CONCERNS over the destruction of green belt land and increase in traffic have been raised during workshops over plans to build a distribution hub in south Warrington.

Around 150 residents commented on proposals to construct the new strategic employment site – which would be named Six 56 Warrington – at Grappenhall Community Centre on Monday and Tuesday.

If built, the hub would be located adjacent to junction 20 of the M6 and junction nine of the M56 in Lymm.

During the workshops, residents highlighted fears over a range of issues including development in the green belt, congestion and pollution.

Developer Langtree and partner First Pannatoni, who are behind the proposals, say the site will deliver 4,900 jobs.

They added it will generate 'millions of pounds' a year in business rates to fund key services in the borough.

But residents are concerned that many of the jobs will be low paid and on zero-hour contracts.

Julie Kueres, from the Save Warrington Group, was among those in attendance on Tuesday.

The Appleton resident, who lives on Cobbs estate, said: "I think it is a farce of a consultation.

"I think they were gathering people's views so they can put forward a defence – they are finding out what people are going to object against to prepare their case.

"It is just an unsustainable development.

"The only thing that it is out for is profit."

James Gibson, from Appleton, also raised his concerns.

He believes the proposals have come 'too early' because the draft local plan is yet to be delivered.

He said: "It wasn't a consultation exercise, it was just a public information exercise.

"But the real issue is the context of it and the quality of Warrington overall.

"The real criticism is to the council because they should have consulted Warrington people before they put pen, or pencil, to paper about any plan.

"What they want to do is to consult us afterwards.

"I want the council to come out and have a debate.

"We need to challenge our elected representatives in an open debate."

Richard Chapman, from Appleton Thorn, also attended the workshop on Tuesday.

He said: "The feeling that I got from this consultation is that there has been very little liaison about this plan with the local authority."

Warrington South MP Faisal Rashid fears releasing green belt land to build the site could set a 'worrying precedent' and 'open the floodgates' for changes to green belt policy.

The next round of consultations, which could be held before Christmas, will show a 'more developed masterplan' for the proposed distribution hub.