Even by the developers own conservative estimates Parkside will generate more than 10,000 HGV movements, twenty four hours a day every day of the year. That equals an incredible seven extra HGV movements every minute on our local roads, more than one every ten seconds. The implications on peak time traffic, already pushed to the limit in Lowton, Golborne, Ashton and Bryn, are unimaginable.

RAIL FREIGHT TERMINAL OR ROAD FREIGHT DEPOT?
The parkside proposals are nothing more than a road freight depot masquerading as a rail freight terminal. The truth is that more than 95% of the freight will arrive by road and more than 95% of the freight will leave by road.

So why are the developers promoting this scheme as a rail freight terminal?
The answer is simple. That is the only way that they can get the powers that be to overule the legislation protecting the greenbelt against development.

THE DESTRUCTION OF 272 HECTARES (672 ACRES) OF OUR GREENBELT
The whole of the site is within the Greenbelt. For the scheme to go ahead St Helens, Warrington and Wigan Councils would have to ride roughshod over our rights to the protection of the countryside. There would be a detrimental effect on the eco-system of the area and in particular on the wide variety of wildlife, flora and fauna.

The bogus claims that the project is a rail freight interchange do not withstand scrutiny and are nothing more than a pack of lies and marketing ploy to circumvent the laws preventing development of the greenbelt.
The truth is more than 95% of the freight would be arriving by road and is more than 95% of the freight would be leaving by road.

BOGUS CLAIMS OF THE CREATION OF 10,000 NEW JOBS
Original claims of up to 50 new jobs being created, have rapidly increased to 10,000. However, when questioned at a public meeting in Lowton the developers refused to guarantee even a single new job for local people. If you want to consider the bogus promises of new jobs then look no further than Stonecross Park, Golborne, where the developers and some local politicians of the day promised thousands of new jobs for local people and picturesque lakes filled with ducks and swans.

HOUSE PRICES COULD PLUMMET
Who wants to live in a gigantic gridlocked lorry park with all the associated traffic congestion, noise and air pollution problems? It has been predicted that if this scheme goes ahead, if you paid £160k for your house or apartment in 2005/6/7, even if you can sell it you will be lucky to get £120k in 2010.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Write your own letter to St Helens, Warrington and Wigan Councils to tell them what you think. Alternatively you can use the pro-forma letter available for download here.
Contact details for local councils and newspapers are also supplied.