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Fylde to get 'new village'
THOUSANDS of new homes could be built to create a 'Fylde village'.
The proposals would see part of Marton Moss saved from development – but a new 7,000-strong community built between Blackpool and neighbouring St Annes.
But more than 800 protesters have signed a petition, which has been handed to Blackpool town hall bosses, calling for any development on the Moss to be scrapped.
Under the new plans, land between Yeadon Way and School Road on Marton Moss would be earmarked for up to 2,700 new homes, but the area between School Road, Midgeland Road and Division Lane would be protected from any development.
And up to 2,000 homes could be built on the Whyndyke Farm site, off Preston New Road, which is within Fylde's boundaries, while further residential development could be earmarked for land around Whitehills.
A new district centre would be created around the junction of Cropper Road and Progress Way to provide shops and community facilities, while four primary schools and a new secondary school are also included in the far-reaching proposal.
A large new country park could be created between Blackpool and St Annes to improve separation between the two towns.
Furious residents claim the development of a 'Fylde village' could seriously damage trade in Blackpool town centre.
Chairman of Save Our Moss Angelia Hinds said she feared the M55 hub would create a "dormitory town" which would trigger decline in the inner areas.
She added: "The council will have to consider the prospect the creation of a very large new Fylde village, with all the associated new shops, cinemas, bars and restaurants, will mean residents will never have to go into the town centre again.
"It's obvious from the number of people who have signed our petition that people want to see the inner areas regenerated and the outer edge preserved as countryside."
But Blackpool Council leader, Peter Callow, insisted the town centre could not be developed.
He said: "In my opinion building around the M55 hub isn't going to harm anything.
"In fact it will protect the beautiful villages in rural Fylde and prevent us from having to build there.
"As for the people who believe we should build in central Blackpool, we simply haven't got the money to create wholesale changes."
The blueprint for what has been dubbed the M55 hub has been produced by David Lock Associates who were consulted jointly by Blackpool and Fylde Councils to deliver a concept for housing development, which ignored local authority boundaries.
After councillors called for a review of the original proposals, planners have said that Blackpool's target of finding land for 7,200 new homes by 2026 could be met through 2,500 being built on derelict land already identified and 2,000 within the urban area subject to government funding being secured.
But town planners say there is no option but to allocate 2,700 homes to land on the Moss – fewer than the 5,000 originally earmarked when it was suggested that fields all the way up to Division Lane would be developed.
A report, to be considered at a meeting of the council's executive on Wednesday, says: "New development on the edge of Blackpool is fundamentally required to address the lack of wider quality new housing, attract higher income households and provide choice for Blackpool's residential population, particularly for family housing.
"A major, sustainable mixed use
development on the edge of Blackpool is considered to have substantial additional benefits, particularly in terms of jobs, facilities and enhancements of the gateways into Blackpool and the Fylde.
"The creation of parks and green space as well will help to enhance Blackpool's image to the outside world."
Blackpool South MP Gordon Marsden has been working with protesters.
He said he did not believe people would be reassured by the "so-called
revision at all."
Mr Marsden added: "The bottom line is that what was semi-rural will become suburban.
"There is no more detail in terms of the inner areas.
"The council has to do better than this."
Kensington Developments has already submitted two applications to build on Marton Moss.
The first application, for 640 homes on land at Moss House Road, will be the subject of a public inquiry while a second bid, for 570 homes, was submitted last month.
The concept of the M55 hub is at a very early stage with a steering group being set up to investigate the proposals further.
It would depend on co-operation between Blackpool Council and Fylde Council, which also has to allocate land for future homes, and would be developed over the next 25 to 30 years.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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