A CAMPAIGN group which opposes the release of green belt land for development says proposals to grow the population of the borough would put an "impossible strain" on public services.

The Rainford Action Group claims that St Helens Council's Draft Local Plan would have a "disastrous impact" on public services, which it says are "already struggling to provide for the existing population".

Campaigners also say the Local Plan is based on "wildly optimistic" claims of population growth in St Helens which would reverse a "30-year population decline".

The group also points to financial strains faced by public services including St Helens Clinical Care Commissioning Group, NHS Trust and cuts to school funding.

Campaigners add the council has provided "no evidence" as to why thousands of people would move to St Helens, reversing a 30 year trend that has seen people move away from the borough.

However, the local authority has launched a significant campaign - involving leading St Helens businesses - to enhance the borough's reputation and attract more investment.

Securing more large employers to the town and increasing the population would raise funds through business rates – which the council will retain from 2019/2020 – and council tax.

James Wright, chair of the Rainford Action Group, which aims to save seven green belt sites in Rainford from housing and industrial development, said: "This is further evidence that the impact of the Local Plan hasn't been been thought through.

"If you care about our local NHS and other public services such as schools and social care, you must oppose the council's Local Plan."

The group also claims to have discovered the council has not consulted the local NHS trust, stating a Freedom of Information request showed St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals Trust had not been "engaged" by the council over its plan to increase the local population by tens of thousands of people.

Mr Wright, added: "It's surprising that St Helens Council hasn't consulted with our local NHS about their plan to grow the borough's population by such a massive amount.

"Population growth on this scale could cripple the NHS locally especially given the current financial crisis in the NHS in St Helens.

"The money the council wants to raise by allowing green belt development wouldn't pay for public services like schools or hospitals. There would be no extra investment for the services these new people would need so our existing services would be stretched even more than they currently are.

"We all want to see growth in St Helens but the green belt shouldn't be sacrificed on the basis of population growth claims that seem wildly optimistic and unrealistic.

"And if there is ever an influx of people into St Helens from elsewhere on the scale the council suggests, in this age of austerity, where would the money come from to pay for the services these extra people would need?

"Everyone in St Helens should be deeply worried about the council's Local Plan because of the impossible strain the council's population ambitions would place on our public services."

When contacted by the Star a St Helens Council spokesman did not wish to comment on the claims but added the authority has consulted with St Helens CCG, Merseycare NHS Trust and NHS England North.