CONTROVERSIAL proposals to create a large post-Brexit in-land border HGV lorry park on the former Shearings Coaches site at Appleton Thorn will provide a major jobs boost and investment for South Warrington, says local MP Andy Carter.
The Warrington South MP says he is surprised by Warrington Borough Council leader Russ Bowden’s opposition to much-needed jobs in the town, while at the same time recommending ripping up “huge swathes” of green belt.
He said the Government proposal to regenerate a brownfield site would create jobs and investment in the town.
The Borough Council has raised concerns over the government’s decision to designate a large swathe of south Warrington as an in-land border for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) post-Brexit, which is expected to be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, to provide a large base for paperwork checks, alongside sample vehicle checks, for HGVs entering and leaving the country after Brexit, from 1 January next year.
The government has executed The Town and Country Planning (Border Facilities and Infrastructure) (EU Exit) (England) Special Development Order 2020, which is a piece of legislation that overrides local planning decisions, to ensure that planning consent in the normal way is not needed.
It is suggested that this lorry park facility, earmarked for the former Shearings Coaches brownfield site at Appleton Thorn, would serve vehicles coming from Liverpool, areas of Wales and the wider North West region.
The council is therefore concerned about the lack of consultation undertaken locally before the decision was made.
But Mr Carter said: “The Government’s outline proposals are to use the former Shearings site on a well-established estate to create jobs in Warrington South.
“I will be talking with Ministers next week to ensure steps are taken to minimise traffic in Appleton Thorn and Stretton and I will be speaking to the Department for Transport about extra funding to improve the local road network.
“I’m hugely surprised to hear the Leader of the Council arguing against bringing much-needed jobs into the town, whilst at the same time ripping up huge swathes of the green belt.
“This is an ideal location that has been used for many years already.”
Earlier today leader of Warrington Borough Council Russ Bowden called upon Mr Carter to oppose the proposals saying:”Leader of the Council, Cllr Russ Bowden, said: “This decision has been imposed on us without any consultation and follows an increasing pattern of centralised decision-making, without the opportunity for local engagement. It’s only right that the council, and our residents, have the opportunity to scrutinise these plans in detail.”
“Perhaps this is what we can expect more of in future given the government’s White Paper on planning, where planning decisions will be taken nationally without proper local community engagement and democratic input.
“I call upon MP for Warrington South, Andy Carter, to object to this decision and also to report back to the people of Warrington as to what the real impacts will be for us, with Brexit next year. Decisions of this magnitude should be made locally, not through a national, centralised approach.”
The former Shearings site at Appleton Thorn
Council expresses serious concerns over proposed post-Brexit lorry park in South Warrington
3 Comments
Russ Bowden wanted to build a huge facility in that same area for Eddie Stobarts – except his proposal was on green belt land. As for not being consulted WBC totally ignored residents concerns about development on Omega West and Gullivers World despite receiving hundreds of objections. Have a taste of your own medicine Bowden, glad you know how it feels to be ignored you hypocrite!
Well said 👏 there was already thousands of jobs there but the government chose to turn their backs on shearings, i worked there and was made redundant so nobody deserves a medal here, how can you let thousands of people lose their job then say you have created more jobs!!
Tooth decay will bring work for dentists