WARRINGTON’S newest councillor, Una Gillham (Labour, Poulton North), visited the latest round of Peel Hall consultations and later blamed the Government for the loss of the green space site to developers.
But opposition Tories, via 2019 Warrington North General Election candidate Cllr. Wendy Maisey, blamed the Labour-controlled Council for leaving Peel Hall in the Local Plan.
Meanwhile, Cllr Gillham spoke with residents and provided feedback on concerns that were raised during her recent successful campaign in Poulton North.
Peel Hall was sold by Satnam earlier this year, marking the end of a 30-year battle by local Labour councillors and campaign groups who opposed the development.
Warrington Borough Council had consistently objected to plans for the site’s development, repeatedly denying planning permission.
However, in a cruel turn of events, the views of local councillors, the MP, residents, campaigners, and the Council were disregarded when Conservative Secretary of State, Michael Gove, stepped in and overturned the Council’s decision.
Countryside, the developers behind Peel Hall, held the most recent consultation event at Winwick Leisure Centre. This followed sessions that were recently held in Poplars and Hulme, the ward where the Peel Hall development is to be constructed.
The additional consultation sessions were arranged in response to requests from local Labour councillors and members of the public.
Cllr Gillham said: “During the recent by-election, residents told me just how much of an impact Peel Hall will have on our communities across Poulton North. I promised to get stuck in, and I have.
“The decision by the Conservative Secretary of State, Michael Gove, to overturn our local decision here in Warrington, is unforgivable.
“The Conservative Government sets the policies, creates the rules, and then forces local councils to apply them under threat of legal and financial punishments.
“Responsibility lies solely with the Secretary of State and the Conservatives. Their despicable planning policies wreak havoc in our communities.
“Unfortunately, we can’t stop the development on Peel Hall, but we can ensure residents’ voices are heard and considered every step of the way.
“These consultation events are an important opportunity where we can shape what the development will look like.
“I’m aware that fellow Labour councillors have already been influencing things like increasing the number of trees and plants on the site.
“I would encourage any resident who has concerns and thoughts to respond to the consultation. They can do so by visiting peelhallwarrington.co.uk”
Meanwhile Cllr. Maisey responded: “I’ve met with the Peel Hall group and have spoken with many residents. I was struck by their passion and commitment to stopping the massive development on Peel Hall. Local residents have very legitimate concerns about the lack of infrastructure and the amount of traffic going through Winwick and my own ward of Culcheth Glazebury & Croft which are both on the boundary of Peel Hall.
“Despite being a fairly new resident to Warrington, it didn’t take long for Councillor Gillham to fall into line with all the other Labour Councillors and blame every contentious decision they’ve taken on someone else rather than taking responsibility. The Labour Warrington administration left Peel Hall in the local plan, the Conservative Council group voted against the local plan, all Labour Councillors present at the Council meeting voted in favour of it. Nobody is forcing Labour Councillors to take the decisions they’ve taken, least of all the Secretary of State, let’s just leave it there.”
2 Comments
Isn’t it funny how Labour always blame the government. Wasn’t it the same for the Central 6 fiasco. The government gave them money but didn’t say how to implement it. That was all this Labour council’s choice. Peel Hall was being fought for 30 years ago. Shame on this Labour Council. Yet again showing they are working for themselves and not in the interests of the Orford constituents. What will it take for the morons of Warrington to stop voting for a Labour Council.
Two factors make the Peel Hall situation unpalatable. First, WBC’s behaviour throughout has never been proactive. The site has always been left in the Local Plan, despite the strength of local objection to it. Their behaviour at the Inquiries was ambiguous at best without any hint of helping the local objections. It is disingenuous now to blame Gove and the Conservatives when they essentially sat on the side lines waiting to see what happened.
The second factor is that this site has been sold by one developer to another without, due to WBC’s failings, those affected by its scheme having a say on any aspect of its development.