'A new estate of 80 homes would change the nature of the parish completely' Public meeting

People living in West Lancashire have raised concerns about a plan for an 80-homes estate in a rural village and its potential impact on farmland, local services and road safety.

Their worries were raised at a public meeting called about a plan by Alston Properties to build 80 homes on land off Ring O’ Bells Lane, Lathom. The site has been associated with a nursery in the past and is next to the A5209 road linking Burscough, Newburgh, Parbold and the M6. The applicant says the plan is well-designed and the site has good connections.

Objectors say their concerns are relevant to many communities as councils face government targets to increase house building while, on the other hand, farming and national ‘food security’ are also seen as vital.

The public meeting at Lathom Scout Hut was led by Helen Shaw and John Turner. Helen is chairwoman of Lathom Parish Council but said she was holding the meeting in a personal capacity, as a resident. She said locals have specific concerns but there are wider issues relevant to West Lancashire and beyond.

She said: “Lathom is a scattered parish with around 400 houses in a number of clusters. There is no main centre and a new estate of 80 homes would change the nature of the parish completely. I want people to object to this plan – but I also acknowledge and respect that some local residents might support it.”

She said protecting the green belt is a key motive for objectors. She said: “For decades, West Lancashire Council has strenuously defended the greenbelt. People have had home extension plans refused because of the rules. But most people who chose to live in the greenbelt accept there will be restrictions.

“This Ring O’ Bells Lane site is in the greenbelt, so can only be built on in very special circumstances. Developers have to show those circumstances exist but West Lancashire Council says no exemption applies to this site. The land is also classed as grade-one for soil quality and guidance requires councils to protect that sort of land, if at all possible.”

She said other concerns include limited public transport, people’s reliance on cars and few local amenities.

“We know how poor the bus and train services are – and Burscough Junction station is 2km away. So it’s not practical for people to use public transport or walk on a daily basis.

“And other than the Spar store and petrol station at Lathom, there are no other local amenities. So people from these 80 new homes would need to travel for their daily needs. And there’s one school in Lathom with a capacity for 75 pupils – and it currently has 73.”

Eddie Pope, a former West Lancashire councillor, is a town and parish councillor. He said West Lancashire has a target of 2,910 homes to be built in the next few years. Currently, around 750 are approved so a remaining 2,150 will be needed. Nearby, he said 600 new homes are proposed for Burscough, 800 for Ormskirk and 1,000 in different plans for Aughton.

Other residents mentioned new homes at Newburgh too

Road safety is another worry for some residents. Speakers said traffic jams and accidents on rural roads were increasing, including the Briars Lane junction between Lathom and Burscough, Carr Lane and Hollowford Lane.

And one woman said: “Many children cannot walk to local schools because there are no proper pavements along the lanes. If you walk along some roads, you’re within millimetres of passing vehicles. You’ve got to pin yourself against the hedges.”

A man said: “Many pavements are narrow, where they do exist. Pedestrians have to step onto the road to pass each other. And there are hedges growing out. The paths are just not walk-able along many roads.”

Adrian Owens, speaking as a county councillor but who is also a borough councillor, said: “Protecting grade-one soil is a really strong argument against this housing plan. Food security is an important national issue.”

He said he had also raised road concerns with Lancashire County Council. Traffic had become busier around the the new Lathom Spar shop and petrol station, and some car and HGV drivers were parking vehicles on the main road, creating risks.

However, applicant Alston Properties, working with PWA Planning in Preston, says the Lathom homes plan is acceptable. They have submitted various reports to West Lancashire Council covering topics including the greenbelt and travel.

Their travel report states: “Proposals will promote sustainable travel and reduce the dependency of the private car. A travel plan will encourage residents to use sustainable transport, reduce reliance on single car occupancy journeys and generally reduce traffic-related pollution and noise. Measures will encourage car sharing, public transport, cycling and walking.

“A co-ordinator will ensure the travel plan is operating effectively, a detailed residents’ travel survey will be undertaken and targets agreed with the council. The site has excellent non-car accessibility.”

And their greenbelt report says: “Ninety per cent of land across West Lancashire is greenbelt. With new national policy, there is pressure on releasing sites for development including housing. The Lathom site offers little to the open rural character of the wider landscape. Its development would not fundamentally undermine the purposes of the remaining green belt across West Lancashire.”

Overall, Alston Properties says the plan would provide much-needed new homes and include landscaping and planting to enhance wildlife.