FEARS are growing over the future of a wildlife corridor on a disused railway embankment at Latchford, Warrington, following the destruction of trees.
Angry residents are now calling on Warrington Borough Council to take urgent action to ensure no further unauthorised works take place on the land which is earmarked for development.
Last year a pre-planning “scoping report” submitted by ADS Limited, outlined a proposed mixed residential and commercial development involving 280 dwellings, open space, landscaping and car parking for the land which includes an elevated disused railway line North of Station Road, which has not been in use since 1985 and has developed into semi-natural woodland and scrub.
Local resident Thérèse Charlton said residents of nearby Grammar School Road, were extremely concerned because trees and part of the local wildlife habitat had been destroyed prior to a planning application being received.
“We need reassurance that there will be no further work done in a similar way without proper process being followed and understand what the council has actually done to make sure this doesn’t happen – saying they will monitor the situation is too vague.
“There will be strong local opposition to any developer seemingly intent on ignoring regulations to railroad this development through.”
Hans Mundry
Local councillor Hans Mundry said: “I have asked officers to keep me informed and I have met with and talked to local residents.
“I am expecting a planning application to be put forward at some point and when this happens we will hold a public meeting to hear the residents views.
“Meanwhile council officers will keep a check on any other work taking place on the site and use any powers they have to take enforcement action if required.”
The site was visited last year as part of a pre-planning Scoping Report by the Greater Manchester Ecology Unit.
They recommended that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) should address various issues including the wildlife corridor, bat, badgers breeding birds, amphibians, reptiles and invasive species as well as including a general habitat assessment of the site.
The EIA should include full ecological surveys undertaken to an appropriate standard, fully assess the impact of the proposals on the identified features and provide full details of any mitigation/compensation measures.
A council spokesman added: “We are aware of the recent works that have been undertaken on this plot of land and are monitoring the situation very closely.
“Council officers paid an emergency visit to the site and are in consultation with other agencies with regards to environmental and wildlife issues.”
Residents survey the wildlife area which has been destroyed
Residents with the wooded wildlife area they fear is under threat
7 Comments
If as it had been suggester by the scoping report ecologists, (Greater Manchester Ecology Unit) that an EIA should be done to address this situation , why has this destruction taken place at such a critical time for the wildlife utilising this corridor.
As Chair of the Warrington Nature Conservation Forum I couldn’t believe what I saw when I went to visit the site, total disregard to the environment and wildlife corridor – purely for monetary gain.
When I alerted the Planning department a month or so ago after being told by my Latchford Village Friends and wildlife colleagues all that the enforcement team could say that there was nothing they could do in retrospect. However did look at the other parts of the proposed development area to see what trees could be protected under Tree Preservation Order (TPO) and they have identified a number.
There was nothing that they could do about the destruction that had taken place. When you read through the scoping document it seems like a Heath Robinson approach that will drastically change the environment beyond anything that is there now. There is too much of this cavalier approach to planning across the Borough.
This is reminiscent of the Rixton Clay Pigeon fiasco and I have no doubt that the WNCF will be vigorously trying everything it can do to protect the environment and fight these plans.
Geoff, there has been too much of a cavalier approach to planning throughout the borough for decades. The example highlighted here is just the latest example of that indifferent and arrogant attitude that has blighted Warrington so many times.
Whilst I sympathise, they wont get any positive response from WBC enforcement who have zero interest in ecology related issues, even, in the case of Omega South, where planning conditions are breached. On the subject of Omega, its a great pity Warrington Nature Conservation Forum supported the development which has led to massive ecological destruction – drive down Skyline Drive to witness the recent clearance of mature woodland, in fact every single tree and hedgerow has gone including majestic Oaks and those which were meant to have been retained for bird and bat boxes, well into the nesting bird season. I lost all respect for WNCF after them endorsing Omega South – rather than pay lip service maybe they could follow up with some action.
Examine some of the ecological “obligations” attaching to WBC planning consents. At first glance they appear to be framed with conservation and preservation in mind. But, regrettably they are rarely, if ever, enforced. The needs of developers are paramount in Warrington, and inevitably override those of the local communities.
All over the UK there are disused railway lines that have been built on and then decades later it is realised that it was a mistake because the railway route is now needed. It should be illegal the build on the course of old railways.
I said on here a while back why don,t they reopen the railway line for places like lymm you could have it running from manchester to liverpool they don,t have any railway line for this side of town maybe it might just help the congestion you see nearly every night through latchford