CAMPAIGNERS have branded plans to build thousands of homes near to Rainford's boundary as "appalling”.

Rainford Action Group made the comments in response to the unveiling of the West Lancashire Council Local Plan.

Plans include 4,500 new houses at the M58 junction in Bickerstaffe, and two industrial estates.

Campaigners say plans would raise millions for West Lancashire Council but none would go to Rainford, where residents will be affected.

James Wright, chair of Rainford Action Group, said: “The people of Rainford won’t be consulted on these plans to build two villages and two industrial estates on their doorstep.

"But Rainford will be directly impacted. Our roads, schools, and surgeries will come under impossible strain if these houses are built. Yet any income generated by these developments will be spent elsewhere. It is totally unacceptable.

“Given St Helens Council’s plans to build on protected land in the centre of Rainford, there is a growing sense the village is under siege from profit-hungry developers, greedy landowners and local authorities who ignore the wishes of the people they are supposed to serve.

"If we are not careful, we could be sleep-walking into a situation where this whole area is transformed in the future and all because of spurious growth figures that have no basis in reality.”

A West Lancs Council spokesman said: "Nothing has been decided regarding the proposals for the West Lancashire Borough Council Local Plan. The proposals are going out to public consultation and the council would encourage any residents of Rainford or St Helens to engage with the public consultation, which will start on October 12.

The consultation is not restricted to West Lancashire residents, but is open to anyone who has an interest in the Local Plan. "Details of how to get involved with the consultation will appear on our website (westlancs.gov.uk/lpr) and people will have until December 13 to submit their comments.

"There are very few brownfield sites (also known as previously developed land) left in West Lancashire that are suitable for development and all those that are, have been accounted for in the anticipated delivery under the current, adopted Local Plan.

"Therefore, the council has no option other than to look to other sites to meet its development needs going forward."