A Future For Newton Le Willows

St Helens SCPC plan includes Parkside

2009-02-05T10:18:00.000-08:00

Despite the continuing ominous silence from the Council's leadership on the investment at Parkside the Council's new draft SCPC document 2008/2025 does include support for a strategic rail freight interchange at Parkside.

The St.Helens Together Local Strategic Partnership Community Plan 2008-2018 is a year old and has been refreshed for 2009/10 to ensure it remains up to date after a busy year of development. The Sustainable Community Plan is an important document for St.Helens as it states the ambitions for the future of the Borough and what we are doing to achieve them. Read the document here

Survivors

2008-12-05T14:14:00.000-08:00

How apt that a TV company chose Newton to film a scene for a fictional production to give viewers the impression of a post holocaust town with few survivors and utter dereliction. The tragedy is the TV company in question didn't have to change anything, they simply let the films roll and showed a picture of bleak isolation. Yet, the objectors and the council seem hell bent on 'saving' Newton from jobs and investment.

If TV companies recognise Newton as a crumbling town lacking in developmemt and investment you'd imagine the local council would be doing everything possible to bring in investment.

MP urges Parkside support

2008-10-09T10:57:00.000-07:00

ST HELENS North MP Dave Watts this week called on rival politicians to unite behind the mega Parkside rail freight plans which he believes can counter the threat of rising unemployment in the future.

The Labour MP says that as signs of the economic downturn begin to bite across the town through company closures and job losses, securing the freight terminal plans becomes “more important than party politics”.

Developers reckon the scheme could create up to 10,000 new jobs from 2012 if they secure planning approval from St Helens Council and the Government for the giant rail freight distribution centre at the former Parkside colliery site in Newton-le-Willows.

http://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/3741189.Parkside_jobs_more_important_than_party_politics_says_MP/

Latest Parkside 2010 newsletter

2008-07-10T17:53:00.000-07:00

You can read the latest PDF version of Parkside 2010 news letter by clicking here

You need acrobat reader to view the newsletter.You can download a free copy if needed here

Earlestown Arches

2008-07-06T18:27:00.001-07:00

Parkside 2010 supporters

2008-07-06T18:26:00.001-07:00

The Parkside 2010 Alliance has been set up to demonstrate support for the proposals for the Parkside strategic rail freight interchange. It brings together individuals and organisations from the local community and wider area, as well as regional and national organisations.

Those in opposition to the Parkside proposals have made themselves well known locally, but the voices of those in support has been much less well heard. There is a great deal of support both locally and nationally, and Parkside 2010 is crucial in giving these supporters a voice.

Parkside 2010 is supported by organisations which represent the local community and businesses, environmental campaigners and charities, the regional branches of many major trade unions, the rail freight industry, training and skills providers, as well as local Members of Parliament and local residents.

The following provides an overview of just some of the organisations and individuals that have joined Parkside 2010 in the last few months and what these groups are saying about the proposals.

The Rail Freight Group

“The RFG firmly believes that the development of the Parkside SRFI will make a significant contribution to the transfer of freight from road to rail, an objective that is shared by the Government and all major opposition parties.”
(Lord Berkeley, Chair of Rail Freight Group)

Warrington Chamber of Commerce

“This proposal offers a unique opportunity to both for the local area and region. There is a real need to move freight from roads to rail and rail terminals are an essential part of this process, which will help to reduce traffic movements and congestion on motorways and significantly reduce carbon emissions”
(Colin Daniels, Chief Executive, Warrington Chamber of Commerce)

Numerous local residents

“Don't be taken in by the opposition - this area desperately needs jobs. Not just now, but for when our children grow up."
(Alex Whamond, Local Resident)

Newton le Willows Anglers Association

"Job numbers of this quantity and quality are not found these days so on the strength of this alone the project is of real benefit to the town. But there will also be a new country park, and with this a biodiversity action plan to create new natural habitats, with water courses and features. I have children and grandchildren who would take great benefits from this part of the development, this would eventually become heritage for the people of Newton-le-Willows."
(Edward Marcroft, Newton-le-Willows Angers Association)

CBI North West

“The creation of an estimated 10,000 new jobs for the region, the removal of 100,000,000 HGV miles from the UK's roads and the creation of over 90 hectares of land dedicated to landscape, amenity and biodiversity hits so many of the criteria for building a sustainable economy in the region that it is essential that the proposal is supported and is successful. The vision for Parkside 2010 is one that brings much need prosperity not only to the immediate area, but to the region as a whole.”
(Damian Waters Regional Director CBI North West)

Freightliner Ltd

“Freightliner Limited is the major rail carrier of deepsea containers within the UK. It currently handles in excess of 660,000 container moves a year, of which in excess of 250,000 move through sites in the North-West region.

UK deepsea container growth is expected to grow by 6% a year and gauge enhancement schemes will see a larger percentage of the market move by rail. Whilst existing sites have some room for growth they will be unable to meet the entire demand and therefore new sites will be required.

The Parkside development meets all the criteria required by Freightliner Ltd to handle business growth. It has direct access from the main-line for both diesel and electric hauled locomotives, is adjacent to the West Coast Main Line and is cleared to W10 gauge (which allows carriage of 9’6’’ high containers). It is also well placed for road access to the motorway system, to enable swift delivery to the end-user.

Parkside is a first-class development of which Freightliner will be proud to include within its UK terminal offering.”
(Keith Gray, Business Planning Director, Freightliner Ltd)

UNITE

“The case for Parkside SRFI is made each day on our evermore congested roads, the transfer of freight from road to rail and the creation of much needed jobs in an area where employment opportunities in traditional industries have dramatically reduced must be supported.”
(Bob Rixham, UNITE Amicus section, Lead Industrial Officer - Railways, Buses & Ferries)

Railfuture North West

“Railfuture North West supports the Parkside 2010 proposals because we support the transfer of freight from road to rail to improve the environment, to increase the use of the rail network and to reduce the number of casualties on the roads. Many people are intimidated by heavy lorries and the less of them that we have the better.”
(Andrew Macfarlane, Railfuture North West)

English, Welsh and Scottish Railway Ltd

“The Eddington and Stern reports, published towards the end of 2006, reinforced the importance of rail freight. Eddington identified the importance of transport infrastructure to the UK economy, while the Stern report focused on reducing the carbon footprint of the UK. The emissions and carbon dioxide produced by rail freight is ten times lower than produced by road and at a time of considerable concern about climate change, rail freight is the transport mode of the future. That is why Parkside is crucial. It allows more freight to be moved from road to rail, reducing the size of transport’s carbon footprint, and also has the added benefit of bringing jobs and investment to the local area.”
(Tim Robinson, General Manager Market Development, EWS)

English, Welsh and Scottish Railway Ltd
The plans for Parkside have the potential to provide an additional boost for the local economy through the demand for skilled and unskilled employees that it will create. Logistics College North West can support local people to fill these roles through its various training programmes. The interchange will also play a vital role in removing significant amounts of freight from our roads. This has tremendous environmental as well as economic benefits.”
Steve Kelsey, representing Logistics College North West (LCNW)

Local residents

“I support the plan for the rail freight terminal. This is a great opportunity to bring extra jobs to this area of the North West and also assist in moving more freight by rail instead of road.”
Brian Litherland (local resident)

“I would like to add my full support to the development of the old Parkside site into a rail freight terminal. I would like to see more industry brought back to the area of Newton-le-Willows, which after all, was right at the centre of the industrial revolution. I have 4 children who will all ultimately benefit from more jobs in this great area of ours.”
Tom Holding (local resident)

“This project is just what Newton needs. Most of the local industry has closed down and this will give a boost to the area and those seeking employment as well as providing parkland in place of a derelict eyesore.”
Graham Barton (local resident)“

Cheshire Transport 2000

Direct Rail Services Ltd

ASLEF

RMT North West

Freight on Rail

Den Dover MEP

Dave Watts MP

Lord Evans of Parkside

Parkside Objectors Get A Taste Of Reality

2008-07-04T08:36:00.000-07:00

As anyone could have predicted the objectors responded to the letter supporting Astral's plans for Parkside in the Star a couple of weeks back. It looks like residents have woken up to the issue judging by the comments from registered users in response to the objector's letter; here's a selection...

BigCollier, Newton-Le-Willows says...
12:43pm Fri 4 Jul 08

you can forget about talking sense into any of the nimbys they are a lost cause.Believe me I put their propaganda straight into the bin when it gets shoved through my letterbox.Like the politicians who oppose this and ALL previous parkside schemes they have no answers when you ask them how they intend to replace our lost jobs in Newton.The place is falling down around our ears,semi derelict and dirty and all the nimbys care about is keeping jobs and money OUT!! With Earlestown town hall about to close the council may as well put "Newton now closed" signs up at our borders.
If our hamfisted council are intent on playing politics with this potential investment by passing responsibility to the government they should be aware it will be a Tory minister deciding if we get these jobs or not.That's right, the same Tories who destroyed virtually all our industry single handed.How ironic.

This useless council needs to get its finger out and do something useful for once.Support jobs and a future for our town!!!

RachS, St Helens says...
9:15am Fri 4 Jul 08

I'm finding it quite difficult to believe that St Helens as a borough, with its history of massive job losses over the past quarter of a century, is not 100% behind any plan to bring in new jobs.Everyone understands the need to expand rail freight, we need dozens of new rail freight facilities otherwise or roads will soon be gridlocked. It's exactly because of the destruction of our manufacturing base that we need to improve our transport links with europe, goods coming from Britain take longer to reach the rest of europe making us less competitive, better rail freight links will help even up the odds in our favour.

What's the point in attempting to attract new business to our area if we prove our lack of ambition by not supporting this investment?What's the point of training our young people for employment if we are prepared to reject thousands of jobs? How can we be serious about tackling poverty and disadvantage if we reject regeneration to replace our lost industry?

I've read the plans, I see nothing in there that equals the armageddon I keep reading about from the protesters.Taking millions of HGV miles off the road, inreasing our attractiveness to new business, making it easier for existing business to compete, making thousands of new jobs available to local people (remember, we ALL pay for unemployment) and the creation of a large new and accessible country side park. Most other boroughs would think we were mad. As far as I'm concerned our Councillors should be marching in the streets demanding the facility opens tomorrow.Yes to a new stadium and no to new jobs? I like rugby league but it doesn't pay the bills for most St Helens folk, nor does it offer a future to many people who can't see one. I'd urge everyone to get behind these plans before we lose another chance to bring our area into the 21st century.

Rach

DSMITHY, Haydock says...
4:41am Fri 4 Jul 08

Just an introduction to reality to the two people who think warehousing jobs are not real jobs and not wanted by local people.My 21 year old son spent 2 years at college due to difficulty finding work, he recently applied for a job as a local warehouse operative, along with 29 other people applying for the same job.Welcome to the real world!!

While you bemoan the loss of manufacturing jobs to other countries people still have to live and eat here and now.The dole pay £50 per week for an unemployed single adult, a 40 hour minimum wage job pays around £250 per week.How dare you sit in judgement of what sort of job and money people will work for when you know full well there will be no alternative for many people.If you haven't lived it I suggest you keep your opinions to yourselves.You obviously have your own reasons for opposing this development and the jobs that will be created-probably something to do with a misguided view that it will adversely affect house prices.I'd have more respect for your opinions if you were just honest about that and ceased with the pseudo concerns about the quality of jobs.

I fully support the proposals and when it comes to the crunch I'm hoping the whole borough lets those in power know these jobs are needed.

BillMitch, Earlestown says...
7:56pm Thu 3 Jul 08

Here they come, the nimby hordes hell bent on stopping every chance Newton has for development. It makes me laugh hen the nimbys start demanding what sort of development and jobs they want on the site.They don't own the site. Do they ask the people who live near their employment if they mind their works premises being there? Of course not.
Many, many people need exactly the sort of jobs that will be created at Parkside, skilled and unskilled, part time and full time, warehousing and order picking.Being closer to faster movement of good will encourage companies to come here.It makes my blood boil seeing the former mining communities being held over a barrell by narrow sighted nimbyism.No wonder the government are looking to take the politics out of these developments by changing the planning laws.We'd still be living in caves if it was down to this lot.

PM, Newton says...
4:04pm Thu 3 Jul 08

Indeed the fight must go on.The fight to ensure the Parkside scheme goes ahead.A third of the site will be a country park so all this nonsense about the scale of the development is moot, currently no one has access to the site.And I notice the nimbys are now demanding "skilled jobs only" in Newton Le Willows.What arrogance to 'demand'the sort of jobs people need or want. This is just further evidence that it is all about nimbyism and placing every obstacle possible in the way of jobs and development.

St Helens Star letter nails it...

2008-06-20T10:35:00.000-07:00

A letter in today's St Helens Star utterly nails the Parkside issue....

STAR LETTER: Why we all need to push for Parkside

10:26am Thursday 19th June 2008

Comments (1)

By Reader letter »

WHILE I’m delighted the development of the former Parkside colliery site was an issue in the recent local elections the inevitable downside was a further spate of 'nimby’ propaganda from those opposed to the development. The arguments range from HGVs on local roads, saving the greenbelt and questions about the number of jobs created by the development.

The objectors would have us believe that HGVs will be exiting the motorway before taking a leisurely tour through the traffic lights and speed bumps of Newton-le-Willows before rejoining the motorway to enter the Parkside site via a specially built entrance on the M6.

I’ve heard of traffic taking a short cut but it defies logic to try and pretend HGVs will add several miles to their journey touring the local backstreets for the sheer fun of it. Then we have the greenbelt argument. The land earmarked for development is currently inaccessible to the public.

More than 225 acres of the land, over 30 per cent of site, will be dedicated to a new countryside park including woodlands, lakes, wild open space, and managed parkland. This will open space for local people rather the private farmland.

The countryside park will be planned with local residents, community groups and schools in mind. Along with the thousands of new jobs there will be related training provision, working with local education providers and job centres to ensure local people benefit from these new job opportunities.

The jobs available will include train drivers, signal staff, warehousing, security, administration, retail and site maintenance. There will also be provision for a free bus service to take workers from the local train station to the site.

This important development will inject £200million into the local economy every year, not only providing long term employment but putting money into people’s pockets to spend in local shops and the local service sector.

Does anyone doubt Newton’s shops and town centre needs the money? Most of the shops in the town centre are either shuttered, derelict or fast food shops and Newton is fast becoming an economic ghost town. Even in the wider St Helens area we are still leaking full time jobs with little being done to replace them.

I have no problems with Councillor Suzanne Knight backing the 'nimby’ campaign. I do have a problem with Cllr Knight serving as Deputy Leader of the Council while opposing thousands of jobs and massive new investment into our area.

Such a senior position comes with a duty to promote the interests of the whole borough. What sort of message does it send out to potential investors in our borough when the Deputy Leader of the Council is opposed to such a huge opportunity to regenerate our area?

I would also urge Cllr Brian Spencer to stop sitting on the fence and get behind the scheme. He quite rightly makes supportive comments about the Saints Stadium proposals so let’s have the same backing when it comes to jobs and investment for our borough.

In addition I would just remind Cllrs Spencer and Knight that it is their own Liberal Democrat Party’s policy to build rail freight interchanges to help ease congestion and combat pollution.

They can’t duck their responsibility on this vital issue any longer and it’s time for the prevarication to end and the leadership to start. The scheme needs the Council’s support and full backing to ensure these jobs aren’t lost to our area forever.

What it's all about

2008-06-03T21:16:00.001-07:00

An interesting article below, the Council's previous City Growth Strategy highlighted the Parkside plans as being instrumental in the areas regeneration.I wonder if the new one says likewise....

Private investment cash finds its way to St Helens for regeneration

Mar 19 2008 by Alex Turner, Liverpool Daily Post

Alex Turner looks at how an influx of new money is rebuilding the former industrial town

LIVERPOOL may be bustling with billions of pounds worth of new private sector funded property regeneration schemes, but ten miles down the road St Helens has been struggling to do the same.

The town, famous for its glass and mining industries, has not seen any significant private sector investment cash in recent years. Instead it has had to rely on public funds to kick-start regeneration schemes. But all that could be about to change.

Pilkington, the glassmakers that began life as St Helens Crown Glass Company in 1826, employed 16,700 people in 1970.

By 1992 two-thirds of the workforce, more than 10,000 people, had gone. Two years later, another 1,000 jobs had been shed and now less than 2,000 people are employed by the now Japanese-owned company’s home town operations.

The end of the coal mining industry was no less dramatic. At 7pm on October 24, 1992, Parkside Colliery at Newton-le-Willows ceased production. It finished the mining careers of 720 people, but it was also the last pit in the once-huge Lancashire coalfield that had employed tens of thousands of people.

Over the last decade the rugby club’s fortunes in dominating the domestic game have gone against the grain, but it is now increasingly finding its fortunes tied in with those of the town.

It’s no surprise then that one of the key private sector developments now on the drawing board is the St Helens Stadium plan. It is certainly the project that grabs the headlines. Another big private scheme is Parkside Strategic Rail Freight Interchange, being developed by Astral Developments.

But the major private sector investments are only just entering the planning process and to date a lot of the regeneration that has taken place in the town is heavily subsidised by the public sector.

The 2,800 sq m development of Atlas House, on the site of the former headquarters of St Helens Glass, will house 300 staff from the Children and Young People’s department, while the £6m Enterprise Centre unveiled last month which will house St Helens Chamber of Commerce and start-up businesses is being funded by the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative, Europe’s Objective One programme and St Helens Chamber. The £63m redevelopment of St Helens College is largely funded by the Learning and Skills Council. But they all feed into the strategy of laying the foundations for economic growth.

Bob Hepworth, the council’s director of regeneration and urban housing, said: “A lot of the regeneration to date has been residential and taken place on former colliery sites.

“Housing growth has been key, we have delivered housing-led regeneration.

“We have submitted St Helens in partnership with Halton and Warrington as a place for housing growth.”

The development of three urban villages, Lea Green, Moss Nook and Vulcan, will create 2,400 new homes before 2016.

He said: “The housing theme is so important to us, we are the only Merseyside borough growing in population.”

The average selling price is £135,100, compared with a Merseyside average of £149,400 or £222,100 in Cheshire. The changes in the borough ar e not just about delivering places to live, but places where people would choose to live, and not just for cheap housing.

And attracting a good workforce can be important for the future.

St Helens Council’s head of regeneration, Aidan Manley, said: “I think the challenge over the next 10 years will be growing the knowledge economy. Because we are coming from a lower base, we have to work that bit harder.”

HOWEVER one unavoidable problem is a hangover from the glass and coal industries that continues among the workforce, of believing they are owed a living by the town.

Today more than a quarter, 26.2%, are classed as economically inactive compared with a national average of 21.4%.

Incapacity benefit claimants make up 11.7% of the workforce-age population, while the national average is 7%, and in St Helens proportionally more people have been claiming for more than five years.

The UK generally is trying to grow its knowledge economy, but St Helens is not in the vanguard of that particular employment revolution - not yet, anyway, although there are positive signs.

GCSE results have improved, and last year St Helens went above the national average for 5 A*-C grades.

And on other measures the town is also improving. It has, for example, moved in a positive direction on the index of multiple deprivation and crime rates are falling. Commercially there are new developments such as Mere Grange, located within a mile of junction 7 of the M62, which will offer 32,000 sq m of office space, while nearby Micklehead Business Village and Haydock’s Empress Park will bring the total to around 40,000 sq m.

Mr Hepworth is confident that companies will find St Helens an attractive proposition.

“My guess is that firms will relocate from Warrington,” he said. “We still don’t have congestion in St Helens and were recently voted by Virgin Money as the North West’s most car-friendly place.

“The town still has a lot to do but it has a lot of ambition. It doesn’t sit still.”

AND in one crucial measure, the town is making huge strides.

Mr Manley said: “One thing that was missing was a seriously high levels of business start-ups. We have invested heavily in that and are now hitting 500 a year. In the past there has been a small number of big employers but in times of recession there is more danger of them closing. A more robust economy will have a larger number of SMEs.”

There are plans to continue nurturing the number of start-ups. The St Helens Enterprise Centre, which is scheduled to open in December, will cater for up to 30 start-ups, while Catapult and Catapult Too are established as hothouses for creative businesses.

Meanwhile the town is developing a ”can do” reputation. Its council has a four-star rating from the Audit Commission and the Chamber of Commerce was voted the best in the country in January.

It is also about to republish its City Growth Strategy in the coming weeks, four years into the 10-year plan. The town was one of four pilot areas chosen to deliver this approach to regeneration, which is driven by the private sector, and is credited with encouraging much of the town’s recent progress.

The council’s economic development manager, John Whaling, said: “The original City Growth Strategy was a 10-year strategy for the economic development of the borough. Its a testament that we are having to review it after 3-4 years because the majority has been achieved or is being achieved.

“There will be 85 projects in the revised strategy. The main themes about business infrastructure, image and aspiration have remained the same but it is the projects that have changed.”

St Helens is not seeking a golden bullet solution to the town’s problems, but is instead focused on developing the individual building blocks of economic stability and success. However this approach doesn’t address the one thing that is very difficult to deliver.

A town that is famous for things it no longer does is in need of something to build its future identity around, otherwise its confidence will become beholden to the vicissitudes of sport.

And from there it is only a drop-kick to becoming another identikit struggling post-industrial Northern town.

For now, though, St Helens is ready for the future while it searches for its 21st-century identity.

Newton Flowers

2008-05-22T17:47:00.000-07:00

Just to brighten things up a bit:

Visit Siobhan Burgess' site

2008-05-22T17:39:00.000-07:00

Siobhan Burgess has an excellent little site about Parkside.You can read it here

Here's a bit below:

Thank you for taking the time to look at my site, as you may see, it is still under development,and will probably be subject to change over the coming weeks and months.

I decided to start this site as an alternative to using my space as a blog for the proposed Freight Distribution centre development at PARKSIDE, in Newton-le-Willows. This is the area which includes the former Parkside Colliery site, which closed over ten years ago, with the loss of many jobs, both in mining and also in local businesses, with the resultant loss of revenue in the town.

We just have to look around the town now to see that something is desperately needed to restore a healthy sense of pride in what we have. I believe that the development at Parkside will provide many local jobs, not just within the distribution centre but also in local industry and shops.

Parkside 2010 site

2008-05-22T17:04:00.000-07:00

The site for Parkside 2010 is now up and running, hopefully as the scheme progresses news updates will be available to keep supporters of the plans up to speed.

Parkside 'war of words'

2008-05-22T16:47:00.000-07:00

I'm sure everyone has now read at least one article relating to the recent war of words which suddenly erupted out of the blue regarding the plans to develop the former Parkside colliery site

Interestingly one of the comments was that Councillors shouldn't just tick government boxes.Well, we can all agree with that.But what if the boxes being ticked are government boxes and boxes as set out by your own party's policy? According to The Liberal Democrats policy document "Towards Carbon Free Transport" they would "build road-rail freight transfer depots". An utterly sensible approach in my opinion.

Referendum?

2008-05-22T16:25:00.000-07:00

With the introduction of a political edge into the Parkside issue during the 2008 local election campaigns it's interesting to note the outcome for what I presume are the pro Parkside development candidates and anti Parkside development candidates- I take "Pro and Anti" to mean either for or against the current plans that are on the table:

Newton 2007
Lib Dem 2003
Labour 613

Newton 2008
Lib Dem 2028 + 25
Labour 605 -8

Earlestown 2007
Labour 1090
Lib Dem 1000

Earlestown 2008
Labour 1242 + 152
Lib Dem 951 - 49

Two councillors vocally opposed to the current Parkside plans in Lowton and Golborne lost their seats. I do not currently know the views of the new councillors on the issue.Looking at the results as a whole I don't particularly see it as a ringing endorsement for the objectors. Although the issue would be better off being non political people can make up their own minds as to the votes cast.

Rail Freight Sucesses

2007-07-09T04:56:00.000-07:00

Some forward thinking local authorities do actually realise the growing importance of rail freight
in attracting new business to an area:News From Widnes and Telford.

Telford Rail Freight Terminal
The Rail Freight terminal is an important project for the Borough which consists of two main parts:
• A core terminal with hard standings for transfer of freight between rail and road• A 22 acre rail-served development site capable of taking a warehouse in excess of 400,000 square feet. This will be marketed to developers and logistics companies.The new rail freight facility in Telford will not only provide existing companies in Telford with an alternative transport choice, but will assist in sustaining existing jobs and creating new jobs by helping to attract new businesses into the region.
There are also environmental benefits associated with switching transportation of products from road to rail.
The terminal is initially expected to handle around 200 - 250,000 tonnes of freight per year and will have the ability to grow easily to handle around 750,000 tonnes per year.
Construction of the rail link has now started with the contractor, Carillon, building the connection to the national rail network. The permanent way work was completed in October 2006.The preparation of the site and construction of the Railfreight Terminal facilities (warehousing and hardstandings) is currently scheduled to begin early in 2007. Clearance of vegetation, erection of fencing and other advance works are scheduled to take place in the latter part of 2006.It is intended that the branchline and the majority of the terminal works (hardstandings and sidings) will be completed by mid 2007, with the construction of the warehousing completed 12 months later.
For more information about this project go to http://www.telford.gov.uk/Environment+and+planning/Planning/Telford+Railfreight+home.htm

Ditton
New Rail Freight Centre’s Green Credentials
A once-contaminated brown field site on the banks of the Mersey has been transformed into a new rail freight distribution centre, creating 1,500 new jobs. The site at Ditton, near Widnes, is the first opened in the UK by Innovis. It is estimated that the centre will take 500,000 tonnes of freight a year from road to rail – equal to 40,000 articulated lorry loads – as well as bring £65m investment to the local area. Innovis are aiming to open a number of such centres across the country. They say the Ditton depot is in line with government policy providing more infrastructure support to ports, with a greater emphasis on rail rather than roads. Rail minister Derek Twigg, who officially opened the facility, said: “This is a great scheme and marvellous news for the north west. All the project partners are to be congratulated on a well-planned and well thought out venture.” Keith Williams, Innovis director, added: “This is our flagship, a new modern hub which represents significant new investment in Britain’s infrastructure - contributing jobs, economic regeneration and an element of sustainability.”
Date: January 24th 2006
http://www.railwaypeople.com/rail-news-articles/new-rail-freight-centre-s-green-credentials-947.html

Planning Reform must include Rail Freight Schemes

2007-07-09T00:40:00.001-07:00

Planning Reform must include Rail Freight Schemes
From The Rail Freight Group

The Government proposals for reform of the planning system must include major rail projects and rail freight interchanges. The Planning White Paper, published on Monday 21 May 2007, sets out significant reforms, but fails to include any rail projects in those proposed categories to be considered by the Infrastructure Planning Commission. Worse still is the suggestion that excluded schemes would be devolved to local authorities.

Proposals for major rail freight interchanges are often required to go through costly planning enquiries, taking many months or years to reach decisions. The strategic national importance of such facilities is often subsumed in debate on local issues. Allowing the Infrastructure Planning Commission to oversee such cases is therefore vital if rail freight is to grow and fulfil its role in reducing carbon emissions from transport.

Similar comments apply to new rail lines that are outside Network Rail’s permitted development powers. These proposed changes should also include reviewing the need for Transport and Works Act applications for rail, as well as the need for Hybrid Bills in the UK Parliament for major rail schemes.

Tony Berkeley commented ‘There is a significant need for new interchanges, particularly in the south east. These are of national importance, since, without them, the Government policy of encouraging freight on rail will be constrained. The current planning process for new rail freight terminals is a major deterrent to development. These reforms offer a great opportunity, but rail projects must be included’

New Report Backs Parkside Site

2007-05-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

New report offers hope to Parkside plan

Wigan today received new hope of a massive jobs boost - developers are bidding to transform the former Parkside pit and surroundings with a £270m scheme for a lorries-on to-trains/warehousing motorway interchange.

Astral claim the project will eventually employ more than 7,000 people and remove half a million HGV movements a year from the North West's motorways, as well as boosting local industry.They argue that there are special circumstances to allow this major industrial development in the green belt.Now the site has been named as one of the top locations in the north of England by an influential body.The independent Panel examining the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS), which determines the planning framework by which local authorities have to operate, has published its findings following extensive public consultation across the North West.This follows a series of Examination in Public hearings between October and February.In its policy recommendations, the panel states that Parkside would have considerable advantages as a location for an inter-modal freight interchange.

It goes on to say that a freight interchange would "lie between the major centres of production and consumption on Merseyside and in Greater Manchester".It also states that any change in the green belt status for the area should only be made for the development of a rail freight interchange. Secretary of State for the Environment, David Milliband, will now consider the report, together with representations, aiming to publish a draft RSS this autumn, with the final plan expected to be published in early next year.That will then free the application to go before councillors.

Wigan Metro has already agreed to support the project in principle on condition that a "minimum use" rail agreement is built into any planning permission.Parliamentary spokesman for the project, Dave Watts MP, a leading member of pro-development pressure group Parkside 2010 which has been partially funded by developers Astral, said: "The panel's findings are great news for local people in terms of jobs and for all those who support the transfer of freight on to rail."The endorsement they have given to rail freight in the local area confirms what most of us have been saying all along – that Parkside is the best available option for developing a rail freight terminal in the region."
http://www.wigantoday.net/wigan-news?articleid=2892326

Dave Watts' letter:St Helens Star 25/4/07

2007-04-27T04:46:00.000-07:00

Parkside is a different kettle of fish

I WOULD like to respond to recent comments made by Brendan Page and Cory's regarding the Lyme Wood Pit recycling plant and the proposed Rail Freight Terminal at Parkside .
I would firmly reject Mr Page's suggestion that I should treat both the Parkside and Cory's applications in exactly the same way regardless of the individual merits of both schemes. I would also like to reject the recent comments made by a member of the Cory management who describes local residents of being Nimbys' after they opposed his company's planning application.

It is surely right that local people should judge each planning application on its own individual merits and that they should consider both the benefits and problems that will be created if a planning application is granted.

The Cory development goes against the town's planning policies and there are no overall benefits or reasons which would justify its location on this site.

The Parkside Rail interchange however is uniquely placed to provide the best road rail interchange facility in the region and it will take thousands of HGV vehicles off our roads each year. The development will also create up to 10,000 new jobs and a new country public park offering leisure facilities such as fishing, bike riding and other leisure activities.

Mr Page continues to make claims questioning the number of new jobs and the likely effect that the development will have on the area. If such claims were correct, the scheme would fail to meet any of the many national, European and international standards for transport and health or planning criteria.

While Mr Page has every right to oppose the Parkside development he would be wise not to build his case on exaggerated claims that will not stand up to any independent examination.
Finally, the recent closure of St Helens Glass with the loss of over 300 jobs is a timely reminder that our future economic future will depend on our ability to generate new jobs and opportunities for our community.

DAVE Watts MP St Helens North

http://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/yoursay/yourletters/display.var.1356541.0.0.php

MPs say 'yes' to rail freight

2007-04-11T05:26:00.000-07:00

MPs SAY "YES" TO FREIGHT BY RAIL

An overwhelming majority of Members of Parliament are in favour of shifting freight to rail, a recent survey shows.

When presented with the statement, "the railway network should be used more to transport freight," 96 per cent of MPs agreed. Only 1% disagreed with the statement.
The firmest support in Westminster was from Liberal Democrat MPs, of whom 74% strongly agreed with the statement. Not one MP from any party expressed a strong disagreement.
The survey was commissioned by Parkside 2010, an alliance of local and national representatives from charities, community and business groups who are backing plans to develop a new rail freight interchange on the site of the former Parkside Colliery in Newton-le-Willows.

One of the chief aims of the interchange is to help bring down carbon emissions, by getting more freight delivered by rail throughout the country, reducing congestion on our roads.
The new interchange will also provide a massive boost to the local economy, create 10,000 new jobs, and enhance the local environment through a new Countryside Park.
Lord Evans of Parkside, who chairs the Alliance, said:
"This survey confirms that there is huge support in Westminster for moving freight onto rail.
"The plans for Parkside are well thought out, and are in one of only a few areas in the country that can deliver this. The Alliance is calling on everybody to now get behind the proposals which will create jobs and improve the local environment."

Parkside 2010 launched

2007-04-11T05:24:00.000-07:00

Parkside Supporters Unite to Launch Alliance

Parkside 2010, an alliance of groups and individuals who are backing the plans for a new Strategic Rail Freight Interchange in the North West, launched with a bang last week.
The launch took place through events in Parliament and the local area, giving supporters a chance to find out more about the exciting plans for Parkside.

Parkside 2010 members include national, regional and local groups from the rail freight industry, trade unions, the local community, Parliamentarians and business groups.
The proposals are for a new rail freight interchange on the site of the former Parkside Colliery, near St Helens and Warrington. The development will help to deliver a key environmental objective in shifting freight from road to rail, helping reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Without the delivery of infrastructure such as new terminals, this objective will not be realised.

The interchange will also give a crucial boost to the North West economy, attracting investment to the local area and creating an estimated 10,000 jobs. The proposals include improved public transport links, a new motorway junction and more than 225 acres of improved open space including a new Countryside Park.

Lord Evans, chair of Parkside 2010 said:
"The benefits of Parkside from a local and national perspective are clear, and have a great deal of support across the board. The Alliance is crucial in giving these supporters a voice.
"It also provides a means for people to find out more and show their support without fear of getting caught up in the highly polarised local debate that inevitably comes with significant projects like Parkside.
"The attendance and enthusiastic discussion at both events shows that there is not only cross party support in Westminster, but support among the local community too. Most local people welcome investment in the area, new jobs and training and open space which families, anglers, horse riders, and schools will be able to use."

Referring to the proposals and local opposition to the plans, Dave Watts MP said:
"If we are serious about transferring tens of thousands of HGV vehicles off our roads and on to rail each year, we will need to build the infrastructure required to achieve that aim.
I believe that the Parkside site is uniquely placed to provide the best rail freight centre in the North West.

I also welcome the thousands of new jobs, the improved public transport network, and the country park that will be created if the scheme goes ahead.
While I am aware that some residents oppose this proposed development, it is clear from the local launch that many other local residents are now supporting the project."

Parkside 2010 Alliance brings together supporters who recognise the benefits of the Parkside proposal. The alliance will help to generate constructive debate on the proposals and rail freight more generally.
Alliance members include:
CBI North West
Direct Rail Services Ltd
English, Welsh, Scottish Railways
Freightliner
Logistics College North West
The Rail Freight Group
ASLEF
Newton le Willows Anglers Association
RMT North West
Freight on Rail
Warrington Chamber of Commerce

Parkside 2010 will have wide ranging benefits at the local, regional and national levels. The alliance will work to ensure these benefits – environment, social and economic at all levels are communicated to political and parliamentary audiences and all stakeholders.
The alliance is chaired by Lord Evans of Parkside.

Astral Developments have submitted planning applications for the development of a strategic rail freight interchange on the site of the former Parkside colliery and surrounding area to St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council and Warrington Borough Council. Astral Developments is a developer of major distribution facilities in the UK.

Parkside Colliery

2007-04-11T00:21:00.000-07:00

The need to replace the hundreds of jobs lost when Parkside Colliery closed is as important now as it was in 1993. Since the closure of Parkside Newton has leaked jobs like a sieve with little sign of any large scale long term investment to replace those jobs-until now. Read about the closure of Parkside Colliery and the damage it did to our community at the link below.

http://www.healeyhero.co.uk/rescue/com/ian/page_9.htm

Freight On Rail

2007-04-10T20:28:00.000-07:00

Freight on Rail is a campaign that aims to get more goods off road and onto rail as an important step in developing a more sustainable distribution system. The campaign is a partnership between the rail-freight industry, the rail unions and Transport 2000. It works to promote the economic, social and environmental benefits of rail-freight both nationally and locally.

Most of us agree that moving more freight off our over-crowded roads and onto the railways has to be a good thing. There will always be a need for lorries for short-distance and local distribution but much more long-distance freight could go by rail. Converting this general desire into reality needs concerted action. Freight on Rail was set up to facilitate this shift from road to rail by increasing understanding of the economic, social and environmental benefits of rail-freight and by working with local and regional government to improve facilities. Freight on Rail is a partnership between the main transport trade unions (TSSA, Aslef and the RMT), freight operating companies (EWS and Freightliner), Network Rail, the Rail Freight Group and Transport 2000.

Rail-freight offers a real alternative to traffic congestion, which already costs business around £20 billion a year. The situation is only going to get worse with forecasts suggesting that traffic could rise by a third over the next ten years with lorry and van traffic set to grow by 25 per cent and 44 per cent, respectively. In recognition of the need to solve UK transport problems and the resulting social and environmental damage, the Government has pledged £3.4 billion over ten years to achieve an increase in rail-freight of 80 per cent. One average freight train can remove 50 HGVs from the road.

Rail-freight commands almost 12 per cent of the UK surface freight market and is a growing industry with over 3 per cent annual growth, and 51 per cent growth since 1994. Rail is now being used for time-sensitive goods such as premium parcels and food, in addition to the traditional bulk markets and manufactured goods such as Jaguar cars. Information published on Freight on Rail’s website, shows that rail can also be a practical choice for moving freight over short distances and is suitable for non-bulk cargoes.

Rail-freight removes over 300 million lorry miles from the roads every year. Last year rail moved 43.5 million tonnes of goods to and from the UK’s ports, 65 per cent of intercontinental trade to the north of England travels by rail, and over 250,000 containers a year go by rail to and from Felixstowe docks.

Further evidence of the economic importance of rail-freight is that coal produced 32 per cent of our electricity in 2002, and 85 per cent of it moved by rail. Some 85 per cent of stone used for construction in London goes by rail and nationally a fifth of all building materials are delivered by rail, as are around half of Corus deliveries. Three new household name retailers, Asda, Argos and Superdrug, have joined rail’s list of customers within the past year, a list that already includes Safeway, Marks and Spencer, Danone, Whirlpool, Rosebys, DFS and Courts.
In the run-up to the Spending Review, which concluded in July 2004, the rail-freight industry urged the Government to recognise rail-freight’s crucial role in the economy. Government forecasts say road congestion will get worse, even if the current Ten Year Plan fully delivers.

The question is, can road keep on delivering with the extended and less predictable journey times caused by road congestion? The EU Working Time Directive which is estimated to require another 21,000 drivers and cost the industry an extra £1 billion per annum, taxation by distance and tougher emissions regulations will all significantly impact on road-freight viability.
Local and regional government have a vital role to play in setting a framework through local and regional transport plans and the planning process to encourage businesses to shift to rail. So, Freight on Rail aims to provide help with planning a rail-freight strategy, accessing grants and dealing with technical matters.

http://www.transport2000.org.uk/campaigns/maintainCampaigns.asp?CampaignID=4

Some Parkside Facts

2007-04-09T20:52:00.001-07:00

Some facts about the proposed plans for Parkside..

A new motorway junction 22 will be built, providing a direct link to the motorway for all Parkside traffic.

The A49/A579 will now 'free flow' over the motorway between the Winwick by pass and Lowton, allowing local traffic to by pass Parkside.

Additional land in an extended countryside park.

Over 25 new water features of all scales for wildlife.

Over 300'000 new trees and shrubs.

A visitor Centre.

More than 6 miles of footways and cycleways.

Selected ponds dedicated for angling.

All Parkside HGV traffic restricted to accessing the site via the motorway and will not be permitted to use any other access.

Up to 10'000 jobs created.

Training initiatives provided with local job centres and colleges to ensure local people seeking work are equipped with the appropriate skills.

Extra bus routes for those working at the site.

The up-grading of Newton Le Willows Station.

Astral's Parkside Newsletter

2007-04-09T19:56:00.000-07:00

Read the facts about the plans for Parkside at the link.Allow time to load...

http://www.astraldevelopments.co.uk/ParksideNewsletter.pdf

Railfreight Operations Break Records at Daventry

2007-04-09T19:26:00.000-07:00

The message? Railfreight-if you build it they will come...this is the investment we may lose out on, just as railfreight starts to grow..

Daventry International Railport, now operated by Exel, reports that 2004 will be its busiest year since operations began in 1997. Full-year volumes handled are expected to be nearly double those of two years ago.The Railport’s success heralds a resurgence of interest in railfreight in the UK. It also follows the addition of new services over the past year or so, including domestic routes to and from Felixstowe and Scotland – which are proving popular with customers. Managers at the Railport, located at the Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal (DIRFT) Logistics Park at Crick in the English Midlands, predict that full-year volumes for 2004 will be 57,500 units (i.e. containers and swap-bodies handled), compared with 29,631 in 2002 and just 12,978 in 1998. Last week a record 1633 units were handled, compared with fewer than 600-a-week just 18 months ago.
DIRFT Logistics 2

What the Parties say...

2007-04-09T01:43:00.000-07:00

Lib Dems
"We would develop rail freight interchanges to encourage growth in rail freight and reduce lorry loads on the road."
http://www.libdems.org.uk/transport/issues/green-transport.html

Conservatives
"A green transport policy needs rail freight to continue to grow, and to attract goods off our roads. "
Chris Grayling
Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
http://www.conservatives.com/tile.do?def=people.person.page&personID=4932

Greens
"Give higher priority to railways and introduce new lines
Expand the rail freight network"
http://216.239.59.104/custom?q=cache:YWwPtHgAZgwJ:manifesto.greenparty.org.uk/site/downloads/file1295ManifestoSection5a.pdf+freight&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3

98% opposition?

2007-04-09T01:26:00.000-07:00

A couple of letters in the press have mentioned that "98%" of people in Warrington,Wigan and St Helens oppose the Parkside plans as laid out by Astral Developments. This is nonsense of course. What they appear to mean is the vast majority of the ,at most, several hundred responses to the various council planning departments are against the proposals. Newton alone has an adult population of over 16'000 which puts the objectors in the firm minority in Newton ,let alone the entire populations of Wigan,St Helens and Warrington.

Interestingly the objectors have now dropped the freight train from their logo.Nothing to do with the recent survey results showing massive support for the expansion of rail freight,I'm sure.

Railwatch article

2007-04-09T01:22:00.001-07:00

An excellent Railwatch article on Parkside

http://www.railwatch.org.uk/backtrack/rw111/rw111p20.pdf

Parkside plan pledges 10'000 jobs

2007-04-09T01:19:00.000-07:00

New Parkside plan pledges 10,000 jobs

first published Thursday 15th Jun 2006.

THE Parkside Rail Freight Development may create 10,000 new jobs, according to updated plans .Astral Developments' masterplan for the former colliery site will be shown at five locations, with a representative from the development team on hand to answer questions.

http://archive.warringtonguardian.co.uk/2006/6/15/272275.html