Cameron must rethink planning to prevent flooding

Local Lib Dem councillors have been campaigning for years to prevent building on green belt land near Churchtown. The areas in question (off Bankfield Lane and Moss Lane) are liable to flooding.

As we have seen on TV recently, widespread hardship has been caused by floods in the South of the country.

The following article has been written by Councillor Tony Robertson, Lib Dem Planning Spokesperson on Sefton Council. We are reproducing it here as the issues Tony raises are applicable to Churchtown.

Tony Robertson writes:

A group of experts led by the Landscape Institute have written to David Cameron warning that the Government must not risk future flood prevention by focusing on short-term problems. The experts are calling for planners to adopt a series of measures aimed at tackling the risk of flooding, including measures like planting trees, requiring that all new developments in towns and cities should include flood alleviation and protection measures, and that any new homes built on flood plains must be resilient to flooding. Sue Illman, president of the Landscape Institute, said: “We want the money that is going to be invested spent wisely to give us a proper outcome.” The Guardian reports that dredging of two major rivers feeding the Somerset Levels is due to begin in the next few weeks.

The LGiU produced the above (edited by me) but that is only part of the story. Fundamentally, the UK problem is that Planning is seen as a predominately economic matter with environmental consequences being very much a secondary consideration. Such has been the case for generations and Governments of all colours have failed to act to bring true harmony between environmental and planning policy making. 

The issue has not been highlighted by flooding so much in Sefton, although concern about the potential for flooding was a major consideration in the minds of Formby residents when they recently rose up to fight a new housing development off Liverpool Road. The elephant in the room, or should I say both elephants, are flooding and building on high grade agricultural land. Both are high end public concerns that most Westminster politicians seem to be oblivious of.

Lib Dems Fight for Green Belt

Councillors representing Churchtown and Crossens have opposed building on local Green Belt land. In a submission to Sefton Council's Local Plan consultation, Cllrs Nigel Ashton, John Dodd and David Rimmer describe the Plan as 'flawed'.

Nigel Ashton says "We have asked Sefton Council to think again on its plans to build on local Green Belt land. The Labour-run Council’s plans would see 538 houses built on land south of Moss Lane, and 120 houses built near Three Pools.

"Much of the land in question is top quality  agricultural land and is liable to flooding. There would be a huge increase in traffic on already busy roads, such as Mill Lane. Questions have also been raised about how difficult it will be to find school places for all the new children who would move into the area."

Local Lib Dem campaigner Jo Barton agrees that the plans should be scrapped. "The Council has not listened to the local community", said Jo. "We do not want these developments. Sefton is desperate to press ahead with the plans regardless of the legitimate concerns of residents.

“Once Green Belt land is gone it's gone forever. We must stop these developments before it’s too late"

Here is the Lib Dem councillors submission:

Lib Dems fight to protect Churchtown's Green Belt

We've put a special leaflet out to the households in the Churchtown area most affected by Sefton Council's plans to build on the Green Belt.

 

Green Belt under threat

Sefton Council’s Local Plan took a step closer last night when the Council's Scrutiny Committee agreed to endorse the controversial “Preferred Option Document” by the narrowest of margins.

Labour councillors on the Committee outvoted Liberal Democrats and Conservatives by 5 votes to 4 to send the Document, which proposes the building of thousands of houses on Green Belt land, through to the Planning Committee with no amendments.

Cllr John Dodd points out land under threat near Bankfield Lane

The Local Plan proposes the building of over 500 houses to the South of Moss Lane in Churchtown, on land surrounding the Old Links Golf Course, and 100 houses on land off Bankfield Lane, near Three Pools. These areas are currently high quality agricultural land in the Green Belt and are liable to flooding.

The Lib Dem councillors representing this area continue to strongly oppose building on Green Belt sites. Cllr Nigel Ashton said "We put up a very strong case against these proposals last time they came forward, two years ago. We will continue to fight against building on our precious Green Belt".  

The Local Plan Document will be considered by all councillors at a full meeting of the Council at Southport Town Hall on 27th June. The Plan will then go out to public consultation for three months, and is finally due to come into force in 2015.

John Pugh MP campaigns to save Southport Town Centre

John Pugh has vowed to campaign against any proposals by Sainsbury's to move out of Southport Town Centre, warning that such a move would have "dire consequences" for the town.

The Visiter newspaper has revealed draft plans for a huge Sainsbury's store at Meols Cop Retail Park. Sainsbury's is expected to apply for planning permission for the scheme,  which would be built on the current Homebase site, next month.

While there is no suggestion that Sainsbury's intends to pull out of its current Lord Street store, it is feared that the proposed 'out of town' store would pull shoppers away from Southport town centre, threatening the viability of remaining shops.

MP John Pugh has also stated he is not against the expansion of Sainsbury's, but that it should be encouraged to take place in the town centre, citing the former Morrisons store on Tulketh Street as a potential site. John Pugh has launched an online petition against the Sainsbury's plans, which you can sign here.