Plans for a controversial new road junction and new houses in Churchtown in Southport will be debated by councillors tonight (Wednesday 29th June 2022).
The scheme would see nine new houses built next to the bridge on Bankfield Lane, which some local residents believe is “an obvious safety hazard”.
However Sefton Council’s Planning officers, and their Highways Officer, believe the proposals should be approved and that there is no threat to motorists’ safety.
They are recommending councillors on tonight’s Planning Committee to give their agreement to the plans.
The proposal is a revised, smaller part of a major development which will see 328 new properties constructed on farmland at Bankfield Lane.
A total of 158 new houses are currently under construction on the other side of the bridge, on the site of the former Philips Factory.
A petition containing 49 signatures and endorsed by Cllr Lewis has been submitted to the council, objecting to the proposal on grounds that the proposed entrance would be dangerous and would not comply with the Local Plan. Also, that the plan would be detrimental to residential amenity.
Representation has been received from residents on Blundell Lane, The Grange, The Mallards, Bankfield Lane, Merlewood Avenue objecting to the proposed development.
This new access would serve 6 houses within the development, with the other 3 houses continuing to gain access from the approved highway network associated with the previous approval access via a widened Blundell Lane.
In his report, Sefton Council Chief Planning Officer Derek McKenzie said: “Given that the proposed access would serve a small number of units and not the wider development, noting the comments of the Highways Manager who concludes that the proposal would not give rise to highway safety concerns, and with all other matters being acceptable, it is considered that there are no strong grounds to refuse the application.
“It is therefore considered that on balance the proposal is acceptable.
“The key difference this proposal introduces to the wider residential development is the introduction of a new access road onto Bankfield Lane. This access road would serve 6 of the 9 properties to which the application relates as opposed to being accessed from within the new road network proposed as part of the wider residential development and accessed via a widened Blundell Lane.
“It is acknowledged that the proposed access point would be at the base of a slight hill rising upwards towards the east. It is also acknowledged that there are 3 other access points further west onto Bankfield Lane serving other residential estates and commercial premises.
“However, Bankfield Lane is subject to a 20mph speed limit, which is controlled using speed bumps and road traffic signs.
“The proposed site layout plan shows that the width of the access road would be acceptable whilst vehicle swept path analysis has been provided demonstrating that vehicles, including refuse vehicles, would be capable of entering and leaving the site safely.”
A number of local residents disagree. 49 of them have signed a petition against the scheme, while sevel local home owners have written to the council with their views.
One resident on Bankfield Lane said: “This application along with the earlier proposal to which this is an alternative will be detrimental to the environment in terms of pollution and carbon emissions, in addition to the extra strain placed upon local roads and infrastructure.
“The erection of nine new dwellings will overburden not only local roads but also local facilities such GP practices. The proposed new vehicular access is preposterous, and decidedly unsafe.”
One resident, living on The Mallards, said: “:It’s crazy to even consider this whole development, the infrastructure of Churchtown is not made for such a big intake of new houses, to even consider the little cut de sac is ridiculous!
“The roads are not big enough or wide enough. Schools are already full to capacity. Doctors are again at maximum capacity.
“Churchtown is a little old village and should be respected and should stay like that.”
A resident of The Grange said: “The proposed entrance is on the bridge which is an obvious safety hazard and I can’t believe such is even being considered on a Green Belt site.
“Whoever is responsible for such decisions, please seriously consider the wellbeing of any driver or new residents using that road and any accidents pulling out of a bridge will be down to the decision makers of this application.”
The decision will be made by Sefton Council’s Planning Committee during their meeting from 6.30pm tonight.
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