Redrow Protests to be held over Redrow's plans to build next to Calderstones Park
Two protests are due to take place on 14 February in relation to Redrow's plans for a 51-home scheme next to Calderstones Park. Calderstones School intends to "strongly object" to the proposal because of concerns about extra traffic and more noise. Liverpool council is set to decide on Tuesday 14 February whether the development will go ahead.

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Two protests will be held tomorrow against a controversial plan by Redrow to build homes next to Calderstones Park.

Liverpool council’s planning committee is set to decide on Tuesday whether the 51-home scheme will go ahead. Councillors will visit the land near Calderstones Park before returning to the Town Hall for a debate.

The Friends of Harthill and Calderstones Park is planning to demonstrate at Harthill and at the Town Hall. The group says the land earmarked by Redrow is actually part of the park – something disputed by the council.

Meanwhile neighbouring Calderstones School has also said it will “strongly object” to the plans. It is worried about the potential increases in traffic and noise the development could cause.

The park friends group, backed by the city’s Green and Liberal Democrat groups – claim to have proof that the land is part of Calderstones Park.

It plans to protest at 9.45am on Tuesday morning at Harthill Road and at 10.45am at the Town Hall.

As part of the Harthill scheme, charities and community groups in the area – including Beechley Riding Stables, Calderkids playground and the Calderstones Miniature Railway – are being offered new facilities elsewhere.

Group member Caroline Williams said last week: “Our argument is simple, this is part of the park and it shouldn’t be built on.”

But Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson said: “The land is not in the park. The Calderkids building is falling down and they need new facilities so that is what we are doing.

“Beechley stables as well, we are moving them to a good facility – and the railway are happy too.

“Everyone is happy except the Liberal Democrats and the Greens who want to turn this into a political issue.”

Gareth Stansfield, senior development manager for Redrow, said: “This land is adjacent to the park, rather than in the park itself.”

And he added: “The money generated from Redrow purchasing this land will allow the council to provide improved and more suitable accommodation for these users, whilst also delivering much needed new homes, both for private sale in this location and affordable housing elsewhere in the city. It will also contribute to improvements in the park itself.”

The school’s objections

Calderstones School has written to parents to say that it will fight the scheme for 51 homes off Harthill Road unless its “significant concerns” are addressed.

The school says it has been in talks with the council over issues including the increase in traffic the development could cause and the impact of construction noise on students taking exams.

The letter from acting headteacher Lee Ratcliffe says the school has “significant concerns” over the plans.

And Mr Ratcliffe says: “Although we are reasonably confident that some action will be taken to address the concerns that we presently have, as the plans for the development currently stand, without any associated conditions that would alleviate the concerns we have cited, we would strongly object to the development of this site.

“We would be seeking conditions and assurances regarding the development of this land for us to withdraw this objection.”

Mr Ratcliffe includes a summary of the concerns the school has raised with the council. They include:

* The school is concerned the development would increase traffic on busy Harthill Road. It says: “We have already expressed concerns with the local council and Highways Agency about road safety on Harthill Road and our concerns would obviously further increase should this development go ahead.”

And the school suggests that Redrow might need to “provide the school with safer access to and from our site” if the development goes ahead.

* Calderstones School has “significant concern” the noise from the development could affect pupils sitting exams. It said: “In terms of the noise of site traffic and construction, how will Redrow ensure that public examinations taken in the school hall immediately adjacent to the proposed development will not face disturbance?”

* The school says there is already a “blind corner” at its main entrance, opposite the proposed entrance to the Redrow scheme. It says the risk caused by increased traffic “would be unacceptable to the school” – and has asked if Harthill Road could be made into a one-way road or a no-through road.

* Some of the pavements on Harthill Road are, the school says, “currently impossible for pupils... to safely use”. It wants the council to improve those pavements.

* The school is also worried that residents of the new houses may complain about the number of pupils walking through the development once it’s completed. It suggests a new route to the park could be created.