'They must not create a rat run': Warning fired over Parkside plans

A scheme to regenerate the land at Newton-le-Willows, which has been vacant since 1993, has been submitted today and includes 93,000 square metres of employment space which could bring 1,300 jobs.

Parkside Regeneration, the joint venture between developers Langtree and St Helens Council formed to redevelop the coal mine that closed in 1993, says it has made several positive changes to its original plans for the ex-pit site in Newton-le-Willows.

However, proposals remain controversial and opposition to the plans - which has been evident over the past decade - is expected to resurface.

Opponents, particularly some in the Newton community, are concerned by potential damage to the environment and traffic congestion.

Terry O'Neill, a councillor for Burtonwood and Winwick and leader of Warrington Borough Council, has warned the plans, which are likely to be discussed in the summer, must be looked at carefully.

He said: "We have concerns about how this development will negatively affect areas of our borough if the work on the infrastructure is not done first.

"It’s absolutely vital that the new link road should be in place before any of the developments are approved.

“The A49 and the connecting junctions around Winwick will suffer from extra traffic and Winwick village may be used as a rat-run if this work isn’t done.

"We also want to make it clear that we strongly object to any Strategic Rail Freight Interchange on the Parkside site because of the huge volume of traffic this would create on our road network.”

The developer says it is supportive of a new link road which was suggested by the public during a consultation last year.

“We are very supportive of the proposals for the new link road in to the site from junction 22 of the M6 as it will take pressure off Winwick and the A49 and address air pollution and congestion throughout the area,” said John Downes, group managing director of Langtree and chairman of the Parkside Regeneration.

“During the council’s consultation on its plans our professional team has made sure that the council is fully aware of how the proposed new road can best contribute to the wider Parkside Regeneration proposals and address any local community issues.”

An aerial shot of what the development may look like

And the developer is confident the scheme will deliver on its promise of thousands of new jobs for the local area.

“The demand for logistics and manufacturing space continues to be very strong and our proposals meet a clear need in the market,” added Mr Downes.

“We are keen to ensure that our investment benefits the local community as much as possible and have put in place arrangements with the Northern Logistics Academy and St Helens Chamber of Commerce to maximise the number of training opportunities for local people and to ensure robust engagement with a local supply chain.”

According to Parkside Regeneration, the planning application covers the project’s proposed first stage, which would incorporate up to 93,000 square metres of new employment space.

It adds that when fully operational, occupiers are anticipated to generate £80m a year in economic activity and to pay £2.2m a year in business rates to St Helens Council.

The application also proposes several junction improvements on the A49.

Commenting on the plans, St Helens Council leader Councillor Barrie Grunewald, said: “The submission of a planning application is a key milestone in the joint venture’s ambitions for Parkside.

"It will show us the nature and scale of the opportunity before us to deal with long-term, generational unemployment in St Helens and bring a redundant, brownfield site back in to productive use.”

No date has yet been set for the planning application to be heard, although it is expected to be ruled upon in the summer following the council’s own consultation on the proposals.