Public meeting offer on Peel Hall plan

A COUNCILLOR has offered to hold a public meeting regarding the

controversial proposals for a new housing development on land at Peel Hall,

Warrington.
Councillor Geoff Settle says he has a number of concerns over the proposed development and is willing to organise a public meeting to discuss the outline planning application for 150 homes at Houghton Green.
He said “I believe that this development will have an impact way beyond Mill Lane. Having read the recent statement by the Secretary of Winwick Football Club, Paul McMahon and his praise for the pledged £1 million facilities at the Windermere Avenue playing fields, as reported on warrington-worldwide, I am concerned that local interests are being overlooked.”
Cllr Settle (pictured) says he is also puzzled why the football club wants to locate outside the Parish of Winwick.
He added: “I am disappointed to find that the club have not supported local Winwick Parish residents in their initiative to have the Mill House playing fields protected.
“A request has been sent to Home and Counties asking them to consider backing an application for the popular playing fields between Mill House pub and Mill Lane to be protected under the Queen Elizabeth II Field’s Trust.”
Cllr Settle says he is also concerned that local people are being left out of the planning process and are probably unaware of another development of 18 properties on land opposite the proposed site entrance.
He recognises that it is standard practice for written notifications to be sent out to ONLY residents living within a 50 meter radius of any proposed development. However in this case he has requested that letters are distributed to a wider catchment area and in addition his proposal to organise a public meeting is a further way of raising local awareness.
A recent Automatic Traffic Count report commissioned for Cinnamon Brow residents about the traffic flow on Enfield Park Road has highlighted that Peak volumes of over 230 vehicles per hour occur between 7am and 9am. The report, published last month, shows that morning traffic came predominantly from the direction of Delph Lane. As this flow passes the end of Mill Lane, Cllr Settle believes that any extra traffic will simply add to the several known bottle necks in the surrounding area such as College Place and Blackbrook Avenue.
He also believes that the proposed development will lead to unacceptable pressures on Mill Lane which has a narrow width and already caters as an overflow car park for the Plough Pub acting as a long pinch point. Another 168 homes with cars will only accentuate the problem.
Cllr Settle says he has also discovered that existing houses, near the proposed site, have to use septic tanks because United Utilities can’t provide them with a waste water network.
He said: “This is just another pressure to local services. If large organisations are struggling to provide the basics how will the infrastructure cope in the future? Local residents have had requests for the installation of acoustic barrier to reduce the noise from the M62 turned down. This is due to the proximity of a major gas pipe line. What is the logic in building houses so close to one of the busiest motorways in the country with such issues and restrictions? I can’t see how builders can protect prospective buyers from health risks, constant noise and toxic fumes that are present night and day?”
He added: “There are also several wildlife sites on the edge of the site that include the Woodland Trust’s, Radley Plantation and an ancient oak woodland that are rich in biodiversity. However they are constantly under attack from people intent on destroying them.”
Anyone interested in attending a public meeting, for example at the Cinnamon Brow Farm Community Centre on Monday 1st October at 7:30am , or another suitable date please contact Cllr Geoff Settle via email: [email protected] or telephone 07768 542 635.