by Garry Clarke
THE largest gathering at the Town Hall since Warrington Wolves last brought the Challenge Cup home assembled behind the Golden Gates to display their opposition to plans to develop the town.
An estimated 500 residents from all over Warrington, many waving banners and placards assembled at the Town Hall prior to Monday night’s meeting of the full council – with organisers warning it is just the start!
Despite a yellow weather warning in place due to high winds caused by Storm Ophelia and the usual rush hour traffic problems, hundreds still managed to make their way to the town hall to protest against the Local Plan Preferred Development Option (PDO) and the proposed £195 million Western Link.
Prior to the council meeting a petition signed by more than 4,200 residents calling for the Preferred Development Option to be scrapped, was presented to the town’s Mayor Cllr Les Morgan, although he would not engage any further with the representatives of the groups in attendance, receiving wide condemnation for his “rude” behaviour in front of a four year-old child.
While the protesters, who had come together from various groups set up around Warrington to convey the strength of feeling in the town against the plans, demonstrated peacefully, and loudly outside the Town Hall inside at the full council meeting Liberal Democrat Leader Cllr Bob Barr questioned council leader Cllr Terry O’Neill regarding the PDO stating “The PDO consultation has generated an unprecedented negative response and has not been supported by the town’s MPs.
Cllr O’Neill “thanked” Cllr Barr for his input stating “The PDO is a thorough process we have to follow. A lot of comments made on social media have been red herrings; no decisions have been made yet.”
Later in the meeting when responding to a question from the public, Cllr Judith Guthrie, executive board member for environment and public protection, confirmed “no decisions will be made until Spring next year when draft plans will be produced for further consultation and all views will be considered when producing the plans.”
Cllr Guthrie continued by saying “the council has a statutory duty to indentify land for new developments and develop a plan which meets the town’s needs.” adding “we make no apologies for the PDO it is not something we have dreamt up to upset people and make no apologies. Future generations will never forgive us if we don’t make the right decisions for this town.”
A question from the public was posed regarding the preferred Western Link route which “had been significantly altered on the basis of a response rate of less than 1% of the borough, when according to a report, respondents to the consultation question 52% were not supportive.
Cllr O’Neill responded “Public response was only one of the factors in choosing the red route; other considerations included traffic performance, social and environmental issues. The red route was selected for its high performance across all criteria and was the best for the town.”
Despite constant interruptions from the Mayor, a follow up question was allowed to answers given to public questions, and when asked about extra traffic and air pollution caused by the proposed Western Link Cllr Hans Munday replied “although there was no answer available regarding the movement of traffic, air pollution spread across the town was 13% better.”
Later in the meeting in response to a question from a councilor in relation to air quality, cllr Guthrie advised “air quality in the majority of Warrington is acceptable but there are areas of concern such as Parker Street and Sankey Green Island.”
In the words of Maxine Harmon, founder of the PDO objection group, “This is only the beginning – we will fight until the end.”
An on line petition, which has been signed by over a thousand people in just over two weeks, to “Stop the proposed Warrington Western Link” has been set up at https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/201008
RELATED ARTICLE: http://www.warrington-worldwide.co.uk/2017/10/17/rude-mayor-issues-public-apology/
1 Comment
Please, all who care about Warrington, read the PDO and question it closely.
The folks presently steering this Council are not acting at all like real Socialists. More like the worst left overs from Blairite NewLabour- trying to play with the Big Boys of Business and Industry and getting themselves and us used and abused for profit and considerations which definitely do not include the well being ( however measured) of us citizens at the top of the list. Their plans will definitely go well for investors, will hope to attract businesses and produce ‘ growth’ but could easily spell chaos and suffering for those of us presently settled here.- not just the individuals who’s houses may be CPOd / blighted but all of us! If you love living in Warrington, despite the longstanding difficulties we all know need to be adressed somehow, even if you don’t do politics like me, look into it now, before its too late to havd an impact!