675-acre green belt site threatened

A 675-acre green belt site near Warrington is highlighted in a major new report on the threat to green belts across the country prepared by the Campaign to Protect Rural England.
The document claims there has been significant loss of green belt land since 1997 and more is planned – despite the stated commitment of the Prime Minister to protect it.
In the North West, the report singles out the controversial plan to alter the green belt boundary to accommodate an inter-modal freight terminal on the site of the former Parkside Colliery, between Winwick and Newton-le-Willows.
The scheme would involve 675 acres of green belt land – despite the fact the site of the former colliery occupies only 85 acres.
CPRE have carried out an investigation of the Government’s record on the green belt since 1997.
It concludes that in that period, more than 2,750 acres of green belt have been lost each year and at least 45,240 homes – equivalent to a city the size of Bath – have been built on green belt land
CPRE does welcome action by the Government in some areas, including safeguarding existing green belt boundaries in the North West.
It notes that proposed changes to the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS), issued only in March, make it clear there is no need for substantial strategic change to the green belt in Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire or Merseyside before 2011 or in Warrington before 2021.
RSS has also accepted – following strong representations from CPRE – that there is a presumption against any change even after those dates.
Paul Milner, CPRE’s senior planning campaigner said: “I am sure that Ministers genuinely want to safeguard our green belt for future generations. But in reality, the green belt is being seriously eroded. Too much development has already been permitted and some government inspectors appear to be interpreting green belt policy in their own way. This is making a mockery of the permanence green belts are supposed to have.
“Now we are faced with a serious downturn in the housing market. There is a real danger that Government will panic and relax green belt protection in a rush for development at any price.”
Locally, the Parkside Action Group (PAG) – which draws its members from Warrington, St Helens and Wigan – has been running a campaign against the Parkside development for some years.
It claims the scheme would result in two million HGV movements a year on local roads not designed to cope with such a weight of traffic.
In addition to a freight terminal, the Parkside scheme would include a business centre, retailing and a countryside park – although PAG dismiss this as a strip of land around the site to accommodate rainwater drainage pools.
It would also mean the controversial relocation of Junction 22 on the M6 and of the historic New Park Farm Manor House.