A BOROUGH councillor at Warrington is calling on residents to stand united against any plans for development on land at Peel Hall.
Poulton North councillor Billy Lines-Rowlands (pictured) says the proposal by developers Satnam for 150 homes could, if 
approved, lead to more housing being built on the land, leaving one of the last remaining green spaces in north Warrington “overrun with concrete”.
He said: “Like my colleagues Steve Roberts, John Kerr-Brown and Helen Jones MP, my opposition to these plans could not be stronger.
“Peel Hall should be protected from development, and I will always oppose building there. No ifs, no buts, no maybes.
“My ward has a history of leading a determined fight against applications to construct homes on this land. In the past, the people who I represent have shown the planners just how strongly our community feels about the threat of development on Peel Hall.
“That is why I am calling on residents of Cinnamon Brow and Fearnhead to join with me and stand united against Satnam. As a community, we must make our views known to the planners in droves.
“I am encouraging everyone in Poulton North with views on this application to write as a matter of urgency to Professor Steven Broomhead, the interim chief executive at Warrington Borough Council.
“I have already made my views clear to the Town Hall – we must not allow one of the last remaining green spaces in north Warrington to become overrun with concrete!”
Meanwhile, Cllr Geoff Settle says a “standing room only” public meeting at the Plough Inn, on Mill Lane, was testimony to the strength of feeling of local residents. A similar meeting at Cinnamon Brow Farm Community Centre also attracted a big turnout.
He added; “Over 1,000 people have signed the on-line and paper petitions but we are urging people to submit individual comments about how they believe it will affect them and their families as soon as possible.
“I am surprised there are still people who are unaware about the proposed development and we are trying to change this position. In just two days last week we delivered over 1,100 letters and we are looking at more ways of spreading the word and keeping residents up to date with what is happening”.
Stand united against Peel Hall homes
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
19 Comments
Finally he speaks – pity he didn’t do it previously and left it to his colleague Geoff Settle. Geoff is a member of the planning but cannot now vote on the issue because he expressed the concerns of his constituents. If Billy had spoken sooner perhaps it would not have put Geoff in such an awkward position.
I must say that in both of the meeting there was a lady, Margaret, who stood out and spoke in depth about the outline planning application. She received two standing rounds of applause in the Plough meeting and a unaminous vote of confidence as a representative speaker at the forthcoming planning meeting.
Many thanks for all you are doing to raise people’s awareness of the issues.
She is so passionate and has great understanding of planning and the impact that this development will have on her local area if it were allowed to go ahead.
Hi Nick Tessla
Firstly it’s good to see you coming at somone else other than Geoff, I was starting to feel left out for a while 😉
“Finally he speaks”-were you at the the consultation at St. Bridgets? Or even at Farm Club the other night? I clearley spoke at both events and I will be speaking again on this issue at the planning meeting.
Also may I remind you that this is happening in another ward which will affect Poulton North so it’s important to let those councillors speak first then Poulton North councillors second. I don’t think anyone has put anybody in an awkward position as we choose ourselves when we feel it is appropriate to speak. My fellow councillor Geoff decided it is more important for him to speak out rather than vote as not only is he passionate about this issue, he is aware, like the rest of us that it is important that we spend time representing and “speaking out for” the residents that elected us when serious issue like this arise. Nick, please feel free to use your own name and contact me if you would like to come out from behind your computer and join us with this issue-we need as many people as possible. Speak Soon Billy
Billy you don’t know me so you are not aware of what meetings I have or haven’t attended – as you say Geoff, who hats off to him has been doing a good job on this issue, has shown himself to be passionate about this issue, are you less bothered? . It seems to me a pity that you have not appeared to show the same passion. There is a team of councillors in Poulton North, two of whom (Graham Friend and Geoff) are on the planning committee and yourself. It just seems to me , as an ordianry member of the public , that if you had pulled your weight on this issue, and acted as a spokesperson for your ward, instead of Geoff, it would not have put Geoff into the position where he is not able to vote on the committee .
There is a difference to speaking at a meeting and speaking out for those at the meeting, which your colleague has done.
Surely, that’s Geoff’s decision? I’m not in Billy’s ward but, having met him on three occasions (all at events to do with this) I’ve no doubts about his commitment to fighting this application.
Although the deadline for objections was yesterday, I’m told by staff in the Planning Department that they will still be accepted for the next day or so, email to: [email protected]
Sorry Nick, it was Geoffs decision to speak out and not vote. Plus it’s unfortunate that you as an ordinary member of the public do not see the work that we/I do regarding issues like these, I’d be happy to discuss this with you if you like. Plus I’m affriad that although there are three “of us” in the ward… we are not joined by the hip and we are capable of making decisions by ourselves, even if we include the other members or not. As always “Nick” please feel free to contact myself if you need more information or if theres any issues or concerns I can help with. And unfortunatly I can not comment further online, however if you would like to contact me via email [email protected] I will be very happy to help. Speak Soon.
Billy
Don’t be deterred by the odd barbed criticism you may occasionally get Cllr Lines-Rowlands – without being patronizing – this borough needs more members to act as you and your colleagues are doing. Would that had been more of you around much much earlier.
In the end won’t the decision be made by a Planning Inspector.
Thanks everyone for your comments.
I’ve just come back from a Regional Forest Framework meeting at Risley Moss where we were discussing our submission to the Government. There was lots of good stuff and debate from members across the North West and West Midlands.
As a steering group member of the Mersey Forest (Warrington’s Rep) it was pleasing that we were hosting the event and hopefully our region will benefit from the Green Economy by growing jobs and growing forestry.
As I ran back home through Birchwood Forest Park I thought, wouldn’t it be good if more trees could be in or near Warrington. I remembered that the Mersey Forest only last week advised the Poulton and Fearnhead parish council about how they could support us with our woodland at Bennetts Rec.
I then thought about other areas and a thought struck me. Why not create a plantation on the Peel Hall farmland? You could get quite a few trees on those acres and just think of all the carbon they would suck in the gasses and the water. It would help reduce carbon emissions and tackle some of the flooding. It would be a nice solution but I don’t think that Satnam would wait 20 years for a return on their investment.
As fugs says get them letters in or log on line – register your comments and ask questions that you need answering – it all helps.
Probably in my view because it will undoubtly go to appeal if Satnam’s application is turned down – hence the reason to get in solid reasons now that will stand up before it gets to the planning inspector.
If/when it goes to appeal, yes, but the more objections there are, the harder it’ll be for him to find in favour of the application.
I think that it will be the quality of the objections and their validity in planning terms, rather than the quantity of objections that will be a key factor, as will a recommendation by the planning department to the planning committee to reject the application. If in the professional opinion of the planning department the application should be approved but the committee reject it, it will surely be an uphill struggle to get the Planning Inspector to reject the Appeal.
And don’t we need a functioning planning department and planning officers we can trust? Without those two things, everything else is irrelevant.
Indeed, OMiO, people around here have worked hard to ensure the objections say the right things. The planners say they are not going to recommend, and the feeling is that the councillors’ committee will say the same, though one can never be sure… You can view the objections on the WBC website if you’re inclined.
Oh! if only…still there is no harm in wishing.
All of this is totally irrelevant until the Planning Department is restructured and made to work for us so that we can trust them!! This is an issue that our local Councillors will not touch.
It makes you wonder if anyone in the Council: members or employees places any score on whether or not trust is relevant to the proper functioning of our borough.
Geoff….There would not be as much carbon and polution in the atmosphere around Warrington if the Council and its cronies stopped putting traffic lights everywhere which hold up traffic, cause congestion and create polution from standing traffic….