Peel Hall land is still “vulnerable” say campaigners

THE Save Peel Hall campaign group is calling for an urgent meeting with Warrington Borough Council chiefs in the wake of the decision to throw out the controversial plans to build 1,200 homes there.
Although the dismissal of developer Satnam Millennium’s appeal is welcomed as “the best Christmas present ever” campaigners fear the Peel Hall site remains vulnerable to further planning applications.
They want an urgent meeting with borough council chief executive Prof Steven Broomhead and senior planning officers to discuss removing the site from the council’s draft Local Plan.
In a letter to Prof Broomhead, campaign group spokesperson Wendy Johnson-Taylor says they would like to set out two key reasons for removing the Peel Hall land from the Local Plan.
1. Numerous applications by Satnam over a period of almost 30 years have been rejected – largely because of the lack of transport infrastructure.
2. The cost of opposing Satnam’s applications is mounting and, at a time when the council is facing unprecedented budget cuts, the risk of future wasteful expenditure should be minimised.
Mrs Johnson-Taylor said: “Nothing has changed, the site remains landlocked and congestion in the locality is growing, rather than diminishing.
“It would be contradictory for Warrington Borough Council to repeatedly reject planning applications, whilst keeping the land in the Local Plan with statements giving indication that such applications are suitable. Indeed, we would go further: to keep this plot of land in the Local Plan would appear to subvert or challenge the integrity of the borough’s development management committee itself.
“Removal of Peel Hall from the Local Plan is the most rational approach; if the land remains in the Local Plan, this will embolden Satnam and increase the likelihood of a future, expensive, appeal process.
“We would like to request a meeting with yourself, and senior planning officers, to discuss this matter as soon as possible.”