Wednesday 24^th March: Bill Esterson MP has again demanded Persimmon Homes, who were recently granted controversial planning permission to develop houses on land east of Maghull, to build an access road to the site.

Although, after a battle by Town and Borough Councillors and local campaigners, site traffic has been barred from using Maghull’s residential streets to reach the entrance to the site, country roads via Melling could still suffer increased and heavy traffic.

Mr Esterson, who represents the Sefton Central Constituency, wrote to Persimmon in July last year to urge the developer to consider building a “haul” across the site direct from the M58 Junction 1.

He has now written again to ask the developer to spare existing roads and to build a haul road for the heavy construction lorries, which will be used during building of the new homes.

MP for Sefton Central Bill Esterson said:

“Persimmon Homes have been asked time and time again to build a haul road to prevent heavy traffic from wreaking havoc on residential and country roads.

 

“Thankfully the planning inspector agreed with Maghull Councillors, Patrick McInley and Yvonne Sayers, the Town Council, local residents and me by blocking the use of the residential roads near the site. But the developer can still use the country lanes from Melling and this is not good enough.

 

“That is why I have written to Persimmon Homes yet again to repeat the concerns of local residents and councillors.

 

“The developer stands to make a sizeable profit from this development. If they wish to be seen as a responsible business, Persimmon Homes will want to build a haul road before starting the houses to spare residents the chaos of heavy goods traffic on their roads. It is the least they can do to minimise the impact on the existing community.”

**ENDS**

Notes to Editors:

• In February, Permission Homes was granted permission by the Planning Inspectorate to build 841 homes on the land bordered by Poverty Lane.
• Once both parts of the land east of Maghull are developed there could be more than 1,400 new homes on the site.
• At least 30% of the homes will be affordable housing, with two thirds of this comprising homes for social or affordable rent and a third affordable (shared) home ownership.
• It is estimated that the development of the site will take 5 years 10 months.
• Permission was given despite demands from Bill Esterson MP, Labour Councillors Patrick McKinley and Yvonne Sayers, and residents that a haul road be built to reduce the impact of site traffic on residents living nearby.

Excerpts from the Letter from Bill Esterson MP to Persimmon Homes

Thank you for your previous correspondence dated July 30, 2020, relating to land East of Maghull and an access road to the site.

Your letter described the efforts you were making to work with the owners of land adjacent to the site north of Poverty Lane, for which Persimmon and Countryside Homes have recently gained planning permission to build 841 homes.

The planning inspector has barred construction traffic from using the residential streets of Maghull to access the site, leaving only the country lanes from Melling as an option for travelling to the entrance from the M58 junction 1.

The preferred option for the majority of residents is a new road, a haul road, direct from the M58 junction 1.

I should therefore be grateful if you would update me on the discussions you are having regarding plans to build a haul road before construction of the houses for which you now have consent.