DEVELOPERS have been accused of using a football club as a “cover” for its controversial plans to build houses on “green” land at Peel Hall, Warrington.
MP Helen Jones says plans for 150 houses put forward by developers Satnam would be “the thin end of the wedge.”
The company believes 1,400 homes could be built on the site, she says.
Satnam has launched a public consultation exercise about its proposals for up to 150 houses on land off Mill Lane.
There will be an exhibition at St Bridget’s Church, St Bridget’s Close, Fearnhead on Wednesday from 3pm-8pm and another at Golden Square Shopping Centre next Saturday from 9.30am-5.30pm.
The Warrington North MP has been supporting residents opposed to development at Peel Hall since plans were first announced in 2003.
Thousands of people have signed protest petitions.
Ms Jones said she had been warning the borough council and local residents that Satnam were determined to build houses on Peel Hall for years.
She said: “I knew this would happen – 150 new houses in this area would put a severe strain on local roads and facilities and I am sure that this is only the thin edge of the wedge.
“I am extremely concerned that these houses could be the first of many that Satnam would want to build. Their previous plans that I uncovered through Freedom of Information requests showed that as many as 1,400 properties could be built.
“The homes we need in Warrington are affordable starter homes and homes for rent, not the expensive properties for commuters that Satnam are proposing.”
Ms Jones said despite clear opposition from local residents, the council had not ruled out development on the land.”
Satnam’s plans include allotments and orchards, as well as more than £1 million for playing fields, including new facilities for Winwick Athletic Football Club.
The MP said: “It is clear the football club is being used as cover by Satnam to get their plans through.
“Of course I want the football club to have the facilities they need but developing land at Peel Hall is not the solution.
“I will campaign against any development on Peel Hall because residents do not want it. It is completely unacceptable that the last green space in this area could be concreted over so a developer can make a quick buck.”
Pictured: MP Helen Jones with fellow campaigners at Peel Hall.
Soccer club cover for housing plan – MP
1111 Comments
Share.
About Author
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.
11 Comments
This is a tricky for me. As a member of the planning committee – if I express a view one way or another about an application then I have to stand down when that application comes before the committee.
At the moment no application has been made for proposed this development – we have only heard from the applicants marketing company.
So until I have seen the plans and decided – I need to keep an open mind, you never know it might be totally different from the previous set made all those years ago that I studied in New Town House some ten years ago. At the moment it is just speculation as to what is in their outline application.
The formation of this latest variant of the application has been bubbling under for many months now with applicants meeting with planners for advice several times over. There does not appear to be anything wrong with this in practice – any applicant is afforded this right and members of the planning committee do not need to know until it is submitted.
Finally I was reported to the standards committee last year when I was an election agent for a statement, about this proposed application, issued by my client in a by-election. I was cleared of all three charges and I expressed no view of my own at the time for the above reasons.
The experience does make me very wary of expressing a view especially in e-technological terms, i.e. this discussion forum, – which BTW is in my name and are my views as a local resident and my views only, I do not speak on anyone else’s behalf.
Pleased be assured that if and when I do form a view I will express it.
I will be studying the plans to see the ecological impact on an area that has given me so much pleasure over the years; it will be on the edge of the likes of the John Parr Wildlife Meadow, the Woodland Trusts Radley Plantation, Houghton Green Pool SINC and Peel Hall Park. Other issues include the impact of the increased traffic and demand on local facilities, potential loss of the football pitches between the Plough and the Mill House. There is a great deal to ponder over and everyone in and around the edges of the development (Poplars, Cinnamon Brow, Houghton Green, etc etc need to be alert to changes that are inevitably going to follow.
In the meantime I recommend that all interested parties get themselves down to presentations, study the plans, ask the questions and then make up their own minds.
So we will take that as a ‘No’ vote Geoff so that you can save your various pet projects.
Should you really be making these statements Councillor settle ! A little compromising I would say for a planning member
The WBC line is that they are opposed to any development on this site in the near future, though it’s possible in the long term.
As someone who lives about as close as it gets in all of this, I’m ok with that.
But some people should be more careful about who they jump into bed with.
Always a tricky one to balance, but the UK needs many more decent and affordable houses, and building houses creates many jobs which in turn expands the economy.
“…the UK needs many more decent and affordable houses…”
Agreed, but are you sure this is what’s going to be delivered?
No idea, but that is what those who approve such applications should be making sure happens, if not reject it. Indeed those who are putting in applications should be told in advance, the specifications etc of what will be allowed. Non compliance = Non approval.
Let’s start supporting this town and it’s development instead of always looking to scupper a chance to bring much needed housing to this much under housed town I for one will be surporting this and as a resident of the area I will be demanding my elected members for this area to surport it
Wouldn’t disagree with that, Lfa. Angryman – WBC have a plan to meet present and future housing needs, which I don’t think there’s much wrong with: http://warrington-consult.limehouse.co.uk/portal/planning/cs/psdlpcs/psdlpcs?pointId=1650351
fugtifino I see you are referring to the – Proposed Submission Draft Local Plan Core Strategy – I hope others will read and comment on it whilst it is out for consultation – all comments welcome.
Think it closed last Friday, Geoff.