MP asking for Six56 planning decision to be "called in" by Secretary of State

WARRINGTON South MP Andy Carter is today writing to the Secretary of State asking for the controversial decision to allow the huge Six56 logistics development on Green Belt land at Grappenhall, to be “called in.”

Commenting on the six56 planning decision taken by Warrington Borough Council’s Development Management Committee last night, Mr Carter Said: “I’m Incredibly disappointed that Labour Councillors ignored the 948 letters of objection, my submission and the impassioned and very reasoned statements from residents groups and councillors representing the area at the planning committee last night to approve the logistics hub near the to the M6/M56 junction.

“This decision looks likely to have a massive impact on the local area.

“It’s not lost on me that just 18 months ago Labour councillors were kicking up a tremendous fuss when the Government decided to re-use a relatively small, existing brownfield site in the same area for an HMRC inspection site saying it would create chaos on the roads.

“Last night they appear to have been hit by a double dose of amnesia and hypocrisy when they voted 7-5 in favour of approving the plans, despite the land being almost ten times the size of the former Shearings interchange, on green belt and with the Local Plan not yet having been approved.

“I will today be writing to the Secretary of State to ask him to call the decision in for a review by an Independent Planning Inspector.”

Andy Carter

Councillor Ken Critchley(Con) commented: “It was an appalling decision taken last night by the DMC‘s Labour members, imposing the dreadful Six:56 development on South Warrington. A huge warehousing scheme at the junction of the M6 and M56. Conservative Councillors Jervis and Balding not only voted against the proposal but also strongly challenged the content and conclusions of the Council’s Report. I welcome the immediate intervention of Warrington South MP Andy Carter in writing to the Secretary of State to call in this planning application for review by an Independent Inspector”.

Meanwhile local resident Sally Chisholm added: “I was “lucky” enough to be given the opportunity to have 3 mins to try and communicate the views of residents to DMC.

“An entirely unsatisfactory set-up that demonstrates Warrington Borough Council couldn’t give a hoot about what residents think.

“Stranded at the end of the council chamber, unable to actually see most of the committee due to the room layout meant no chance of actually communicating with them in any realistic way.
“Fortunately I’ve done a lot of public speaking in my career so don’t find such setups intimidating but that would not be the case for many I suspect.

“Given the significance of Six56 for Warrington, giving residents only 3 minutes to voice their concerns, incidentally the same time a resident would get to object to someone applying for a dormer window, is an insult”!