I should like to thank everyone in Thornton who has supported us in the campaign; by attending the Public Meeting: by donating money; by signing our petition and by collecting signatures. The Public Gallery at Wyre Borough was filled with supporters when we presented our evidence and handed over the petition with almost 900 signatories to the Inspector. I personally would like to thank the TAG team who distributed questionnaires, collected evidence on traffic flows, school numbers, and medical provision, gave advice on planning matters, read documents and attended the Enquiry over the two week period. It is also important to recognise the valuable work and efforts made by Mrs. Verity on behalf of the Burn Naze Residents and Mr. Bee who both gave evidence to the Inspector.
The Inspector has issued a long, detailed and comprehensive report in which he gives his reasons for refusing planning permission. In summary these are-
(1) The NPL Estates proposal for Poolfoot was just one part of a wider plan for the development and regeneration of the ICI land. However, no comprehensive plan for the area between Thornton and Fleetwood Docks has ever been submitted and the approval of elements in a piecemeal fashion was not acceptable.
(2) The new location for the football pitches now on the Poolfoot site would be in an area remote from housing and too inconvenient.
(3) The site is not needed for housing in the Local Plan period, because there is sufficient land already allocated. Indeed it would reduce the need to find brownfield sites for redevelopment.
(4) An additional 510 houses would add to the problems already being experienced on the A585 and "would have an unacceptable impact on the free flow of traffic".
(5) The improvements to the embankment along the Wyre Estuary proposed by NPL go far beyond what is needed to protect the limited area of the Poolfoot site which could be at risk. In fact there is more concern about the management of the Royle's Brook which has not been properly thought out.
(6) The development would be harmful to the landscape. To quote the Inspector "Poolfoot Farm is currently an attractive area of green pasture, interspersed by old hedgerows that has survived remarkably undisturbed. It offers a natural haven for wild life and is understandably prized by local residents..... I regard the site as a rare commodity whose future is worthy of careful consideration within the context of a comprehensive plan."
It should be remembered that the Planning Committee of Wyre Borough unanimously approved this proposal. Indeed at the Enquiry we had to argue not only against NPL Estates but also Wyre Borough, who employed legal experts and paid for them at our (the ratepayers' expense). In May these councillors will be asking us to vote for them in the Borough elections. They should explain to us why they gave their support to a proposal which would have destroyed such a valuable asset, which would have had an unacceptable impact on the road network and to crown it all was not needed to fulfil the housing requirements of Wyre Borough.
Howard Phillips Chairman - Thornton Action Group