Burscough petition against Yew Tree Farm development taken to House of Commons ahead of Local Plan hearing

Feb 14 2013 by Rob Pattinson, Ormskirk Advertiser

A PETITION against development in Burscough was presented to the House of Commons ahead of the Local Plan hearings which begin next week.

MP Rosie Cooper presented the petition of 4,016 names to the Commons on behalf of the Burscough Action Group (BAG) on Monday.

The group’s objections centre on proposals for 500 new homes on Yew Tree Farm.

What do you think about plans to build 500 new homes at Yew Tree Farm in Burscough? Let us know in our reader response form below. The MP has urged urge the Government to stop the proposed development in the West Lancashire Local Plan by West Lancashire Borough Council.

Roger Clews, from the Planning Inspectorate, has been appointed by the Government and will hold a series of public meetings and hearings to discuss important issues over the next few weeks, beginning next Tuesday.

One of the sessions is dedicated to Yew Tree Farm and Gavin Rattray, from BAG, said: “We’re pleased, it seems the inspector is taking our concerns seriously. We want them to stop the plan in its current form and believe our evidence shows the justification for this site is flawed.”

MP Rosie Cooper said: “One of the barriers residents feel they have had to face is the refusal of [the council] to listen to the residents during the Local Plan process.”

A spokesman for West Lancs council said the council had taken a balanced view of all evidence and views expressed and concluded it was appropriate to include Yew Tree Farm with the Local Plan. The spokesman said that if any of the sites allocated were removed they would have to replaced by alternative sites to meet the housing need that would have a “far more severe” impact on residents and the character of the borough.