Recent deals involving Eddie Stobarts (Unilever Widnes and Manor Park Runcorn) it seems will mean even more HGV's using Halton's roads over the next ten years.
These developments and others before and no doubt in the future are part of the council's plans to make Halton a major distribution hub in the north west. Take a look at the very wordy Core Strategy Plans consultative document on the council's website. It would seem that such developments have all party support.
This is occurring in an area which has some of the highest morbidity and mortality rates in relation to chest conditions in England and Wales. It also comes at a time when reports published over the past two years indicate even stronger links between particulates, one of the main emissions of diesel engines, and chest problems in children and older people. Such research indicates that the levels we are currently permitting are too high and should be reduced.
The latest figures regarding the increase in the numbers of HGV's in the next ten years on Haltons roads would seem to be around 1000 HGV's every 24 hour cycle (500 of this figure relates to the Halebank Freight Park which is in the pipeline), if all the developments go ahead.
The council has genuine problems in relation to attracting employment to the area which is out of their control (eg skills base) but it seems to me that their strategies in relation to health and employment are not joined up.
There is going to be an explosion in Green jobs. Maybe the council is looking into this area of potential growth - I hope so, for many reasons
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