Homes plan protest

Oct 2 2008 by Mark Smith, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

Homes plan protest

HUNDREDS of residents attended a public meeting to oppose plans to construct 300 homes on Green Belt land.

The Weekly News revealed three weeks ago how Mill Properties drew up proposals for a 30-acre housing development and a new golf club on the Green Belt between Norlands Lane and Pex Hill, Widnes.

On Tuesday, about 300 residents were joined by six councillors and MP Derek Twigg at the Ford Sport and Social Club to discuss the plans – while some voiced concern the developers themselves had chosen not to attend.

Cllr Peter Murray (Farnworth) said: “They’ve started a pre-consultation and your councillors and concerned residents have generated a process to get things moving and the developers haven’t turned up.”

He added: “If this goes ahead, there will be no more than a field between this development and the Knowsley boundary.

“Farnworth’s councillors are against urban sprawl, and north Widnes has seen a lot of building. Once you go on to the Green Belt, things have gone too far.”

Derek Twigg said: “When a planning application comes I will write to put my objections strongly.”

A Mill Properties spokesman, said: “Without any significant new information to pass to residents at this point in time, it is felt it is not appropriate to attend the meeting.

“However, we are in the process of organising a further event when our plans are close to being finalised, having taken due account of public comment received to date.

“We feel the overall package proposed within this plan will offer significant benefits in terms of increasing sport and leisure participation in Widnes.

“We believe this offers ‘exceptional circumstances’ to justify Green Belt development.”