North Warwickshire & Bedworth and Nuneaton’s voices in Parliament, Craig Tracey and Marcus Jones, have praised Network Rail’s announcement that they will no longer pursue Daw Mill as a location for a Railway Sleeper Factory. The local MPs had met with Ministers to lobby against National Rail going forward with the plans.
This follows on from the recent decision by North Warwickshire Borough Council to reject an application by Howarth Estates to transform the former Daw Mill Colliery into a business park.
Craig Tracey MP commented:
“This is very good news, residents have been clear that they did not want the factory or business park on the old site. It is well known that the Covenant on the site stated that once the coal mine has ceased the site would go back into greenbelt land. I had lobbied Transport Ministers to raise residents’ concerns that the railway sleeper factory should not be built at Daw Mill. I welcome the news the Network Rail will not be continuing with their interest in the site. As a longstanding opponent of the Howarth Estate plans which would have had a major impact on local roads and villages I was delighted that the Conservative Council listened to local residents and rejected the application.”
Marcus Jones MP said:
"This is the right decision, the site is not suitable for this use and that has been reflected in the views of local people and the decision made by North Warwickshire Borough Council to refuse permission. Steps should now be taken to return the land to its original state."
Residents and the Leys and Whitacre Residents Action Group were pleased with the confirmation from Network Rail which stated:
“Network Rail has had to withdraw its interest in the development of its concrete sleeper factory at the site at Saw Mill in Arley, as the Developer has not been able to secure outline planning permission for the development of this area. Network Rail is now exploring other options for this project.”