News

People living near a site in Warrington earmarked for redevelopment as one of the largest intermodal freight depots in Europe staged a protest last weekend. The former Parkside Colliery site has been selected by industrial developer Astral Developments for a railway link and 715,000m2 of warehousing, distribution buildings, container depots and a cargo exchange. Astral says the scheme would  create up to 10,000 jobs and reduce carbon emissions by moving freight from road to rail.

But the Parkside Action Group (PAG) says the site is on green-belt land and the project would result in two million LGV movements every year. PAG chairman Brendan Page claims it would bring misery to thousands of locals because of traffic, noise and pollution.

However, the website Parkside2010, set up by the company providing PR for Astral Developments, claims: "An investment of this size is crucial for the region's future, in order to adapt to the changing economy and job market. The local area has suffered from long-term structural unemployment since the closure of the Parkside Colliery  and other related industries."

A spokeswoman for St Helens Council says: "The application is still with us it's not gone to planning yet. It's so detailed and very complicated." A decision is expected in December.