RESIDENTS at Winwick are celebrating a small victory in their call for greater involvement in the consultation phase of the Peel Hall Development.
The initial consultation dates and locations were slammed as a ‘shambolic mess’ with poor turn out due to poor communication on behalf of Warrington Borough Council and the developer as well as a serious concern that the correct process of engagement was not followed, resulting in the total exclusion of Winwick Parish Council and the parishioners of Winwick, of which Peel Hall will form a part of.
After Winwick’s local plan group raised their concerns formally in writing to the developer and WBC as well as at the Parish Council meeting it has now been conceded that an error had been made and Winwick Parish Council should have been more proactively involved.
After a meeting between two parish councillors and the developer Countryside an agreement to host an additional consultation event has been reached.
The event will be hosted at Winwick Leisure Centre on the 8th August 2023.
To give the best possible chance for as many concerned residents to attend the event will be split into two sessions. One between 8am and 11am in the morning and the second between 4pm and 7pm in the evening.
Parish councillors are encouraging residents to attend and have their say on any issues they have and to ask the developer any questions they want to ask.
For anyone unable to attend display boards showing details of the Peel Hall proposal are already on show at the centre.
Winwick Local Plan campaigners welcomed the news but highlighted that they should never have had to complain to get the consultation Winwick deserved.
One said: “It’s great news that after much noise on behalf of ourselves and the Peel Hall Campaign group the error has been acknowledged but it just goes to show how quickly those who decide upon and deliver vast developments like this so easily and quickly forget those who actively campaigned against the destruction of this vital green space as well as attended both Peel Hall Inquiries and the Local Plan hearing.
“WBC and the developer must do better when it comes to community engagement and whilst we may not be able to prevent 1200 holes being built we will continue to hold both the decision makers and the developers to account from now until the very last brick is laid.”
Further information on the campaign group can be found on the Winwick & Hermitage Green Facebook page as well as the following link https://peelhallwarrington.co.uk/
First Peel Hall consultations slammed as “shambolic mess” by campaigners
