OPPOSITION councillors have called on Labour to delay the St Helens Local Plan, saying it would be “wrong” to press ahead with it in the middle of a pandemic.

On Wednesday, St Helens Borough Council’s cabinet is expected to vote in favour of submitting the draft Local Plan to the Secretary of State in October.

In a letter sent to council leader David Baines this week, opposition leaders have urged the authority to put the plan on ice until the impacts of the pandemic can be properly evaluated.

They also argued it would be “irresponsible” of the council to submit the draft plan until after the consultation on the Government’s white paper, ‘Planning for the Future’, which sets out its proposals to reform the planning system.

The opposition said they are “bitterly disappointed” with officers’ recommendation to submit the plan, and warned it is a decision it would later regret.

Cllr Teresa Sims, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, said: “Covid-19 has had a major impact on the way people live and work over the shorter term with a high degree of uncertainty over its impact in the long term.

“Therefore, now is not the time to be submitting the draft Local Plan to Government.

“As a council, we need to reflect, assess and respond to the impact of Covid-19. Its arrival was not anticipated, and its impact is very significant, and as such our approach needs to be flexible to address the challenges that will arise in the coming months and years ahead.

“As opposition leaders, we sincerely hope that the ruling Labour administration considers our request to delay submitting the draft Local Plan.

“By delaying submission, working together constructively, we can ensure that the Local Plan when finally submitted to Government, is a plan for the people of St Helens, supported by the people of St Helens.”

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Cllr James Tasker, leader of the Independents, accused Labour of trying to “rush through” the draft Local Plan in the middle of a global pandemic.

He said the Independents believe the right thing to do is to review the plan once the pandemic is over.

The Conservatives feel the same, with Tory leader Allan Jones saying a “more realistic” Local Plan will be needed in the wake of the pandemic.

“In light of the rise of the coronavirus within the borough, it is clear that the pandemic will be with us for some time,” Cllr Jones said.

“Now is not the time for the draft Local Plan to be taken forward and submitted to the Government.

“There are many other issues and areas for the council to consider that this time.

“When we do come out of this pandemic, as we will, we will need to look at a more realistic Local Plan that better reflects the needs of the borough going forward.”

Opposition leaders also questioned the findings of a council-led review into the implications of the strategic partnership with the ‘English Cities Fund’ on the Local Plan.

In March of this year, it was decided to delay submission of the draft Local Plan, so that the nature of this partnership and its potential regeneration opportunities for St Helens town centre be explored.

However, no suggested changes or modifications to the draft Local Plan have materialised from that review.

They also accused the ruling party of using inflated housing projections, a “barely credible nor sustainable” growth strategy, and bemoaned the “unnecessary release of precious green belt land”.

And Cllr David O’Keefe, leader of the Green Party group, said the submission draft is not compatible with the council’s declaration of a climate emergency.

In response, Cllr Baines has hit back at Labour’s rivals, accusing them of “playing to the gallery”.

Cllr Baines said: “Given the current situation, I’m sure residents don’t want local politicians to be fighting each other.

“Right now we need to stick together as a borough and look after one another as we fight a pandemic and face challenges on a scale rarely seen.

“But there’s no denying we need to plan for recovery, and a balanced Local Plan that is ambitious for our future is part of that.

“There’s been no joint letter to me from local Tories, Lib Dems, Greens and ‘Independents’ about the pandemic. None about testing or track and trace. Not a word about holiday hunger or the impact of Covid on jobs or the local economy.

“It’s therefore disappointing they’ve decided to write their first joint letter and work together on a press release to protest about a plan to protect 59 per cent of the borough as green belt and enhance our parks and open spaces, deliver new jobs, provide new affordable homes for a generation who can’t get on the property ladder, encourage economic growth, and take into account the need for new infrastructure including highways improvements, schools, GP and health services.

“Not to mention the significant regeneration of our town centres which will happen thanks to our partnership with English Cities Fund. After Covid these things are more important than ever.”

Cllr Baines also questioned the opposition’s claims that they would not need to build any new homes on green belt land.

In their letter, it says it remains their view that all green belt land should and can be protected, with St Helens boasting an “abundance” of brownfield land.

St Helens Star: St Helens Borough Council leader David BainesSt Helens Borough Council leader David Baines

Cllr Baines said: “In their letter to me they admit their own independent, professional assessment accepts a housing figure of 456 new homes per year, which is only 30 homes a year fewer than the target in the plan. They therefore support the building of 6,840 new homes in the next 15 years.

“The council’s independent and objective assessment tells us that around 5,200 homes can be built on brownfield and urban sites. This being the case, the opposition accept the need to build around 1,800 homes on greenfield/green belt sites. Yet at the same time they say that all green belt can and should be protected.

“Clearly something about their thinking doesn’t add up.

“And they say we should follow Warrington’s example, but when we have a chance to do that and encourage significant new investment and jobs on part of the Omega site along the M62 which falls within our borough boundary they all oppose it.

“The Tories, Lib Dems, Greens and ‘Independents’ need to stop playing to the gallery, working together to scaremonger and giving the impression that the borough is going to lose all our green space, and start telling people the truth that at least 59 per cent of our borough will remain in the green belt, plus our outstanding parks and green spaces, and that this plan is focused on jobs, homes and growth for St Helens borough.

“Either that, or they need to come up with a deliverable, evidence-based and ambitious plan of their own.

“It’s also important to remember that the Local Plan isn’t a planning application – every single development will need to go through the planning process.

“And while the Tory Government are trying to take planning decisions away from local communities and centralise the process, Labour believe planning should stay local and we’ll continue to fight for that, as well as a brighter, more prosperous future for all of St Helens borough.”

 

Here is the letter in full: 

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