DX Freight opens up on Essington planning refusal
A freight firm has spoken of the blow it was dealt by council bosses when they threw out its bid to set up a £36 million distribution centre in Essington.
The DX Group said it was now reviewing its options following the decision by South Staffordshire District Council last week.
Villagers launched an 18-month campaign against the plan for a transport super-hub on a 44-acre green belt plot in Hobnock Road.
The application had been recommended for approval with planning officers citing 'very special circumstances', including the creation of hundreds of jobs, as grounds to develop green belt land.
The company declined to comment at the time but today Jo Cresswell, a spokeswoman for the firm, said: "We are disappointed to learn of the South Staffordshire District Council's decision to refuse DX planning consent for our proposed new hub at Essington.
"We are now seeking professional advice with regard to our options, and we will review our position over the coming days and weeks. We are 100 per cent committed to the OneDX journey which is core to our strategy."
She declined to say whether the decision will effect DX's two bases in Willenhall.
Around 200 placard-wielding protesters lobbied last week's meeting, cramming into the public gallery and lining the route to the council chamber.
Essington councillor David Clifft warned the committee it was 'sailing into uncharted waters' and said its duty was to 'protect green belt at all costs'.
Several speakers raised concerns about the likely road chaos the centre was expected to create around the M6 motorway island at Junction 11 at Cannock but Councillor Alan Hinton warned that the authority would leave itself open to a'n appeal it could not win' if the application was rejected on that argument.
DX said it would decide in the near future whether to appeal against the decision.
In the meantime residents are keen to look into the possibility that the site, which has planning permission for 11 acres, is used as a science park and/or a hospice.
Councillor Clifft said both were acceptable green belt developments.
DX argued that the hub would have secured the jobs of 600 current employees and created 400 new ones, as well as at least 200 construction jobs.
The council had a mind to accept it for the level of investment the plan represented and the effect it would have on the local economy.
It was predicted that an additional 290 jobs would be created locally in spin-off trades.
