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Inland port criticised as 'wolf in sheep's clothing' on green belt
COUNTRYSIDE campaigners have criticised council planners who gave approval to a new "inland port" on green belt land, calling the development a "wolf in sheep's clothing".
The Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) said it was "horrified" by proposals for the site at Rossington, near Doncaster, which were given the go-ahead at a meeting on Tuesday.
Developers Helioslough claim the project will create up to 5,000 jobs, both on site and in related industries, but those opposed to the idea called the firm's figures "pie in the sky".
In its application submitted to Doncaster Council Helioslough said the port would include more than 500,000 sq m of warehouse space and be connected to the East Coast main railwayline.
Plans showed that the terminal would have access to the M18, which runs nearby and the Finningley and Rossington Regeneration Route, which should eventually link Robin Hood Airport to the motorway.
Helioslough said at least four trains hauling up to 50 wagons of containers from abroad will run from East Coast seaports such as Felixstowe to Rossington every day.
Goods would then be separated for distribution, mainly by road and company spokesman Simon Hoare said: "This really underscores the fact that Doncaster will be at the heart of transport logistics in this region.
"All of the warehouses will have a direct rail connection. It is the size, with space for long trains, and proximity of the motorway network that makes this the optimum site."
The developer has estimated that 68 per cent of the new jobs would be warehouse staff, 11 per cent administration workers, 13 per cent drivers and seven per cent management.
But opposition has been mounted by several parish councils, including those in Rossington, Wadworth, Loversall and Tickhill, with protesters claiming the scheme is inappropriate use of green belt land.
And yesterday CPRE South Yorkshire planning officer John King severely criticised Doncaster Council saying although rail movement would be used, the site would also generate 8,000 lorry movements a day.
Mr King added: "This isn't an Inland Port – it's a bog-standard road distribution centre with just a bit of a rail facility bolted on. It's a wolf in sheep's clothing. It will let lorries in by the back door.
"We supported the original concept of an inland port and we like the fact that some containers will come here from Felixstowe by rail.
"But when we dug a bit deeper we found out that the so-called inland port will actually mean an increase in carbon dioxide emissions from lorries – over 68,000 tonnes a year."
Mr King said CPRE South Yorkshire and its members were also angry that Doncaster Council had gone against its own plans for protecting the local countryside – ignoring green belt restrictions.
He added: "Rossington is in an area called the Torne River Carrlands and is within the Doncaster green belt. It's a flat, simple and intact rural landscape and the council's own landscape character assessment states that warehousing will spoil it.
"Large warehouses will be visible from miles to the south and west, especially from higher ground towards Tickhill and east of Wadworth."
A final decision on the scheme will now made by central Government because of the site's location in the green belt.
Campaigners have demanded that the Communities and Local Government Minister, John Denham, hold a public inquiry.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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