St Helens SCPC plan includes Parkside

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

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

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

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

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Earlestown Arches

Parkside 2010 supporters

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

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!!!

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

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.

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.

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.

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.