no active planning application for Parkside. The previous planning application was withdrawn by the developer. The Council are currently developing and consulting on a new local planning policy called the Local Development Framework (LDF) which will set planning guidelines for the St Helens Borough for future years. All planning applications will need to adhere to the new planning policy. Planning Policy CAS 3.2 sets out the provision for a freight terminal at the site of the former colliery at Parkside and land extending far in excess of the original boundaries. Can You Attend the Hearings?If you completed the PAG pro-forma as part of the LDF consultation process in March 2011, then the default option was that you request to observe at the hearings. The inquiry programme officer will advertise the hearings and details of attendance on the St Helens Web site over the coming weeks (click here for updates). A number of initial questions posted by the inspector to the Council are also posted here. Questions eMail:
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LDF More Consultation More of the Same
