Peel Hall campaigners make their mark at second phase of Public Inquiry

CAMPAIGNERS battling to save Peel Hall from a 1,200 home multi-use neighbourhood say they have left their mark in the second phase of the public inquiry which reopened last Tuesday.

The campaigners’ Rule 6 Party delivered an “impressive performance” says member Wendy Johnson-Taylor, in a week weighted down with pivotal issues that could decide the fate of the last, natural green space in North Warrington.
The inquiry adjourned at a delicate balancing point in September last year to give appellant Satnam Millennium Ltd additional time to carry out traffic modelling assessments. With the week’s timetable dominated by highways, traffic and transport, campaigners believe this point of proceedings could well tip the scales.
Campaigner Jon Parr presented his transport submission before Inquiry Inspector Christina Downes, Warrington Borough Council and landowner Satnam Millennium Ltd.
He said: “The appellant’s desire to radically alter a significant number of roads and junctions through the local area, only serves to impact a significant number of residents’ lives over a wide area with very little return. In fact, the Rule 6 Party has adequately demonstrated that existing residents will be worse off as journey time increase, traffic and congestion worsens and noise and air pollution from standing traffic further reduces our air quality.”
He added: “The appeal site has been blighted by traffic for years and has significantly worsened year on year. The Rule 6 Party has real concern over the traffic assessments undertaken and do not believe that quality and quantity of surveys undertaken have been commensurate with a site of this size and complexity. We believe had they been, the figures would have undermined the appellant’s own case.”
Jon criticised the proposal of extended current bus services to the site, poor connectivity to train stations and “extremely limited cycling provision” adding that these would pose difficulties for existing and new residents.
He added: “The appellant has tried to appease the very obvious traffic congestion issues with a series of ill-thought-out mitigation measures, very few of which are sustainable modes alternative transport”. He added that a “real workable solution” to seek planning approval has been failing for more than 30 years and it suggested that a solution wasn’t “forthcoming”.
He closed by saying: “This whole charade has been simply about minimum expenditure and maximum profit, regardless of the severe impact on the town and residents that will be blighted with traffic, noise and poor air quality for years to come.”
Warrington Borough Council’s traffic consultants and Mike Taylor, Team Leader of the council’s Transport Development Control Team also gave evidence.
Landowner Satnam is seeking outline planning permission for a 1,200 home multi-use neighbourhood. The appeal inquiry comes after the developer was successful in obtaining a High Court ruling.
With the rest of the inquiry yet to complete transport and highways, Wendy Johnson-Taylor said: “There’s still a bit to go yet, we’ve yet to cover conditions and planning balance and then closing speeches. It’s estimated to take another eight days, we’ve worked so hard to get to this stage and overall, I think our team’s been pretty impressive and we’ve made our mark.”