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
Friday, 27 April 2007
Wednesday, 11 April 2007
MPs say 'yes' to rail freight
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."
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
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 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
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.
Tuesday, 10 April 2007
Freight On Rail
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
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
Monday, 9 April 2007
Some Parkside Facts
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.
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
Read the facts about the plans for Parkside at the link.Allow time to load...
http://www.astraldevelopments.co.uk/ParksideNewsletter.pdf
http://www.astraldevelopments.co.uk/ParksideNewsletter.pdf
Railfreight Operations Break Records at Daventry
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
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...
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
"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?
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.
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.
Parkside plan pledges 10'000 jobs
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
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
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