CAMPAIGNERS opposed to long-term plans to develop the borough’s green belt will make their voices heard outside the next full council meeting.

Groups from across St Helens plan to gather in Victoria Square outside the Wednesday, March 1 meeting and make as much “noise as they can because they don’t feel the council is listening to their concerns”, according to the Rainford Action Group.

Campaigners fear that despite consultations on the Local Plan having just closed, statements from councillors suggest the council has an intention to press on with the plan unchanged. 

The action group claims a letter sent to the council from all the groups, representing thousands of St Helens residents, questioning the council’s position has been ignored. 

James Wright, chair of Rainford Action Group, said: “St Helens Council doesn’t want to listen to residents or engage with those who have concerns about their plan.

“So we’re going to stand outside the next full council meeting and make as much noise as we can. It will be peaceful in one sense but loud in another. We want people to bring horns, musical instruments, loudspeakers, vuvuzelas; anything that makes a noise.

“They’ll hear us even if they won’t listen.”
Groups from Billinge, Eccleston, Rainhill, Garswood, Newton and Haydock will join Rainford campaigners. 

The meeting takes place at St Helens Town Hall on Wednesday March 1.

The groups will be gathering in Victoria Square from 5.30 pm. The meeting starts at 6:15 pm. 

St Helens Council is proposing releasing swathes of green belt so 4,000 houses can potentially be built on the land over 30 years.

But opponents say there are more than 3,500 empty properties in St Helens and the borough’s population has been falling for more than three decades. 

Campaigners says the the council “has not made publicly available its brownfield register therefore it is unknown if all alternative options have been exhausted”. 

The council has said, however, that 47 brownfield sites, which are expected to deliver 2,497 homes, have already been identified while an additional 31 brownfield sites that are currently under construction or have planning permission would deliver a further 2,247 homes.

But St Helens Council says those do not meet their housing targets.

Mr Wright added: “We should all be concerned about the unfair cuts the government is inflicting on St Helens Council. But building on the green belt is not the answer to the council’s financial troubles. The green belt should be maintained for important agricultural, environmental and social reasons. 

 “The huge impact the proposed cuts will have reflects the council’s long term failure to revive the borough’s economy in the way neighbouring boroughs have successfully done. 

 “What St Helens needs is a sustainable, innovative plan for development that will help the council overcome its financial challenges and provide a better future for all residents.”