WE are writing in support of the proposed plans put forward by Railtrack for a Rail Freight Distribution facility on the former Parkside Colliery site at Newton-le-Willows.

The environmental impacts have been thoroughly assessed and approximately 40% of the site will consist of structural landscaping, this landscaping will create an excavated landform that will shield the view of the site from the surrounding dwellings, there will also be extensive planting of trees and shrubbery that will integrate sympathetically with the existing vegetation.

It is only natural that people living nearby will object, however, the cosmetic view of the site must be an improvement on what was, the view of the Colliery for the last four decades and indeed because of the proposed exclusion of heavy traffic entering or leaving the site at the Winwick Road access point due to the dedicated M6 link road that is proposed, there will obviously be a 100% improvement on what was, coal lorries entering and leaving the site 24 hours a day.

As for depreciation of house prices on properties nearby, there will be none. We can foresee these properties being in great demand from middle management working at the proposed terminal.

This town desperately needs the jobs that this Freight Terminal would bring especially with the eventual closure of the Vulcan works and the drastic loss of jobs at the old T and T Vickers biscuit machinery manufacturers.

Even if only the lower estimate of jobs were secured on completion of the development, 1800 (skilled and unskilled) jobs would be very welcome. We cannot afford for the second time to turn away from this site the prospect of high employment being injected into this town.

Wargrave Community Association