Southport MP blasts ‘disdainful’ Sefton Council over controversial Bankfield Lane development

Southport MP blasts ‘disdainful’ Sefton Council over controversial Bankfield Lane development

Southport’s MP, Damien Moore, has criticised Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council’s Labour councillors following the approval of a controversial planning application in Southport.

The development for 327 new homes on land off Bankfield Lane, Churchtown, was passed on Wednesday 29 August following a fraught meeting attended by local residents. The decision had been deferred in June following a motion for refusal submitted by Conservative Councillors.

Mr Moore has now criticised the Council for ignoring residents’ concerns over the development, including those relating to flooding, ecology, and a lack of school places.

Damien Moore commented: ‘Sefton Council has completely failed to address the concerns of local residents. This application has been passed without any consideration for ongoing drainage issues, highway infrastructure, and a lack of school places.’

‘I wrote to the council on behalf of residents on several occasions and received no firm commitment that the concerns raised would be resolved. It now appears as though Sefton Council intend on pursuing with development without a plan to tackle the serious concerns presented by the community.’

The Southport MP has also accused the Labour Party in Sefton of showing a ‘lack of consideration’ for the local community, arguing that the decision ‘further demonstrates Labour-led Sefton Council’s distain for Southport residents’.

A motion for refusal had been tabled at the meeting on the 29 August, however the application was subsequently passed as all Labour councillors voted in favour of the application.

‘Whilst Independent and Conservative councillors proposed a motion to refuse this application -based on compelling concerns- Labour councillors, including one representing Southport, voted against the proposal and subsequently voted to approve this development’.

He continued, ‘the Labour Party have condemned Churchtown residents to years of discomfort, shame on them’.