WARRINGTON Borough Council’s opposition to the controversial plan to build 150 houses on land at Peel Hall will be left in no doubt when the appeal hearing into the proposals goes ahead.
The council’s development management committee voted unanimously to oppose the scheme – a decision which drew cheers and applause from up to 300 local residents who packed into the Parr Hall to hear the issue debated.
A number of residents spoke against the plan put forward by Satnam Developments, who have forced a public inquiry by appealing on the grounds that the borough council failed to determine their application within 13 weeks.
This means the final decision will be made by an independent planning inspector.
The application is for 150 houses on land off Mill Lane – part of Peel Hall Farm – and the refurbishment of sports pitches on Windermere Avenue and Grasmere Avenue, Orford.
Nearby resident Ste Dodd said the playing fields were away from the site of the proposed housing development and were in no way linked or connected with them. Floodlighting would cause light pollution for the local community and there would be an increase in traffic visiting the playing fields, along with noise and disruption.
The developer claimed local people supported the scheme, but 25 per cent of them lived outside Warrington – including places as remote as Scotland, surrey and Blackpool.
Mr Dodd said it was claimed the sports pitches would benefit Winwick Football Club. But if the club wanted to play outside their own area, why did they not use pitches at the new Orford Jubilee hub, where £32 million had been spent for such purposes?
The sports pitch proposal seemed like a “bribe” to persuade people to accept housing development that was not wanted nor needed.
Cllr Geoff Settle said the site was home to a huge diversity of wildlife that would be adversely affected if the development went ahead. Houghton Green Pool – a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation – was only 400 metres away.
The development would quadruple the footprint of the local community, putting extra pressure on amenities and the local road network.
Cllr Les Hoyle said the proposals were premature and would cause traffic problems in Mill Lane.
Cllr Bob Barr said the council was unanimously opposed to development at Peel Hall and the applicants had shown themselves to be unscrupulous.
There were objections from Winwick Parish Council, the CPRE, 160 residents and a number of local councillors. A protest petition had been signed by 1,169 people.
The council’s highways department opposed the scheme because of the potential harm to the local road network.
Planning officers recommended the scheme be opposed on the grounds the benefits were outweighed by the conflict with the local development plan and regional strategies.
Cllr Billy Lines-Rowlands said after the meeting: “This was a great victory for the hundreds of residents who have campaigned so forcefully against plans to develop Peel Hall.”
Pictured: Members of the public who attended the meeting – and triumphant campaigners after the decision was announced.
Cheers – as Peel Hall homes rejected
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
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A big thank you for everyones support especially all the residents who spoke against the application – your speeches were acknowledged by the supporters in the hall and also by the planning committee. It was great to work with you – we now have to focus on the appeal.
Speakers were excellent – Pat on the back! 🙂 Well Done.
Where exactly is Peel Hall
On land inbetween Winwick and Orford
Houghton Green – this application is to build on a triangular piece of land enclosed by M62, Mill Lane and Peel Cottage Lane. The proposed entrance was to be close to the Motorway fence at the end of Mill Lane on the opposite side of the Lane to the Plough Pub which is less than 200 meters away.
The applicant has used the term Peel Hall because he owns the vast majority of the land from Mill Lane up to Junction 9 at Winwick and across to Grassmere Avenue with the exception of Radley Common, Peel Hall Park, the old Oak woodlands, Woodland Trust’s Radley Plantation. He has successfully used the tem Peel Hall to confuse and many people think that Peel Hall is included which it is NOT.
Those of you who know the area will agree that it is one of the last if not the last areas of Greenland of it’s type.
You can find out more and ask further questions which I will try and answer or find somone who can answer the question on my Facebook site ‘Fight Against Peel Hall Development’ – the committee are already focusing on their objections to the Inspector and the Public Inquiry – we would love to hear from you and thank you for your support.
Such a shame! As a professional having moved to the area 4 years ago I’m finding extremely hard to find affordable housing to purchase in nice areas of Warrington. Disappointed that it’s had such strong opposition.
My understanding of an Appeal is that it will be a legal battle between the Council and the Appellants, with the objectors deemed to be an interested party, and who are often treated as an irrelevance by the legal counsel of both sides, and often do themselves no favours by booing and clapping at various points in the proceedings. Speaking to a friendly and supportive audience is one thing, speaking at an Appeal and then being taken apart by legal counsel is a whole different matter. Speakers need to be effective, maybe the MP would be a good choice, possibly the best choice, as she knows how to debate, it is not the quantity of speakers it is the quality of what they say and the ability to withstand cross examination is what is important. One great speaker with a detailed and relevant argument is far better than dozens who are lacking such skills. Finally, I suppose the other thought is, what will the developer do with the land if their Appeal is rejected. Good Luck anyway.
Oops I meant to say above in my 4th sentence that ‘Peel Hall Park’ is NOT included – see how confusing it gets 🙂 Oh and just for good measure Peel Hall Farmhouse is NOT included in his development. He does not own the Park or the Farmhouse but Satnam’s plans now and beyond will attempt to impinge on both.
Could you put a figure on what you consider to be affordable, Mrs Bishop?
I travel frequently across Warrington most days of the week and see For Sale signs on all manner of houses, across a wide price range in nice and attractive areas of the borough too. I can’t believe you, as a professional, are finding so extremely hard to find suitable housing at the right price, with such a wide selection to choose from.
Item 3 on the agenda on Thursday evening was an application off Marsh Lane which was approved for 108 affordable dwellings. There was another refused off Folly Lane (Item 5) for 78 affordable houses, however this was turned down because the mix was not at the right level – no doubt the applicant will make changes and resubmit their application. So affordable houses being built soon in Warrington in line with the Warrington Core Strategy and on brown filed sites.
Great news for our wonderful Wildlife !!! 🙂 long may it be x