Council urged to support Parkside Colliery site proposals

PLANNING chiefs at Warrington are to be given a chance to comment on the controversial proposals for a major employment area on the site of the former Parkside Colliery, at Newton-le-Willows.
An outline planning application for the scheme will be dealt with by St Helens Borough Council, as the whole of the site is within its area.
But Warrington is consulted as a neighbouring authority – and the scheme will come before the development management committee next week.
The current application is for the first phase of the work – intended to be completed during 2020.
Phase Town would be completed in 2024 and a later proposal for a strategic rail freight interchange is targeted to be operational by 2030.
Based on the emerging St Helens Local Plan, the land would be removed from the Green Belt and allocated for employment.
Ward councillor Cathy Mitchell is not opposed to development within the footprint of the former colliery but is opposed to any development on the Green Belt within the site – particularly in the light of its historic battlefield status.
She is opposed to the rail freight element of the scheme She is also concerned that a proposed link road will completely change the character of Winwick.
Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council and Croft Parish Council have lodged objections and it is understood that a number of local residents have objected to St Helens Council.
Warrington Borough Council officers are supportive in principle but are concerned about the impact on Warrington’s road network and environment and will seek to ensure that the impact on the borough is minimised
The committee will be recommended to not object in principle