WORRIED residents have launched a grassroots campaign to try and speed up development of the giant Omega business park at Warrington.
They see the £5 billion project as vital for the creation of local jobs to keep young people in the town.
Omega is a 575-acre site straddling the M62 and covering part of the former Burtonwood Air Base. It
is earmarked for 3.1 million sq feet of industrial and office space and a hotel and retail complex to be developed over the next 25-30 years providing 25,000 jobs.
But despite the site being marketed for years, owners English Partnerships have been unable to attract any companies to the site – and fears are growing that it could be considered for a giant US-style Titan Prison.
Justice Secretary Jack Straw has already visited the site to have a look at it.
Residents fear the recession means development of the site is likely to be put on hold.
Groups interested in the site, residents and councillors from all parts of Warrington attended a special meeting at Whittle Hall Community Centre.
Chairman of Great Sankey North Residents Association Brenda Bradley called the meeting to see if there was a way residents could work with councillors and other agencies in a bid to get the Omega project off the ground and create local jobs.
She said: “There are a lot of young people in Warrington and a lot of talent. We need good jobs to keep them here, otherwise they end up in cities like Liverpool or Manchester.
“Young people then end up living in cities without the support of their extended families.”
Mrs Bradley said it was important to keep young people near their families for support.
More than 30 people attended the meeting and agreed to work together to try to get the park developed and fight against the proposed Titan Prison.
They are now researching information and are to contact agencies involved such as the developer, the site owners and the North West Development Agency.
Further meetings are planned in the near future.
