A Merseyside town is "struggling" as residents say they have been "left behind" with overstretched services and no benefits.
Halewood residents have called on Knowsley Council for action, saying the money from new housing developments should be put back into the community. Section 106 payments are legal agreements that see builders and developers contribute cash to the local authority which is then used back in the local area.
Over 1,300 homes are being built in Halewood meaning around £13.4m will be brought in from section 106 contributions. But concerns have already been raised that services in the town are 'not up to scratch', with fears these will be "forgotten".
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Concerns have been raised that the 106 money "is not not being spent" in the community for the benefit of residents as people say schools are already "full" and it is "impossible" to access the health services should you need. Residents say the money "is not being put to use" to help the people of Halewood.
One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, told the ECHO : "Halewood businesses are struggling and having to close or move from their premises because the rents have risen. We have overstretched schools, overstretched health services, the bus routes are poor, and people are getting sent to Widnes to sign on.
"What’s another 1,000 kids going to do to the area and another 2,000 residents when it is already struggling? The S106 money is supposed to go on better services so it's in place for the additional infrastructure.
"Where's our money being spent? We've seen minutes from previous council meetings that gives little of 106 contributions to healthcare but that's not good enough. Yet Volair, the leisure centre is getting more of that money. Councillors, who are on the board themselves, are constantly giving money to this private LTD company.
"Bailing out a leisure centre when it offers no benefit to the community, where's the sense? Residents are getting no benefit from that and the cost doesn't justify the S106 money."
Residents say the town's schools and health care 'urgently need investment' adding the roads are also "filthy" and bin collections "are being neglected". They added "the services and infrastructure just aren't there."
They said: "Halewood is struggling, it's been forgotten. Everything is rising and businesses in Huyton, that don't pay business rates, are being helped out with money, but nothing seems to be spent here in Halewood. Ideally, we'd bail out the services here. The schools, there's a building there not being used and yet children are being forced out of their area.
"It's very reactive not proactive. What exactly are we getting, how are we benefitting from this S106 money that seems to be ploughed into other things that just don't benefit the community?"
A Knowsley Council spokesperson said the new homes would "meet demands in the area" with almost a quarte being 'affordable homes'. They added the section 106 money, of £13.4m, would be used to create new primary school places, road improvements, outdoor sports provision, early years childcare facilities, enhancements to Finch Wood, subsidising bus services, improving healthcare facilities and importantly, providing local employment opportunities for residents.
They added: “We publish all details of S106 received and how they are spent on the Council’s website. S106 monies have to be spent on projects that will mitigate significant effects of development on infrastructure (such as local schools, road networks and parks). The money cannot be used for other general purposes.
“With regard to the concerns about Volair, Volair is not a private company and is instead wholly owned by the Council. Unlike other leisure services elsewhere in the country, Volair did not receive sufficient Government funding to deal with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic (receiving just £0.374m) so the Council stepped in with funding of £1.903m to ensure that leisure centres in the Borough did not have to close, something that the users of all five sites are grateful for.
"There are two Elected Members on the Board of the company, these are voluntary positions and the Councillors do not receive any payment for carrying out these roles. In order to improve facilities in Halewood, the Council provided a loan to Volair to install a soft play area (“Volair Adventure Cove”) at the Halewood site. This facility is well used and the loan is currently being repaid by Volair.
“The allegations about a grant being paid to a business in Huyton which did not pay its Business Rates are incorrect.
“A key priority for us is to support residents and businesses across the borough, with demand for our services and support particularly increasing throughout the pandemic. We have facilitated in excess of £30m in Government grants to support our businesses (many of which are in Halewood) and supporting business across the Borough remains a key priority for us.”
A spokesman for Halewood Town Council added: "Halewood Town Council will always welcome a discussion with partners regarding the use of S106 funds to improve the township’s environment and infrastructure for the residents of Halewood. As a council, we have raised this issue formally in meetings with representatives from Knowsley MBC, and we would welcome the opportunity to discuss this further.
"As the township of Halewood expands due to new housing developments, we also appreciate the aspiration of local residents to ensure funding associated with these schemes is used for the maximum benefit of Halewood."
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