13 November 2008, 098/259
West Lancs joins forces with other
local councils
West Lancs District Council is preparing to
make a strong case for Skelmersdale at the Public Inquiry into
controversial plans to build a massive new retail development at
Kirkby, along with a new Everton football stadium, hotel and
offices.
The Council has joined forces with other local
councils to jointly fight the proposals to build one of the largest
retail centres in the north west. West Lancs, Sefton, St Helens and
Lancashire County Council are working together at the Inquiry and
will argue that it would seriously damage other towns in the region
by drawing away both shoppers and commercial investment.
In addition, the case for Skelmersdale will be
strongly supported by regeneration specialists St Modwen Properties
PLC, who worked with the Council to draw up exciting proposals to
build a new town centre for Skelmersdale.
The scale of the Kirkby scheme, if it goes
ahead, will undermine the regeneration plans for Skelmersdale in
terms of its viability as a retail centre. For this reason,
further work on preparing plans for the Skelmersdale town centre
regeneration scheme will slow significantly until a decision is
made on whether the Kirkby scheme will go ahead. The
Secretary of State is expected to announce the decision in
spring/summer 2009.
It is stressed that the plans to build a new
college in Skelmersdale will not be affected.
Councillor Martin Forshaw, Portfolio Holder
for Planning for West Lancs District Council, said: “This enormous
over-development is totally out of proportion for the needs of
Kirkby. If it goes ahead, it will undermine our carefully developed
plans to build a new heart for Skelmersdale. The huge new retail
centre proposed at Kirkby, which in our view is contrary to
national, regional and local planning policies, would attract
investment away from other centres and would soak up spending power
in the region.
“The Council is preparing to make the
strongest possible case for Skelmersdale and we are working closely
with St Modwen and also with other local councils because if this
huge complex is built it will damage not just Skelmersdale but town
centres in other areas.”
Councillor Adrian Owens, portfolio holder for
regeneration, said: “In the current circumstances the Council and
its partners are taking a prudent and pragmatic approach which is
in the best interests of Skelmersdale and West Lancashire as a
whole. Until we know whether the Kirkby scheme will win approval
from the Government, further work on the Skelmersdale scheme will
of necessity slow significantly. This is inescapable."
Michelle Taylor regional director of St
Modwen Properties PLC, said: “If the Kirkby development goes ahead
it will have a detrimental effect on many of the surrounding towns
in its vicinity, including Skelmersdale. This will undermine the
deliverability of our scheme and we are working closely with West
Lancs District Council to put together a case for the inquiry.”
Earlier this summer, West Lancashire District
Council adopted a masterplan, put together after extensive
consultation with local people, setting out the proposed shape of
the new town centre for Skelmersdale over the next 10 to 15 years.
This includes a new high street, more shops, another supermarket, a
new leisure centre, community facilities, improvements to the Tawd
Valley, and housing. The masterplan also shows the clearance and
redevelopment of around 200 houses and flats at Findon and Firbeck
for new homes. The tenants and homeowners have been consulted on a
package of compensation measures that will be offered if planning
permission for development is granted.
West Lancs District Council appreciates the
concerns of Findon and Firbeck residents about the progress of the
scheme and has written to residents to inform
them that further progress on the Skelmersdale town centre
regeneration will slow significantly until the result of the
Kirkby public inquiry is announced. In the meantime, the
Council is assuring tenants that it will continue to maintain the
estate and will not allow it to fall into decline.
Further information
The Public Inquiry into the proposals for
Kirkby starts on 18 November and is expected to last until early
2009. The Secretary of State's decision is likely to be announced
in May or June 2009. The Inquiry will be held in Kirkby and
administered by Knowsley MBC. Full details are available on the
Knowsley Council website at www.knowsley.gov.uk (external
link).
Related information