THE St Helens Local Plan amounts to a builder’s charter that puts profit before people.


It gives developers their long-sought licence to build where they want, concreting over vital countryside land, with no protection against the plans for local people.


The Local Plan doesn’t even pretend there will be benefits for existing residents.


Instead it’s clear the people of St Helens are just expected to live with added road congestion, extra pressure on already stretched public services and significantly reduced green space – all in the name of the council’s highly “ambitious” housing targets based on population growth figures that appear optimistic at best and questionable at least.


The only people to benefit will be developers looking for a quick profit and a council seeking increased revenue after failing for decades to improve the borough’s dire economic performance.


David, Rainford