NEW HOMES ROW (From Warrington Guardian)

NEW HOMES ROW

CAMPAIGNERS bidding to block a new housing development in north Widnes are up in arms by what they see as a council plan to minimise local opposition to the scheme.

Halton Council last month distributed copies of a draft development document concerning Upton Rocks Site Q - but only to people who complained or signed a petition against the development.

People with houses bordering Site Q were invited to telephone council planners to obtain their copy.

People have until next Friday to suggest amendments to the document.

John Knowles, of the Farnworth Environmental Action Group, said: "It seems naive of the council to assume that any residents who did not sign the petition are not interested.

"Given its recent wish to let local residents have their say over local environmental matters, the limited distribution of such an important document seems contradictory."

The group has been fighting a long battle against house building proposed for Site Q, saying it will decimate green space and lead to traffic and environmental problems.

A council spokesperson responded: "Because Site Q is not subject to a planning application, the council is not obliged to send detailed information to all residents in the area.

"However, because we recognise the interest residents have in the future of the site, we have been sending out consultation documents to all those who have expressed an interest, even though we are not strictly required to do so."

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.