Business park plans for Daw Mill colliery site are withdrawn

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CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a business park on the former Daw Mill Colliery site have been withdrawn. The proposed site, which included an HGV depot and associated storage facility, sparked outrage among local residents, who launched a campaign against the plans.

But while Haworth Estates, which is behind the plan to reinvigorate the Daw Mill site in Arley, has abandoned the original proposal, it will be submitting another application that 'strikes the right balance'.

Iain Thomson of Haworth Estates recently met North Warwickshire Borough Council leaders, councillors Mick Stanley and Ray Sweet.

Mr Thomson said: "We were told quite clearly that the high levels of HGV traffic generated by B8 Distribution use would not be supported on the site and that our development proposals needed to change in order to address both the community's and members' concerns about the increase in HGV movements and reduce the impact on the B roads and some local crossroads.

"We have said all along that we will fully account for feedback and we are exploring ways of making changes to the present application to strike an appropriate balance between retaining an employment use at Daw Mill whilst also respecting and where possible limiting any impacts on local residents.

"We will be undertaking this work over the next few weeks in consultation with the council and once we have an agreed position suggest we brief you ahead of this being subjected to further public consultation.

"The redevelopment of Daw Mill is certainly not intended to rival either Hams Hall or Birch Coppice due to its natural constraints and we believe the revisions to the application that we'll be making will further reinforce this point."

Labour parliamentary candidate for North Warwickshire, Mike O'Brien, said: "Although it's good that Haworth Estates have dropped their original proposals as a result of the local protests and the opposition of council leaders, that is not the end of it.

"They will put in new proposals soon. I remain concerned about the new proposals.

"There are two issues. Firstly, will the site be used for B8 warehousing and storage? We want B8 withdrawn because it will require HGVs and I assume that will happen.

"The second issue is the use of any HGVs. We say the local roads are unsuitable for HGVs and we want assurances that there will be none.

"There is general acknowledgement that this site will be a business park but local people don't want a business park that attracts HGVs.

"Haworth Estates could create a business park on that site with offices and hi-tech units that do not use HGVs.

"If they try to maintain areas for storage of containers then they will use HGVs and the council should reject any such plan."

Two public protest meetings were held in July in relation to the proposals – one in Over Whitacre and another in Coleshill.

Mike O'Brien added: "People power supported by the councillors has had some success but this fight is not over yet."