The Draft Local Plan as a whole is not sound because it fails to demonstrate sufficiently that the proposed housing developments are justified, are deliverable or that they align with local needs. I see little evidence that the Local Plan meets the area's objectively assessed needs.

In particular, it is clear, and it has been for a number of years now, that the town's infrastructure is inadequate in terms of providing access from the Residential areas south of the Manchester Ship Canal to the retail centres in the north, and to the main hospital and the town centre. It is a fact that living in the south of Warrington it is easier to travel outside of the town to shop in nearby cities and towns, or to drive around to the north by the M6 and M62, or to travel to the hospital in Runcorn..

The Local Plan fails to adequately address these problems, in particular the river and canal crossings, and completely fails to address the impact of the proposed housing developments in the south. Apart from the diversion of Streeton Road to the A49, there are no links of housing development to prior development of infrastructure to cope with the influx of Residents. It is clear from past developments that the housing would come first and infrastructure would fail to get of the ground as soon as developers move off to pastures new leaving the problems with the Residents of the south.

Furthermore, the Local Plan fails to adequately consider that the majority of retail and work centres are to the north of the town and therefore the proposed housing in the south, and the loss of valuable green belt, is not justified as it will simply serve to add to the commuter belt status of Warrington South where Residents commute to nearby towns and cities to work and spend, leaving Warrington with the infrastructure problem.

The Local Plan fails to address air quality issues with increased traffic.

Existing medical facilities in the south are already stretched. The Local Plan says the development will require new medical and leisure centres but fails to address where and when, adding to the already overstretched local services.

In respect of the Mass Urban public transport system I would simply point to my own experience as a prime example of an existing Resident of Warrington South: born in Warrington from generations of Warrington Residents and schooled in Warrington, I went to University out of town and I have never ever worked in Warrington. I have spent the whole of my 44 professional years commuting to the city (and I might add not by rail because the inadequate bus service rarely aligns with commuter train timetables) for work, leisure and retail. I see no evidence whatsoever in the Local Plan that would change that, only that it would get worse by the influx of new Residents to a commuter belt. It is a fundamental weakness of the Local Plan to inadequately address the commuter status of Warrington South and the fact that new housing in this area will undoubtedly attract new Residents from outside Warrington (as this area has done in the past) rather than solve Warrington's own housing needs.