Green light for consultation on track site

Six thousand letters will now be sent to homes near the Moss Side Test Track site, and there will be a number of public meetings with developers during a six-week period.

The results will then be taken back to South Ribble Council’s planning committee, who must decide if the development can go ahead.

But at a fiery meeting on Wednesday night, residents and some councillors said consultation shouldn’t be held because the masterplan was “unfit for purpose”. They raised fears over “dangerous” access points off Longmeanygate and a 60 per cent increase in the number of houses compared to a draft plan in 2010.

Councillor Jim Marsh said: “There are far too many contentious things for us to decide anything tonight.”

But Councillor Graham Walton said: “We must follow the process even though it’s hurful, we must start somewhere. But going out to consultation doesn’t mean the masterplan is being accepted. It’s for you people to say what you would like.”

Mark Worcester, agent for Developer Property Capital, said: “There is potential for major benefits for the local area.

“We feel the time is now right for the community to have its say on the emerging details.”