A cross-party congress on the future of Ravenscraig renewed calls for the rejection of a planning appeal by a Lanarkshire-based transport company who want to site a rail freight logistics hub there
The controversial proposals from the Russell Group were turned down by North Lanarkshire Council in December last year and are now subject to a planning appeal to Scottish Ministers.
Those opposing the freight hub say, if given the go-ahead, the industrial complex will be eight times the size of the regional sports centre, with 775-metre long freight trains operating 24 hours a day, and 800 heavy goods vehicles movements trundling through the heart of Motherwell, past local schools, homes and community facilities from Ravenscraig to Airbles Road.
Held at North Lanarkshire Council HQ in Motherwell, the meeting was organised by Ravenscraig Community Action Group (RCAG), and attended by the area’s MP, MSPs and councillors from across the political parties.
The meeting featured a briefing from North Lanarkshire Council place making and planning chiefs, and heard from families living in Ravenscraig as the next steps for the area were discussed.
The action group launched “The Ravenscraig Promise” – a mini-manifesto for best practice place making, delivering the Ravenscraig Masterplan, realising the 1000 new homes, schools and community facilities for the site, whilst attracting appropriate commercial and light industrial employment.
Politicians from across the political spectrum reconfirmed their commitment to oppose the Russell Group plans, to write to Scottish Government Planning Minister Joe Fitzpatrick MSP, and to take their campaign to the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh.
Ryan O’Donnell, Chair of RCAG, said: “From every point on the political spectrum, the cross-party chorus of opposition to Russell Group’s plans that would scar the Motherwell skyline for generations is deafening. With the future of North Lanarkshire on the line, the cross-party congress on the future of Ravenscraig looked forward, not back.
“The Ravenscraig Promise offers a positive vision for the future, to delivering the promise to a generation of steelworkers, their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. It builds on two-decades of planned progress and investment and offers a framework for best practice place making and the delivery of new homes, schools and community facilities.
“Scottish Government Planning Minister Joe Fitzpatrick MSP must move quickly to signal the end of the line for Russell Group’s plans and the Ravenscraig Partnership should recognise that seeking to bulldoze unwanted development through local communities won’t wash any more.
"As one of Europe’s largest urban transformation programmes, Ravenscraig can and should be a model of sustainable, local living in North Lanarkshire and our community won’t rest until that is delivered.”
Scottish Labour’s Monica Lennon MSP, said: “The residents of Ravenscraig have invested their time, energy and money in the promise of a brighter future. The future of the area should be decided by those who live and work in the Ravenscraig community, and I believe strongly that their voices must be heard.
"North Lanarkshire Council was right to reject the Russell Group plan and Scottish Ministers must do the same now that the appeal is in their hands.”
Central Scotland Green MSP Gillian Mackay, who has written to Scotland’s new planning minister calling on Scottish Government to reject the appeal, added: “This proposal has already been rejected by North Lanarkshire Council following significant pressure from local residents. It’s time for the new community Lanarkshire was promised with schools and local amenities, not massive industrial buildings and 800 dirty diesel HGVs passing by a number of schools in the town 24 hours a day.”
Scottish Conservative, Meghan Gallacher MSP said: “I am absolutely delighted to continue my support for Ravenscraig Community Action Group and to add my signature to the Ravenscraig Promise. It is imperative that across the political spectrum we come together to ensure that families and the community are placed front and centre of any future development plans for Ravenscraig. We must continue to listen to their voices.”
Speaking previously, Motherwell and Wishaw SNP MSP Clare Adamson said: “The appeal is a judicial process and it is now a matter for the Scottish Government’s reporter. But I trust the reporter will be cognisant of the overwhelming response from residents, the council’s definitive rejection and the detrimental and irreversible impact that this development would have on Ravenscraig. In practice, it would cease to be a community but instead become an industrial site.”
Following the confirmation of the application being sent to the Scottish Government Reporter, Kenneth Russell, director at Russell Group, said: “We remain fully committed to this development and making Ravenscraig home to our headquarters and logistics hub and delivering significant economic benefit to North Lanarkshire through the creation of up to 2000 new jobs.
“The proposed development would also help meet the Scottish Government’s agenda for developing a net zero freight and logistics rail network for Scotland, which is hugely important in creating a sustainable future.”
Russell Wilkie, director of Ravenscraig Ltd, added: “We believe an investment of this size will be crucial to unlocking further regeneration opportunities at Ravenscraig, driving economic benefit across North Lanarkshire and beyond.”
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