WARRINGTON South MP Andy Carter says he is “bitterly disappointed” over the Government’s decision not to call in the controversial Six56 logistics development on Green Belt land at Appleton Thorn.
Mr Carter, who opposed the development and is now seeking an urgent meeting with ministers to discuss it, says he will be also raising the issues at Prime Ministers Question Time, tomorrow, Wednesday.
He said: I am bitterly disappointed at this decision and sadly we end up with the worst of all worlds, piecemeal planning, taking green belt without taking account of the wider needs of the local area.
“I’ve been asked how we stopped the previous Stobart development but couldn’t halt this logistics park. Sadly the fundamental difference is that Labour has now submitted the Local Plan for inspection which means prematurity, ie developers identifying a speculative piece of land, is no longer applicable as the location is clearly identified in the local plan for employment use.
“My anger is that our town centre is being hollowed out and all around Warrington we have a ring of large warehouses, destroying the green belt and at the same time the Labour Council is failing to address the infrastructure needed to accommodate the growth planned.
“I am seeking an urgent meeting with Ministers to raise my concerns again.”
Meanwhile, local Conservatives have also expressed their “huge disappointment” at the decision.
Conservative Cllr Mark Jervis (Appleton) said: “The Conservative Group is very disappointed by this decision made by the Secretary of State. The threat from the destruction of a vast swathe of Green Belt in south Warrington is wholly attributable to Labour Councillors on the Development Management Committee who voted en masse in March to impose this flawed scheme on the residents of south Warrington.
Cllr Jervis added: “We will continue to seek to protect our valuable Green Belt from all the threats posed by Labour’s new Local Plan. The residents of south Warrington will not forgive Labour for this Green Belt vandalism.”
Last night local campaigners were left angry after hearing that the Secretary of State was not going to call in the controversial Six56 logistics development on Green Belt land in south Warrington.
At the same time developers, Langtree were delighted, heralding 4,000 new jobs and £7.1 million a year in new rates for Warrington Borough Council
Secretary of State Michael Gove has confirmed he will not call in the decision by Warrington Borough Council’s Development Management Committee to approve the massive Six56 warehouse development at Appleton Thorn and the junction of the M6 and M56 motorways, saying it should be a local planning decision.
A letter announcing the decision stated:” The Government remains committed to giving more power to councils and communities to make their own decisions on planning issues and believe that
planning decisions should be made at the local level wherever possible. The call-in policy makes it clear that the power to call in a case will only be used very selectively.
The Secretary of State has decided, having had regard to this policy, not to call in this application. He is satisfied that the application should be determined at a local level.
“I appreciate that this is not the preferred outcome for you, and I understand that there will be great disappointment as a result. It is however, now for the Council to determine this application.”
The decision was made by officials on behalf of the Secretary of State under delegated powers.
Anger as Secretary of State decides not to call-in Six56 Green Belt development
