Council Ignores Community and Pushes On to Remove Green Belt
In spite of a huge number of objections raised by the local community in 2007, St Helens Council have approved a draft proposal to remove all the land to the east of Newton-le-Willows that lies within the St Helens boundary from the Green Belt on the proviso that any future planning application is centred around a rail freight terminal. In essence the draft LDF Core Strategy local planning document provides any potential developer with an open cheque book to acquire and concrete over as much Green Belt as they see fit. We obviously urge you to object to this document. Please click here for details on the LDF Core Strategy and details of how to object. We have until 8th July to respond. Planning Application Current StatusSt Helens planning authority continue to work on assessing the original application submitted in November 2006. A number of serious issues still remain particularly with regards environmental impacts including traffic. It is still unclear what assumptions Astral made about traffic movements and shift patterns for the site. Astral did not document this in their traffic assessments (original or updated). We understand that Astral made additional traffic assessment information available to the Highways Agency’s consultants, but this appears not to have been documented. As the Highways Agency only has responsibility for the motorway and trunk roads, their approach to the problem has been simply to propose limiting access to the motorway through traffic lights, leaving Local Authorities with the problem of dealing with any over-spill. PAG continue pursue exactly what traffic impact Astral suggest the development will impose, particularly in relation to peak flows. The aspect of impact of non-HGV commercial traffic has also never been adequaltey explained by the developer. Click here to access the June 2009 newsletter. Prologis Business Plan 2009It is clear now that Astral (Prologis) appear to be waiting until the economic situation picks up (click here to see their 2009 business plan – see bullet ‘Development Starts’). PAG are aware that some suppliers have been told by Astral not to expect any further work on the project until at least 2011. As planning applications typically have a life-time of 5 years, it would suite them to delay progress of the application in the current climate. The North West Development Agency has also informed PAG that a ‘funding gap’ exists for the project. This reflects increased costs of the development which has to be funded by prompt ground rents should it go ahead. Still Not too Late to ObjectThere is still time to object to the Astral proposal. You can find all the information you need on the menu item 'How to Object' on our home page. We have also included a leaflet you can pass on to your neighbors and friends to remind them!
Once again, thanks for all your help and support - it really will make a difference | 
