One of the issues most often raised with me by local people is planning. For the last couple of weeks, my mailbag has been overflowing with questions, concern and general confusion over the clearing of some trees close to houses at the back of Chanters Industrial Estate.
I along with other residents made some enquiries and the picture began to become clearer – but it has left a lot of people angry, including myself.
Last year, Wigan MBC says it sent out 68 letters, once on 21st March and again on 6th September, informing people that plans had been submitted for a scrap metal company to move onto land close to houses at the back of Douglas Street. It also says it put up three site notices and a press notice.
At a meeting held the other week, it became clear that either these letters did not reach everyone, or that the letters didn’t go to everyone who would be affected by these plans. Out of over 100 people present, only two people (both from the same house) had received a letter. Even the two local councillors present said that they did not know about the proposals.
The meeting was held because of the fantastic work of local resident Lorraine Higson who has done a lot of investigating into the current situation with the development. She was able to organise a public meeting with just a few days’ notice and I along with Councillor Karen Aldred agreed to chair it. Everyone who attended the meeting at the Botanical Gardens was angry and concerned about the prospect of a scrap metal firm moving into the neighbourhood.
Many concerns were raised during the meeting including noise, light and other pollution from the site. Additionally there are worries about the noise and diesel pollution from the HGV vehicle movements especially early in the morning and late in the evening. What’s worse is that local people do not feel that they have been able to have their say over the plans. If they had known that the proposals were on the table, they say they would have organised themselves and objected. It is clear that local residents feel strongly let down by Wigan Council.
That’s why I have written to Secretary of State Sajid Javid to see if there is anything that can be done from a government level.
We must support local companies – they bring jobs and prosperity to our communities. I do not, however, believe that this is an appropriate place for a scrap metal firm to be based. Tyldesley Road is already congested with dangerous and inconsiderate driving. These proposals will bring extra wagons up and down tight residential roads not designed for this sort of thing. The new site is much further from the East Lancs Road than the company’s current premises on the industrial estate.
There are also concerns over what this may lead to – it could open up acres of green belt and spaces to building.
I have also written to Wigan MBC with a long list of questions and points raised by residents at the meeting and have asked for a speedy response. It seems baffling that such an important planning application that would have wide-reaching consequences could be passed under the radar without residents living in neighbouring homes being informed.
I’ll let Leigh Observer readers know how the campaign is getting along in my next column in a couple of weeks’ time.
Finally, I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who supported my pensioners’ advice and information fair earlier this month. It was fantastic to see so many residents attend and I hope they found it useful. Thank you also to Norman Bradbury and everyone at Dorset Road Community Centre for being such fantastic hosts.
I plan to hold similar events in the future and I will let you know when they are organised.