THE Woodland Trust insists it has not entered any agreements with developers involved in plans for the former Eccleston Park Golf Course site.

An outline planning application to create a 'new village' at Eccleston Park with around 1,000 new properties was drawn up and submitted to the council by Mulbury Homes.

The project aims to see the creation of new homes, accommodation for the over 55s, a local shop, a day care nursery, health benefits and improvements to the road infrastructure.

READ > Mulbury Homes submits plans for 'new village' at Eccleston Park

Members of the Rainhill Save Our Green Belt campaign group had expressed alarm over the potential release of part of St Benedict's Wood to enable the creation of an access road.

Residents said they were made aware that the Woodland Trust has held talks with Mulbury Homes about allowing some of the woods on the site to be chopped down to facilitate an access road, which would result in thousands more trees being felled.

Campaigners added they have had correspondence from the Woodland Trust saying they would be encouraging the developer to integrate the woodland but would not be objecting to plans.

The Woodland Trust has issued a statement to clarify its position and says it was approached by the developer but has not entered any agreement.

The Trust says it will make representations to the planning authorities about the proposals.

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A spokesperson said: “The Trust is pleased to clarify its position on the issue regarding St Benedict’s Wood and the proposed adjacent development by Mulbury (Warrington) Ltd on the old Eccleston Park Golf course site.

"St Benedict’s Wood is relatively young woodland planted about twenty years ago by the Trust with a mixture of native broadleaves on the edge of the former Rainhill Hospital site.

“The Trust was approached by the developer about permission to expand their existing road access which runs through the Trust owned St Benedict’s Wood.

"As part of this approach, as with any approach regarding Trust sites, staff entertained the discussion but did not take matters further or enter into any agreement.

"The initial Trust response spoke about details of what this proposal could look like but did not frame these discussions in the correct context i.e. nothing has been agreed or promised to the developer.

"As a matter of policy we do not usually negotiate or agree anything with a potential developer in advance of, or allow ourselves to be party to, a planning application."

The spokesperson added: “The Trust is not involved in the development of the old Eccleston Park Golf course.

"Any initial discussions we had were instigated by the developer seeking to resolve potential issues they could foresee with the width of the access road and any subsequent planning application.

"We have had no involvement with the plans which have been submitted with the planning application which shows losing part of St Benedict’s Wood to accommodate the widened access.

"We can confirm categorically that no form of agreement or guarantees have been given regarding future access into the proposed development area by the Trust, despite what may have been submitted to the planning authority by the developer.

“The Trust will be making representations to the planning authority about the proposal which directly affects our site. We are continuing to gather information to help inform our response, which we will submit before the deadline of Friday 11 December.

“We will do all we can to ensure St Benedict’s Wood remains a place for quiet and peaceful enjoyment. It is not our place to comment on the need for housing development in the Green Belt, that is a decision for the Local Authority to take, but regardless of the planning decision, we are keen to safeguard a secure future for the wood and further our cause for trees and woodland. ”

A spokesperson for Mulbury Homes said: “As you are aware, we have now submitted an application for the development at Eccleston Park Village and are awaiting the outcome of that process.

"We continue to engage with a wide range of stakeholders in the project and will continue to do so throughout the process.”