Newton & Earlestown Gossip

[RodBell]

Was sent this yesterday, made sure I could post it first.

This is an update email from the Parkside Action Group. Attached is a proforma objection letter and explanation about the Planning White Paper and what it'll mean to you. Objections need to be in by August 17th so please get writing as soon as possible.

Here're some other important events:

- Walk around Parkside - Meet at The Hermit, Hermitage Green for Saturday August 18th at 2pm. This is raise awareness about Parkside and to provide a photo opportunity for the press.

- Pub Quiz fundraiser Friday August 31st 7.30pm - Winwick Leisure Centre £2.50 per ticket - raffle prizes still needed. Please email me if you need tickets.

Please take the time to object to the White Paper; a proforma letter is also available on our website. If you know of anybody who hasn't yet objected to Parkside then the proforma letters are on our website www.parksideactiongroup.org.uk. I hope to see you on the 18th, come to our fundraiser on the 31st and our first AGM is on Wednesday 5th September at Winiwck Leisure Centre.

Thanks,

Brendan

There was also an attachment, but I can seem to post it here so here it is one the post.

Name:
Address:



Planning White Paper Team,
Consultation Response,
c/o Communities and Local Government,
Eland House,
Bressenden Place,
London.
SW1E 5DU

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing in response to the current consultation process on the Planning White Paper. I am deeply concerned about the impact its proposals will have on my rights and on the environment. I wish to object to the following:

1. The reduction of my right to have a say in Major Infrastructure Projects (MIPs) and local plans. The proposed Independent Planning Commission (IPC) must also be democratically accountable, allow proper public engagement, allow for the robust testing of all evidence and include environmental expertise.
2. The presumption in favour of development that would prioritise economic growth over the environment. There should be no change to the current legal and policy framework and no presumption in favour of development.
3. The removal of the need to test, which would potentially give even more power to supermarkets; if anything, the needs test should in fact be strengthened.
4. The planned review of Green Belt boundaries. The White Paper should be reinforcing, not weakening, constraints over the development of the Green Belt.

Please amend the White Paper so that it to can deliver more sustainable development, protect our Green Belt and ensure that residents and communities keep their democratic right to voice their concerns.


Yours sincerely,

What does the Planning White Paper mean to me?

The Parkside Action Group (PAG) is submitting representation regarding the recent Government Planning White Paper, which is also being opposed by a coalition of organisations, including Friends of the Earth, Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), The National Trust and the RSPB.

The White Paper is divided into 2 main sections, Major Infrastructure Projects (MIPs) and streamlining the planning process.

What does the White Paper mean to you and why should you object?
- Proposals for MIPs would be decided by an Independent Planning Commission (IPC), which would weaken the overall planning system that currently allows full consideration of environmental issues.
- Undermine our right to have a say on major developments and limit opportunities for residents to engage with the planning process.
- Presumes in favour of development with economic growth being prioritised ahead of
sustainable development.
- Planned review of Green Belt boundaries in certain circumstances – along with the MIP
proposal, this aspect would impact on Green Belt locations such as Parkside.

If you want to find out more then visit the Government Planning website: www.communities.gov.uk, contact them directly on: 020 7944 6511 or email: planningreformconsultation@communities.gsi.gov.uk.

Also take a look at the CPRE website (www.cpre.org.uk/campaigns/planning/plan ... you-can-do) which has even more information about what the White Paper would mean to you in its current form. You can also email the CPRE on campaigns@cpre.org.uk or phone 020 7981 2869.

PAG has serious concerns that the Planning White Paper, in its current form, would remove our right to object to inappropriate developments, just like the Parkside Strategic Road Freight Interchange. It would give a free hand to developers to do whatever they want, wherever they wanted to do it and residents would be powerless to object.

Use our proforma letter to give you some ideas, or just print it off and send it in with your details.

You need to register your opposition by August 17th

[DaveH]

Planning White Paper Team,
Consultation Response,
c/o Communities and Local Government,
Eland House,
Bressenden Place,
London.
SW1E 5DU

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing in response to the current consultation process on the Planning White Paper. I am deeply concerned about the impact its proposals will have on my rights and on the environment. I wish to object to the following:

1. The reduction of my right to have a say in Major Infrastructure Projects (MIPs) and local plans. The proposed Independent Planning Commission (IPC) must also be democratically accountable, allow proper public engagement, allow for the robust testing of all evidence and include environmental expertise.
2. The presumption in favour of development that would prioritise economic growth over the environment. There should be no change to the current legal and policy framework and no presumption in favour of development.
3. The removal of the need to test, which would potentially give even more power to supermarkets; if anything, the needs test should in fact be strengthened.
4. The planned review of Green Belt boundaries. The White Paper should be reinforcing, not weakening, constraints over the development of the Green Belt.

Please amend the White Paper so that it to can deliver more sustainable development, protect our Green Belt and ensure that residents and communities keep their democratic right to voice their concerns.


Yours sincerely,

What does the Planning White Paper mean to me?

The Parkside Action Group (PAG) is submitting representation regarding the recent Government Planning White Paper, which is also being opposed by a coalition of organisations, including Friends of the Earth, Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), The National Trust and the RSPB.

The White Paper is divided into 2 main sections, Major Infrastructure Projects (MIPs) and streamlining the planning process.

What does the White Paper mean to you and why should you object?
- Proposals for MIPs would be decided by an Independent Planning Commission (IPC), which would weaken the overall planning system that currently allows full consideration of environmental issues.
- Undermine our right to have a say on major developments and limit opportunities for residents to engage with the planning process.
- Presumes in favour of development with economic growth being prioritised ahead of
sustainable development.
- Planned review of Green Belt boundaries in certain circumstances – along with the MIP
proposal, this aspect would impact on Green Belt locations such as Parkside.

If you want to find out more then visit the Government Planning website: www.communities.gov.uk, contact them directly on: 020 7944 6511 or email: planningreformconsultation@communities.gsi.gov.uk.

Also take a look at the CPRE website (www.cpre.org.uk/campaigns/planning/plan ... you-can-do) which has even more information about what the White Paper would mean to you in its current form. You can also email the CPRE on campaigns@cpre.org.uk or phone 020 7981 2869.

PAG has serious concerns that the Planning White Paper, in its current form, would remove our right to object to inappropriate developments, just like the Parkside Strategic Road Freight Interchange. It would give a free hand to developers to do whatever they want, wherever they wanted to do it and residents would be powerless to object.

Use our proforma letter to give you some ideas, or just print it off and send it in with your details.

You need to register your opposition by August 17th




[/quote][/quote]

Plenty of *I* and *Me* Who does he think he is ? God or summat. He appears to love and embrace the limelight. Perhaps he has nothing else in his sad and lonely life.

[brenpage]

No offence DaveH, but is that the best you can do. Instead of having a go at me, why not stand up for your democratic right to object to lousy ideas, like Parkside, and write a letter to the planning reform team.

[DaveH]

I have written numerous letters to local newspapers with my pro-Parkside opinions only one of which was ever published. Some people seem to have a monopoly on published letters particularly if they are anti-Parkside Most of these letters are extremely long, boring and egotistic for instance the overuse of *I* and *Me* It's about time the roar of the pro-Parkside voices were heard which is the vast majority of people in the area. A few tattered protest notices stuck on sticks in the gardens on Winwick Road doesn't represent the view of the majority. Seemingly the majority of the residents on that road are in favour of this much needed development.
Dave Harrop

[earlestonian]

I would like to know who Parksideactiongroup think they represent ,they talk as if they represent the whole of Newton -le-Willows ,they come out with statements that and have them reported in the press that 98% of the people in Newton -le -Willows are agaist Parkside . Well no one from the action group as ever asked me my opinion they would probally not like the reply .

Newton -le-Willows is a industral town it was built on the railway ,work came into the town though the railway ,there is no major empolyer in the town ,since Parkside closed ,the vulcan works is now gone to be replaced with housing possible housing for the poeple who will be employed if Parkside is developed .

This town is dying the markets are failing cause no one works here no more ,every one works out side of Newton - le -Willows the jobs this development will bring will rejuvinate this area .

[DaveH]

This is just one of the many letters I have written to local newspapers, as per usual it wasn't published yet if I wrote condemning the development you can bet it would be published.
ear Sir...Hardly a week passes when there isn't a letter published in various local newspapers condemning the freight terminal development proposals on the site of the former Parkside Colliery here in Newton-le-Willows. The reasons given are usually extremely weak when weighing the benefits for not only the immediate site but the area as a whole. Thousands of much needed jobs are to be created on the site itself in addition to other jobs which are likely to be created when companies may consider it to be of a financial advantage to move their production closer to the point of distribution to the whole of the EU. The site is ideally located on the convergence of major rail and motorway links to enable the marshalling of long freight trains, thus taking thousands of tonnes of freight from the roads on a daily basis. Another argument against the development is the loss of green belt land when quite the opposite will happen. Thousands of trees and shrubs are to be planted and pathways laid to give access to green belt land which very few of us have ever had access to anyway. Wildlife of all descriptions will be attracted to this type of development.
Concern has been expressed regarding the decrease in value of protesters property when, again, the opposite is likely to happpen due to the increased demand for housing created by the thousands of new jobs. Yes, thousands of new jobs will be created and the protesters can only dance on the head of a pin about just how many thousands of jobs.
The latest reason I heard is the construction will be built on ley lines !! Which can only be cured by Feng Shui !! The hippies are back !!
Another reason against the development: The increase in road traffic which is odd considering that the increase will be handled by a dedicated motorway junction off the M6, the only access to/from existing access points will be for emergency vehicles only.
Incidentally I have lived in Newton for most of my life in two houses both of which are adjacent to a railway line but any increase in rail traffic doesn't bother me in the slightest if it means jobs and prosperity for the town in particular and the area in general
Most of the protesters are, like myself, at the fag end of their lives,kids long gone, mortgages paid off and comfortable in their dotage. I'm more concerned about the generations which follow me rather than the elves fairies and goblins in Hermitage Green Wood.
The younger generation deserve the opportunity we all have had, reasonably well paid jobs to purchase homes and raise families.
The powers that be should just ignore the very vocal minority of nimbys and naysers and get on with the development as soon as possible.
It's the biggest single investment this town will ever know...it could be one of the biggest investments ever in the whole of the UK.
Yours faithfully

Dave Harrop

[RodBell]

Have you ever had any published Dave?

[DaveH]

Hi Rod...Just the one in the Warrington Guardian. I've also written similar letters to both the St Helens newspapers none of which were published. I had a very strange encounter with the St Helens Star. I wrote a letter to them concerning Parkside and had a telephone call from a lady one Sunday morning from the editorial staff of the newspaper asking if she could use my name and address when the letter was published. Of course I agreed, never having been a person to hide my light beneath a bushell. After having this conversation I assumed the letter would have been published, but it wasn't. I suspect that someone senior to her had put the block on it. It seems that protesters against the development can get letters published at will but for some unkown reason supporters of the development are denied the same opportunity.
DaveH

[RodBell]

You wouldn't have a copy of the letter that was published to post here.

I did find this at Siobhans site at http://siobhan-burgess.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4&Itemid=1

Copy of email I've just sent to the Warrinton Guardian
Dear Sir...Hardly a week passes when there isn't a letter published in various local newspapers condemning the freight terminal development proposals on the site of the former Parkside Colliery here in Newton-le-Willows. The reasons given are usually extremely weak when weighing the benefits for not only the immediate site but the area as a whole.

(the rest can be read by following the link)

How much area will the development cover a did here that the goal posts are moving constantly from bigger to smaller

[JeanieBeanie]

I live in Earlestown and nobody has ever canvassed my area, asked our opinions, been out on the streets finding out what people think.

I am in support of parkside, this town needs some industry and work, we need unskilled manual jobs and this is what parkside will offer our town.

And that site was a mine before this so people cant complain about the site being re used for this purpose. The real issue here is Winwick residents not wanting house prices affected.

[DaveH]

The fact is they haven't. This tiny group is a one-man band operation and I'm sure you've seen his almost weekly letters in local papers expressing his opposition to the development. One of his lieutenants on another web site claimed that they had a meeting at a Winwick location attended by 300 people. I don't believe this figure for a minute but assuming it's true, it's a miniscule proportion of the population of Earlestown, Newton,Winwick, Lowton and other areas, not forgetting a small hamlet you may have heard of, Warrington. Within a 10 mile radius of Parkside I estimate that there are approximately half a million people. 300 objectors shouldn't stop this much needed development, they should be ignored.

[DaveH]

The PAG are holding a protest walk around Parkside tomorrow(Saturday) meeting at The Hermit pub at 2pm. It will be interesting to observe how much support they will have. Not a lot I would wager.

[RodBell]

Are you going Dave

[DaveH]

Yes. I'll be there...incognito, with camera.

[DaveH]

Just got back from the mighty PAG protest march. Being generous I would say there were 30 people marching but probably more like 25. I'll try to attach the photos I took.