A PROPOSED strategic rail interchange which could have seen up to 5,500 jobs created in Newton-le-Willows has been cancelled.
The development at the former Parkside Colliery site was meant to provide 5.5m sq ft of rail-linked warehousing and office space.
But tonight developers ProLogis cancelled the scheme, with one St Helens councillor describing the announcement as “crushing news”.
It is just three months since ProLogis released a revised, scaled-down masterplan for the scheme and reaffirmed its commitment to the scheme.
ProLogis vice president Simon Jenkins blamed the economy for the failure of the scheme, a decade after it was launched.
“After several months of reviewing the plans, we are disappointed that we have been unable to redesign the scheme for a strategic rail freight interchange at Parkside that will work in the current market conditions given the need for such substantial investment in rail and road infrastructure,” he said.
“Although the plans do not work at this time, as a business we recognise that the site remains an ideal location for a rail freight interchange given its proximity to two major railway lines, the M6 and M62.”
Cllr Andy Bowden, St Helens Council’s cabinet member for urban regeneration and housing, said: “This is crushing news. Given the coalition government’s plans to slash public sector spending and put more onus on the private sector this is devastating for the borough and the North West.
“This site still presents a unique opportunity which is strategically important to the borough and region and may still come to fruition in any economic upturn.”
St Helens North MP Dave Watts added: “I am obviously bitterly disappointed by this decision given the impact that this project would have had on reducing local unemployment levels and boosting our local economy at a time when we will be seeing massive government cuts.
Parkside Colliery shut in 1993, the last in the Lancashire coalfield, with the loss of 720 jobs, although it had employed more than 1,700 people at its peak.
