5 days until the planning committee meeting please help

West Lancashire Borough Council’s Planning Committee will soon be meeting to decide the major housing development proposed by the Council’s own company, Tawd Valley Developments, at Fleetwood Farm.

This is a critical moment for our village.

 
🗓 Committee Meeting Details
Date: Thursday 20th November 2025
Time: 6.30pm
Venue: Council Chambers, 52 Derby Street, Ormskirk, L39 2DF

A strong community presence is essential.

 
💬 You CAN Still Comment
Although the main consultation period has ended, the Council is still accepting new public comments because further documents were uploaded recently.

👉 So far only 14 residents have submitted new objections.
👉 With 1,700+ petition signatures, even a fraction of people commenting again could influence or delay the decision.

Planning Portal:
https://pa.westlancs.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=SNVM8ARHLJC00
Click Documents, review the newest uploads, then select the Comments tab to submit your objection.

 
⚠️ Why This Matters
Fleetwood Farm is the last possible location that could form a proper village square for Banks – a central hub with:

community facilities
small retail units
local workspace
sensitively designed homes that respect our village character
If the current housing-only scheme is approved unchanged, this opportunity will be lost forever.

 
🚫 Likely Negative Impacts if Approved
Permanent loss of a historic farmstead central to Banks’ identity
No village square or community/retail hub
Increased flooding and drainage issues on Church Road
More traffic and safety conflicts outside the pharmacy
Net biodiversity loss locally; insufficient coastal mitigation
Lower amenity and poor accessibility for future residents
Fails multiple Local Plan policies (EN4, EN2, EN3, GN3, IF2)
 
✍️ One-Minute Objection Template
Subject: 2024/1208/FUL – Fleetwood Farm – Objection

The latest plans still fail on heritage, biodiversity, drainage, design and highway safety. They conflict with EN4, EN2, EN3, GN3 and IF2 of the West Lancashire Local Plan.
Please refuse, or at minimum defer, until a heritage-led redesign, deliverable BNG, funded coastal mitigation, full SuDS, and a pharmacy-frontage safety audit are secured.

[Your Name, Address]

 
📧 Email Your Objection (copy all for visibility)
Planning Officer: nicola.cook@westlancs.gov.uk
Planning Applications: plan.apps@westlancs.gov.uk
Committee Services: member.services@westlancs.gov.uk

Ward Councillors:
cllr.defreitas@westlancs.gov.uk
thomas.defreitas@lancashire.gov.uk
Cllr John Howard – cllr.howard@westlancs.gov.uk | 📞 07795 200514

Party Contact: chairman@southportconservatives.org
MP: patrick.hurley.mp@parliament.uk

 
🏪 Local Businesses – We Need You
If you own or run a business and would consider renting or buying:

a small retail unit
a workshop
a studio space
a place within a new village square
…please contact Cllr John Howard.

This provides real evidence of demand and strengthens the case for a mixed-use development rather than housing only.

📧 cllr.howard@westlancs.gov.uk
📞 07795 200514

 
📸 Evidence That Helps
Send any of the following with your objection:

dated photos/videos of flooding or surface water on Church Road
photos of traffic congestion outside the pharmacy (peak times: 8–9am, 12–1pm, 3–4pm, 5–6pm)
old photos/maps or historical information showing the importance of Fleetwood Farm
 
🗣 Want to Speak at Committee?
If you’d like to speak or offer support at the committee meeting, contact the Parish Council as soon as the final date is confirmed.
Even a couple of strong local voices can make councillors rethink.

 
📢 Please Share
Share this message with neighbours, family, WhatsApp groups and community pages.

This is the final opportunity to influence the future of Banks.
Every objection matters. Every attendee matters.