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DX Freight plan for Essington: Freight firm considering appeal

Freight firm DX is still considering whether to appeal against South Staffordshire Council's decision to reject their bid to build a transport centre at Essington.

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The proposal was dramatically thrown out by the planning committee on Tuesday night.

Councillor David Clifft said today he would be 'surprised' if the company, which has two bases in Willenhall, appealed.

Today it emerged that the site earmarked for the £36 million transport super-hub could now become home to a science park and a hospice.

The two developments are among schemes being mooted for the 44-acre green belt plot in Essington after villagers succeeded in halting plans to build a distribution centre there.

Residents are still celebrating their victory against freight firm DX whose application to set up in business on Hobnock Road sparked an 18-month battle to prevent the development.

Around 200 placard-waving campaigners lobbied South Staffordshire Council's planning committee on Tuesday night when the decision was taken to refuse permission on the grounds it was inappropriate use of green belt land.

Planning officers had recommended approval of the bid, citing special circumstances, but successive councillors spoke firmly against it. Essington councillor David Clifft warned the council it was 'sailing into uncharted waters' and said its duty was to 'protect green belt at all costs'.

Afterwards he said: "I'm delighted, not just for me but for the residents. We had a mountain to climb but we did it. It was people power at work.

"Now we want to move forward with ideas to develop part of the site. There is planning permission to build on 11acres and we agree with that. We have already suggested an IT park and the parish council has now come forward with the hospice idea, both of which we are looking into." Campaigner Andy Phillips, a 35-year-old business development manager who was on the action group, said: "I'm over the moon. We weren't expecting that decision but it's great news after almost two years' hard work keeping the campaign going."

Mother-of-three Helen Jones, 35, said: "I'm absolutely ecstatic. I have two children at St John's Primary, just 500 yards from the site, and I was seriously worried about their safety with an estimated 1,500 vehicle movements to and from the site every day, that's a huge number." Demonstrators arrived in coaches and cars in a last-ditch attempt to halt DX's plans. Around 50 crammed into the public gallery at the back of the council chamber while 150 more waited outside during the two-hour debate. Addressing the meeting, Stuart Godman, for DX, said the move would protect 600 jobs and create 400 new ones. But Councillor Dave Lockley, of Cheslyn Hay, said: "This plan is no good for anyone except DX."

Several councillors said the hub would increase congestion around Junction 11 of the M6 near Cannock and criticised Staffordshire County Council's highways chiefs for withdrawing their objection to the scheme.

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