LDF Update 31-Mar-2012The initial Core Strategy hearings commenced on Tuesday 20th March 2012. PAG members have already attended and contributed to a number of sessions. The most important session will take place on Monday 2nd April and will address a number of questions that the inspector has raised concerning policy CAS 3.2 which sets out the case for a Rail Freight Terminal at Parkside. A number of registered PAG members will speak at this session. All members of the public are welcome to attend and observe the session which commences at 10am at St Helens Town Hall. LDF Update 12-Feb-2012The inspector held the core strategy examination pre-hearing on 7th Feb. Mr Rivett explained that he had walked around the Parkside area the previous day (details on the St Helens LDF Examination web site). He also explained that following his letter to the Council, they had requested him to make appropriate modifications to the Core Strategy to make it sound. The hearing agenda for March and April was discussed and agreed. Mr Rivett has raised a number of discussion points for each agenda item (matter) that registered participants are requested to respond to by 28th Feb. Matter 5 on the agenda will debate areas around core strategy policy CAS 3.2 which makes provision for a rail freight terminal at Parkside. PAG will participate fully on matter 5 which takes place on Monday 2nd April. Members of the public may attend any of the hearing sessions but should register attendance with the Programme Officer.(
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
). Click here for the pre-hearing minutes
Click here for the hearing matters and questions Please note the core strategy document originally submitted for examination was the January 2011 tracked changes version. Since then following represenations further changes have been proposed (Accepted Changes Version - Dec 2011). LDF Update 16-Jan-201211-Jan-2012 – PAG submitted a detailed response to the Council in response to the latest round of consultation. Please contact
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
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
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
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) 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. 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 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. 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 in recognised Air Quality Management Areas. 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. 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:
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
| 
