Gordon Raises Concerns Over New Tram Depot
Gordon has raised strongly concerns from residents of Squires Gate about the scale and consultation process for the new tram depot being built to accommodate the new fleet of 16 supertrams which will be part of the £100million Government-backed revamp of Blackpool’s tram network.
Commenting after Government Office North West called in the application for the Starr Gate site on January 11, Gordon said, ‘Given the widespread concerns that a large number of local residents have raised about inadequate consultation for this scheme and the scale of it plus the judicial review which found against Blackpool Council on aspects of the original application in November, I think it makes sense for the North West Government office to look over the proposals.
Nobody wants to see undue delay in taking forward a vital scheme for Blackpool which I among others lobbied long and hard for. But there are important principles about proper consultation with people, especially when as here Blackpool Council is both judge and jury on its own proposal. I think the Starr Gate Residents Group and others who have raised objections about the current plan have put a strong and robust case forward.
I think the Council and its planning department should have been much more proactive in talking and meeting those concerned and seeing what agreement might have been reached. A proper independent assessment of the other site options and the impact of the Starr Gate site on the area would have been far better for the Council’s reputation and in taking things forward.
I have put all these points strongly to Blackpool Council and I’m sorry that they have been so reluctant to have an open process, especially when their haste and lack of due process has already cost council tax payers thousands of pounds in the judicial review case.
I believe the Council should respond to the intervention of Government Office North West by having that proactive conversation and meeting with residents.
After I’d raised the list of issues with the Council, they told the Development Control Committee they would be prepared to give new assurances about landscaping, quality and screening of the site. They should incorporate that as a definite condition of any planning permission and they should allow it to be subjected to an independent assessment outside of the Council to give the public confidence.’
Send your views to Gordon on gordonmarsdenmp@parliament.uk
