PLANS for a new motorway service area, including a 100-bed hotel, on the M62 at Warrington have resulted in major opposition.
The scheme, on land to the north of Junction 11, is being opposted by Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council and Croft Parish Council and there is a holding objection from HS2 Ltd.
Altogether, there are 16 objections on the grounds of loss of Green Belt land, nearness of the existing Burtonwood Service Area (about six miles away), impact on local road network and loss of aggricultural land.
How the proposed service area would look
There are also concerns because the site is located on peat soils which form part of the extended Risley- Pestfurlong, Astley and Chat Mosses which are said to provide a significant carbon reservoir to protect against climate change.
If development takes place it could lead to the destruction or oxidation of peat putting many more tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere in conflict with national and international climate change prevention policies.
But officers are recommending the scheme be approved, subject to the HS2 objection being withdrawn and the Secretary of State not wishing to intervene.
It is estimated the development would create 228 jobs – although these are expected to be mainly low paid jobs.
Warrington Chamber of Trade supports the scheme in relation to its potential to create employment
Planning chiefs at Warrington will consider the application at a meeting on June 9.
1 Comment
Why is WBC making their decision on this scheme contingent on their view of HS2? Both are sufficiently important to be considered in isolation and independently of each other. Since both will have a malign impact on the local environment. Constructing another service station, when there are two within a virtual stone’s throw of this proposal, makes a mockery of this council’s often claimed objective of protecting the environment.