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PEEL HOLDINGS: AN OVERALL STRATEGY FOR THE MANCHESTER SHIP CANAL

David Thompson Development Planning Manager for Peel Holdings and Dean Hammond for Manchester Ship Canal introduced themselves to the forum then David gave a presentation which is summarised below.

SUMMARY OF PRESENTATION

1.  An introduction to the Peel Group companies and Peel’s main interests in the North West.

2.  An outline of two concepts being promoted by Peel, these being Ocean Gateway (related to a number of strategic development proposals along the River Mersey / Manchester Ship Canal corridor) and SuperPort (relating primarily to Peel’s Port and Airport interests i.e. the Port of Liverpool, the Manchester Ship Canal and Liverpool John Lennon Airport).

3.  An introduction to Peel Ports interests, including the Port of Liverpool and the Manchester Ship Canal and details as to how both facilities are now combined within Peel Ports and are operated efficiently together.

4.  Further background information on the Manchester Ship Canal itself including the dates of its construction, key products transported, other functions of the canal, together with a brief explanation of Peel’s review of the canal’s current infrastructure, future operator and site accessibility (road, rail and canal) requirements.

5.  The identification of 4 new key infrastructure projects along the Canal (which are Port Salford, Port Warrington, Port Ince and Port Wirral) which are proposed to address the need to upgrade and modernise certain existing port facilities.  Details of the nature and function of each of these proposed facilities was given.  The illustrative proposals for Port Wirral (on land between the QEII Dock at Eastham and Booston Wood, Ellesmere Port) were broadly described.

6.  The benefits Peel expect to arise from its proposals for the Manchester Ship Canal (which include the more sustainable transportation of freight) and the importance of these proposals to the North West Region was summarised.

7.  A summary of Peel’s anticipated timescales for preparing more detailed proposals for Port Wirral was given along with commitments to consult with the community again in due course. Timescales for further consultation were estimated to be around late 2010 / early 2011.

8.  The presentation concluded with an invitation for questions from the audience.

Further information on the Ocean Gateway concept and Peel’s port investment proposals can be found within Peel’s Ocean Gateway Prospectus (October 2009) which can be downloaded via the following web site link: 

www.peel.co.uk/group/page.aspx?ID=66 or via Peel’s overall web site at: www.peel.co.uk

Questions raised by members of the public:

Q1   Are you going to use resources from Wirral if you are claiming to improve Wirral?

We don’t want employment going to outside areas, are you going to use

local traders and workers

A   We would encourage the use of local services and local recruitment as much   as possible however we cannot absolutely guarantee it in every case.

Q2   Can you assure us that it will not increase traffic in Eastham?

A    The main areas for development in Port Wirral scheme are accessed via West and North Road will link with the motorway. In addition we would encourage traffic to use these routes through signage and establishing them as “approved routes” to avoid heavy traffic affecting the village

Q3   We get heavy traffic now.  Lorries are always coming through  

Eastham.  Approved routes mean nothing as people don’t take notice.

Q4  Sat Navs seem to route traffic down here frequently, namely HGVs.

A    We will take these comments back and consider if there is a way of   addressing issues related to Sat Navs.

Q5  Cllr Tom Harney – Local traffic is a major issue.  People have a

problem as to where they should go to as a lot of trucks and lorriescome here – who dowe contact?

A   Wagons originating from the tank farms should not go through the village. We   think that many of the lorries are actually related to other businesses in the   locality, not all of them will relate to the Port.

Q6   How is this project to be funded?

A  Typically a phase or development will come forward when a potential operator of a site wishes to advance a scheme or if Peel sees the need to upgrade its Port facilities, but we are not at that stage yet and economic and marketconditions do not currently support this type of investment coming forward in this case

Q7   We need reassurance that Peel would consider the type of industry that they bring to Eastham area as so far they have been inappropriate such as waste disposal.

A   Most development schemes will need to be considered through the planning process and through the submission of planning applications.  The impact of a scheme needs to be assessed through the process of preparing an application and by the Council in considering and granting any consent. It will be easier to consider the potential effects of a particular scheme or type of development when it comes forward, at present a specific scheme is not coming forward.  We are taking note of the issues you have raised and will consult with the community again on future proposals.

Q8    Are you not going to take responsibility of what goes on the land then?

A  We will carefully consider proposals that come forward and they will be   subject to the planning process.

Q9.  I hear the idea of turning waste into electricity is not going to happen?

A   That is not progressing and there are no specific proposals at the present time.

Q10  In relation to port and property development, there is no mention

of Port Birkenhead.  What is happening?

A   In that regeneration scheme new homes, businesses and leisure facilities etc are proposed, with the transfer of port facilities from East Float to West Float.

Q11  You had total disregard for Ince, the Council said no to that

proposal so   why would you listen to us? 

Public Comment – you are about making money and as long as you do that you won’t care about us.

A   Through the Ocean Gateway strategy Peel is trying to encourage regeneration - create jobs and economic growth through investment.  Some schemes focus on for example renewable energy generation, some on sustainable transport (through the Port) and others new housing.  I have covered some of the benefits of the strategy in the presentation but I would encourage you to look at the Ocean Gateway Maps handed out today and (if you have access to the internet) Peel’s web site.  These will give further information and explanation of the benefits expected from individual projects and the overall concept.

Q12    What is Peel Holdings? Peel has taken over Merseyside and   

Manchester? Do you have shares? Stocks? Are you democratically accountable? Does your Chairman live here?

A   Peel is a private company. Information on Peel is available on Peel’s website, within today’s handouts and within the Ocean Gateway strategy.  Peel’s proposals will be subject to the planning process.

Q13    When plans are passed are you going to do anything about noise of the   ships?

A    Is this still an issue?

  Public Response: Yes

A  Specific vessels which have had clear and obvious noise issues have been corrected in the past and we are open to do this in the future.  We will look into this for you.

Q14    Are you aware of the noise?  Do you know what I mean?

Q15  What facilities? You are denying the fact that the canal is not wide

enough for ships to be turned?  If you are increasing the size of

the ships coming into the canal what are you doing to the canal

itself to turn them?

A   There are no plans at present for new turning facilities at Port Wirral.  Ships   can be turned at Stanlow.

Public comment – I have been up the canal on a tug and they have to be   turned at Stanlow.

Q16   There has already been two business projects refused, what is the environmental impact?  We live in Eastham, you don’t! Can you assure the safety of residents which is paramount?

A   Environmental impact assessments are essential.  We have to be satisfied before anything goes ahead.

Q17    50 year plan?! A lot of us are not going to be here in 50 years so you will just go ahead with it.

A    The Ocean Gateway concept covers a wide range of projects, some of which   will take many years to complete.  They are not all being developed at the   same time and under the present planning system each will need its own   planning consent

Q18:Cllr Dave Mitchell: why do Peel Holdings intend to continue with Port Wirral, as the Bowater site already has a docking area and is nearer to both rail and the motorway links?

A: The Bowater site for port related uses would be additional and complementary to Port Wirral rather than instead of it.

Cllr Tom Harney – Peel Holdings can tell us who to contact and at least that would be a small step.  If you have any questions write them down and put your name, address and e-mail and Peel Holdings will get back to you.  Peel Holdings are prepared to come along again. 

The chair then thanked Peel Holdings for the presentation.