Warrington,November 2019-(Amanjit Singh Khaira)-
The Labour Party have made a manifesto commitment to prioritising the use of brownfield sites for development to protect the green belt. As MP for Warrington South, Faisal Rashid has constantly stood up to greenbelt development plans and welcomed this news.
Since his election in 2017, Faisal has:
- Objected to Warrington Borough Council Preferred Development Option (PDO).
- Taken part in Green Belt awareness walks with constituents.
- Objected to Warrington Borough Council Draft Local Plan 2019 which has now been delayed until 2020 for further review.
- Successfully intervened with Warrington Borough to postpone the closure of Stockton Heath recycling centre.
- Objected to Eddie Stobart planning application and successfully persuaded the Secretary of State to ‘call-in’ this planning application.
- Objected to Langtree and Panattoni ‘Six56 Warrington employment site’ planning application.
- Objected to Peel Ports ‘Port Warrington’ development plan.
- Secured a commitment from Peel Ports to paint and maintain the three swing bridges - no other MP or councillor has achieved this. Faisal has also secured assurances from Peel Ports that there will be minimal disruption when the painting and maintenance work commences.
- Supported plans for town centre regeneration including residential development, so that Warrington has a thriving town centre and to reduce the pressure for residential development in the greenbelt.
- Urged the Council to fully utilise Fiddlers Ferry in future development plans. It will take years to decommission and bring forward the site for development, but the Council should start planning immediately.
- Highlighted the need for necessary infrastructure and facilities prior to new development projects.
- Committed LiveWire to improve facilities at Broomfields Leisure Centre. Campaigning for a state-of-the-art new Hub, with the full leisure and other facilities, at this key site south of the ship canal.
Faisal Rashid, Labour’s Candidate for Warrington South, said:
My track record as a local MP shows my genuine commitment to promoting green issues. In this General Election I am proud of my record fighting to protect our greenbelt from development. In our manifesto, Labour have committed to adopting the brownfield-first approach that I have been championing since I was first elected. I have successfully objected to a number of planning applications, including applications from Eddie Stobart, Six56 Warrington employment site, and Peel Ports ‘Port Warrington’ development plan. In the case of Eddie Stobart, I successfully persuaded the Secretary of State to ‘call-in’ the application.
“I have also worked constructively to secure the investment and infrastructure we need. I successfully secured a commitment from Peel Ports to paint and maintain the three swing bridges – something no other local politician has succeeded in doing. I have told Peel Ports they must keep any disruption during the painting and maintenance work down to an absolute minimum. I have supported plans for town centre regeneration including residential development, so that Warrington has a thriving town centre and the pressure for residential development in the greenbelt is reduced.
“As a local MP, I have put forward local views constructively and when necessary, firmly – ensuring the voices of local people are heard at all stages of the decision-making process. Nationally and locally, I have pursued a green agenda consistent with this approach.
“In opposition, the Labour Party led the way in the last Parliament by putting forward a motion declaring a global climate emergency and calling on the Government to take urgent action. The motion passed but the Government has failed to bring forward any plans to tackle the climate emergency.
“In the final week of the last parliament I tabled an amendment to ban fracking. Large numbers of MPs signed my amendment, but not one Tory MP backed it.
"My record speaks for itself: I will stand up to the big developers and polluters, always putting local people first.”
