Planning Application 03/00466/FUL concerns the extension of a container loading/unloading platform which will be built in the Northwood Ward. The plan is to re build rail links to the industrial estate, whilst this in itself may well be a good idea if the trains are not disturbing residents, one of the actual beneficiaries of this proposed plan will include Sonae who can now have a convenient rail link built here. The application also contains a variation of a former condition concerning the time trains are allowed to be unloaded. The proposed time was for trains to be unloaded from the hours of 07.00 hrs and it is now planned to allow trains to unload at 05.45 hrs. This will impress nearby residents no doubt. Never forget that this work has been paid for out of the public purse, Sonae have not contributed a penny and stand to gain considerably as well as Knowsley Council who can levy more taxes on businesses who in turn are recipients of generous grants and incentives and sweeteners. Northwood SRB funds were fleeced to the sum of Seven million Quid to make this happen.

Residents consulted?

Knowsley Council make a note on their planning application that there are no human rights or crime or disorder implications arising from the above proposal. Human Rights in Kirkby apply to the bureaucrats of Knowsley Council, Big Business and the local nodding dog Councillors. Residents of Northwood were supposedly informed of this major alteration by site notice (a faded a4 leaflet on a lamppost?) and 'occupiers in the vicinity' were supposedly notified by letter. No-ones apparently complained. But given the deliberately complicated wording of many planning applications, and the fact only a handful of people may have received the letters - its not surprising no-ones complained or objected. Remember, when Windy Arbour was sold off to Liverpool - no residents received ANY letters or were consulted despite the land being held in public or common trust. The local Councillors seemed not to realise that it was within their power to actually prevent this wholesale sell off of Kirkby.

The planning application as it appeared below.

Erection of extension to container platform and variation of condition no 3 attached to planning permission 03/00270/FUL to allow unloading of containers on the eastern section of previously approved platform from 05.45 hours. Knowsley Rail Freight Terminal, land bounded by north Perimeter Road and Woodward Road, Knowsley Industrial Estate.

Northwood Residents now to suffer sound pollution as well as environmental pollution?

The size of the proposed container platform is some 220 metres wide by 22 metres deep. The platform where trains are unloaded from 05.45 hours will have a width of 50 metres and a depth of 22 metres. You can already see the 'shielding' which comes in the shape of giant mounds of building site rubble and waste. It is also claimed that the steel containers will be stacked in such a way as to shield sound from the nearby residents. According to Knowsley Council the nearest dwelling to the platform will be those on Dale Street which are some 320 metres from the platform, Northwood, which is a crowded residential area, is apparently some 580 metres away.

Note: A meeting of the Councils committee for approving planning application sat on the 28th of August to discuss this matter. The call it a 'proposed development' but work is already underway (see here) before the actual proposal is approved. There has been no public consultation or meeting regarding the matter and Northwood residents could well find that the noise level is actually going to be worse than anticipated. We are at a point now in Kirkby where every blade of grass is important, and the disappearance of habitats for wildlife is being reduced at an alarming rate in Northwood. A lot of the land being lost is common land and public access fields and suchlike. This land is turned over to commercial interests who will in turn make Knowsley Councils unelected bureaurocrats better off as they award themselves 15% pay-rises. Our Councillors seem clueless as to how to prevent this and would sooner tow the New Labour Line than ask awkward questions. Most, but not all of our elected Councillors in Kirkby, are only hanging on because of the political apathy which exists among the wards. A lot of this 'apathy' is really just anger and frustration at the corrupt dealing of New Labour and there betrayal of the very principles on which the party was started.

Coming soon - Local Elections 2003 - Could YOU stand for Council?