What are the environment benefits of the proposals?

Moving freight from road to rail is one of the few areas of national policy where there is political consensus across Parliamentarians and policy makers from all parties. This view is shared by environmental and business groups.  Rail terminals are an essential part of this process.

The transfer of freight to the railway network will help to reduce traffic movements and congestion on motorways.  The development of Parkside alone will remove 100,000,000 HGV miles from Britain’s roads and therefore significantly reduce carbon emissions.


How many jobs will be created, and what type of jobs will these be?

The proposals will bring over £400m of investment to the local area and create around 10,000 new jobs on the site alone.  An investment of this size is crucial for the region’s future, in order to adapt to the changing economy and job market. The local area has suffered from long term structural unemployment since the closure of the Parkside colliery and other related industries.

The majority of on-site jobs will be created within the distribution warehouses. Other jobs include those in the business park, train drivers and other train and signal personnel and security officers.  There will also be significant numbers of administrative staff, and those employed within the retail and leisure facilities on site.

With such a large investment we can expect to see further investment and job creation as other businesses move to the areas or as existing firms expand.  Astral Developments are committed to working with job centres and local education providers to ensure training and skills development are available to local people.  This high level of investment and job creation will be at no cost to the public purse.


How will people travel to work?

Astral Developments will be funding improvements to local rail and bus links, which will benefit existing residents and encourage future Parkside employees not to use private vehicles. Local public transport investment will include improvements to Newton-le-Willows station, including new car parks and park and ride schemes, a free bus link between the station and the site and the creation, reinstatement or upgrading of six bus routes serving the site and the future Countryside Park.


Will this mean more HGVs and other lorries travelling through the local area?

No, Astral will put in place measures to ensure this does not happen.  The proposals include Junction 22 of the M6 being re-built and improved.  The new motorway junction will ensure local traffic is not interacting with the Parkside traffic.  In addition, it will provide a direct link for HGVs with the M6, ensuring there is no strain on local roads. Local traffic will be able to avoid Parkside altogether, as the A49/A579 will flow freely over the motorway. Enforcement measures, including CCTV and number plate recognition, will ensure HGVs do not use local roads. The Highways Agency supports the proposals as a result of the commitments made by the developers to reducing the impact of site traffic.