Issue - meetings

To deal with matters raised by members of the public, of which notice has been given in accordance with the procedures relating to public questions, motions or petitions set out in Paragraph 36 to 46 of the Council and Committee Procedure Rules in Chapter 4 of the Council Constitution.

(The details of any petitions submitted by members of the public will be circulated prior to the meeting).

The Mayor reported that in accordance with the Council’s Petition Scheme set out in Chapter 12 of the Council Constitution, 4 public petitions had been submitted for consideration at the Council meeting.

(1)       The Council heard representations from Mrs Nuala Kranas of the Aintree Village Residents Group on behalf of a deputation who had submitted a petition containing 2,850 signatures which stated:

“We the undersigned urge the Council to amend the 'Preferred Option' to Option 1, address the issues surrounding our lack of amenities and infrastructure and work with the community to reflect what they want and not what the developers want, whose only aim is to make big profits from local communities.”

Justification:

“Sefton MBC’s Local Plan has proposals which will damage the green belt and make Aintree a worse place to live. In the coming months, the Council will undertake a Public Consultation Process. They currently have used inaccurate household population growth information which is 10 years out of date. They do not address the real need for affordable/type of housing but allow developers to build 3/4/5 bedroom executive homes on greenbelt, which none of us would be able to afford. Our amenities are non-existent and they severely underestimate the effect any further development will have on our schools, roads, dentists and GP service. We don’t even have a library and the current plan would lead to a decline in the local quality of life.”

The following issues were raised by Members of the Council during the debate on the content of the petition:

·         the impact of increased traffic in Aintree and Melling and the need for adequate infrastructure to be provided;

·         that a traffic survey had been undertaken during a school holiday period;

·         that the Peel Holdings development would have a significant impact on the local environment; and

·         that the views of all the people who had signed the three Local Plan petitions should not be ignored.

Members of the Council thanked Mrs Kranas for making her representations.

Following debate, It was moved by Councillor P. Dowd, seconded by Councillor Maher and

RESOLVED:

That the petition be noted and taken into account during the consideration of the report under Minute No. 68 below.

(2)       The Council then heard representations from Mr Colin Reader of the Maghull and Lydiate Action Group on behalf of a deputation who had submitted a petition containing 3,060 signatures which stated:

 “We ask the Council to listen to the community, to re-examine and vote for option 1, which is building on brownfield sites only and not on green belt and high grade agricultural land, this is now possible due to a sharp fall in housing need.”

Justification:

“Sefton's Local Plan continues to encroach on our beautiful high grade agricultural/green belt land. More accurate up-to-date figures show a significant reduction in housing need. Maghull and Lydiate does not have the infrastructure in place to cater for any additional capacity, roads are already badly congested, schools are oversubscribed, traffic and parking is a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 65