warrington-worldwide Exclusive
RESIDENTS fighting to save the “last green space” in North Warrington have unveiled a new campaign in a bid to bolster their New Year battle to save Peel Hall.
Campaigners are hoping their latest move will set the pace for one of their most challenging years yet.
Campaigner Wendy Johnson-Taylor said: “We’ve been monitoring what’s been going on around our town. 2017 was very much a waiting game for us. We have been planning for the right moment to launch this. We all feel the start of 2018 is the right time. We have designed a fantastic campaign logo and our mission statement simply says: ‘Too Late When it’s Gone’ which is very appropriate.”
“We’ve felt the need to push things forward, especially in the light of an appeal set for this April.”
Wendy added: “Sadly, with every resident fighting their own corners we felt we had to up our game and start 2018 as we mean to, with a New Year and New Fight attitude.”
Landowner Satnam Millennium and Warrington Borough Council now face a Government Appeal following the council’s refusal to grant a major development which includes 1,200 new homes.
The appeal will now take place on Monday, April 23 at The Orford Jubilee Hub.
The original appeal was postponed, to allow Satnam and Warrington Borough Council extra facility to discuss additional information in a preliminary “common ground” set for March.
Wendy said: “Residents were fuming when we heard about this and we certainly do not think this move is a fair. Satnam should only be allowed to appeal against refusal of the original application with information submitted at that time and nothing more. We are hoping the Inspector will agree that Peel Hall is a land-locked site. Not suitable for development, is completely unsustainable with zero infrastructure. There’s a long list of serious concerns attached to Satnam’s application.”
MP Helen Jones and her North Warrington councillors are backing the residents’ New Year determination to stop Satnam’s development.
At the campaign’s unveiling she told the crowd: “We have everyone here from pensioners to young united against this development. We know we have a difficult fight ahead of us. We are not frightened of Satnam, we have defeated Satnam before and we can defeat them again.”
“We have enough brownfield in our town to build the houses we need – without destroying residents’ quality of life. Together I am convinced we can defeat Satnam,” added Helen.
The campaign group is now planning their biggest event to date in the form of a community rally which will take place just before the appeal. Wendy urged all residents to attend.
8 Comments
“MP Helen Jones and her North Warrington councillors”. Eh? ‘Her’ councillors? Does she own them or do they report to her or something? Or is she attempting to demonstrate some unity between herself and the people who represent the organisation that she is fixated upon; WBC? For political survival purposes I guess. And if she was there does she have a photo that he can share via WW? Helen’s not one to miss any kind of photo op and she’s normally centre stage. So I’m surprised that she cannot be readily identified on these pics? She did go? Didn’t she?
Helen was there, as she always is. Supporting our fight to Save Peel Hall. She addressed the crowd alongside me. And by the way I wrote that press release and I have no particular preference to any political party. All I can tell you is that she has fought this from day one and residents who may have to live with this nightmare proposal appreciate her support. Happy Christmas!
This meeting was recorded fully. Send me your details and I would be only too happy to send you the link Billy
A previous Peel Hall rally was uploaded to You Tube Wendy. Have you uploaded this one this time too? Please provide a link via here. Look forward to it
BTW I completely agree with your stance and I have confirmed this previously. And I do hope that you are successful. We all do. Previously I made a point that Helen didn’t bother to attend the planning meeting at the Parr Hall – a number of residents who did attend, pointed this out and were surprised by her no show. Since she has offered no explanation as to why she did not. So it is refreshing to hear that, by your account, she is now fully on board with this.
Late night for me Billy now, but I hear what you are saying – thanks for your comments x
Understandable Wendy, what with it so being close to Xmas and all that! But can I make one request of you? Can you ask WW to update this press release to include some pictures that include Helen at the event? She has appeared lately to demonstrate her support for the campaign, but via social media only and not by an actual physical appearance? So actual conformation would be very welcome and much appreciated. Best wishes for Christmas and of course, for a successful campaign against the developers
Myself and my daughters all spoke with Helen at this rally. And Id like to thank her personally for all the efforts that she makes for the residents of houghton green. This development is a nightmare that all want to see the back off. It’s simply ridiculous with the current infrastructure we have the roads and local schools simply couldn’t cope.