Residents 'devastated' as industrial site approved

A decision to allow plans for a large industrial open storage site close to homes in Liverpool has left local residents "devastated".

Residents had vowed to fight Peloton Real Estate's proposals for the major development in Garston which was initially rejected by Liverpool City Council last April over concerns about noise and pollution.

That move has now been overturned after the company won an appeal against the local authority.

Peloton Real Estate Group has been contacted by the BBC for comment.

Local resident Jenny, who lives on York Street, directly opposite the site said the move will bring more HGV traffic and noise pollution and have significant impact on the area's air quality.

"They said open storage, that could be anything, we just don't know," she said.

Jenny, moved to the area six years ago when the former Garston Industrial Estate site was earmarked for housing.

She said she felt "really let down".

"When I bought the house there was plans for new build houses to be built there," she said.

"If I knew this was going to go ahead, I wouldn't have bought this house.

"But now I'm stuck with it because no one's going to want to buy it."

She also raised concerns about the increase in exhaust fumes from HGVs, additional noise and light pollution from the site.

"There's lots of elderly people live along here," she said.

"People who've got ill health, breathing troubles.

"None of us are going to be able to open our windows in summer.

"And it's going to be the spotlights as well. We are literally going to get the spotlights right into our bedroom windows."

Fellow resident and member of the Garston Community United residents' group Gary Woollam believes the development would not bring "good jobs" to the area.

"They cannot promise any local jobs which are important," he said.

"They can't promise any quality jobs. On that site you are going get low paid you know security men."

In a report, planning inspector Tim Burnham said the council had objected on the grounds of noise and air quality but only chose to defend its position at an inquiry held in November on the grounds of noise, and did not present a case on air quality or transport.

The decision means the site will be able to operate with loading and unloading daily from 07:00 to 23:00 GMT.

Local councillor Lucy Williams said the new development will have "a significant impact on people's quality of life".

"Not only does this bring the HGVs, it's going to bring noise and other disruptions as well," she said.

"This is literally a stone's throw from residential houses. We're just really, really disappointed that this has gone through."

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