FAMILIES setting up home at the former Ravenscraig steelworks have hit out at plans for a major rail and heavy goods vehicle complex next door.
The Motherwell site is one of the largest urban regeneration projects in Europe, with 1000 developed or approved new homes.
But residents claim the safe, sustainable community they were promised is under threat after plans were unveiled for a major industrial complex there.
The consultation on the £200 million plan, from Russell Logistics, closes tomorrow. Another on a dual carriageway across the site ends Friday.
Ravenscraig Community Action Group has objected to the plans. The group’s chair Ken Good said: “Like nearly 1000 families, we came to Ravenscraig on the promise of a new, thriving, sustainable and safe community. What’s now clear is that the promises made are under threat from plans by a private developer for a major heavy goods vehicle transport complex planned on a site zoned for local homes for local families.”
“Make no mistake this proposal is massive – the length of more than seven Ravenscraig Regional Sports Centres or nearly 75 football pitches and a structure that would dominate the landscape like the Ravenscraig towers once did.
“The proposal would see dirty, heavy industry re-introduced, with noise, light and pollution impacts from heavy trains and potentially hundreds of HGV movements operating 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. This will fundamentally change the character of this and surrounding communities and deprive Motherwell of much needed new homes – including for families relocated by the tower demolition programme. It’s a direct broken promise made to local families.”
North Lanarkshire Council said the proposed road is part of the approved Ravenscraig masterplan and: “Russell Logistics has submitted a pre-application notice to the council’s planning service for a railfreight depot at Ravenscraig and is currently carrying out a public consultation exercise.
“The pre-application process is an opportunity for the public to raise any concerns with the applicant, who can consider these before a planning application is submitted.
“A full planning application is expected to be submitted in 2021 when a full assessment will be carried out, including a statutory consultation. The pre-application consultation meets the statutory requirements which have been amended by the Scottish Government to reflect the current Covid-19 pandemic and restrictions on public meetings/events. The council cannot require the applicant to extend the consultation.”
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