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Archaeologists campaigning for the environment


Help Halewood!

Last revised: 28 November 1999

Campaign name Halewood Environmental Land Protection Group (HELP)
Location Liverpool, England
Website http://www.help-halewood.co.uk
Archaeology details http://www.help-halewood.co.uk/archaeologyframes.htm
Email enquiries@help-halewood.co.uk

We are a community group approximately 600 in number based in Halewood, Liverpool, England. We have called ourselves the Halewood Environmental Land Protection Group (or HELP for short). We are currently in dispute with our local council (Knowsley) and the North West Development Agency over their plans to remove a 600 acre section of greenbelt land and release it for industrial use.

The land is currently home to the last 5 farmers within Halewood and home to over 100 people including a retirement park for around 60 retirees. Our community has enjoyed using this land since time began and is our last piece of "countryside" in the south of Liverpool before we meet the borough of Halton.

The actual development has been known since 1996 and has been kept a closely guarded secret from the community until it was leaked in June this year from which we have been fighting the proposal.

A site visit was made by A Nicholson from Merseyside SMR on 19th August this year and the following summarises their finds.

Evidence collected has shown that there were Prehistoric/Mesolithic and Bronze age settlements in the site with flint scatters been found across the proposed devleopment site. Plus the possibility of an Iron Age/Romano British enclosure.

Evidence also suggests the land being farmed continually since the Medieval Period with finds such as a metal coins, spoon fragment s and scattered pottery. Modern farms have been developed from Medieval beginnings such as Wellbrook House, Yew Tree Farm and Irelands Farm. Finch Lane has been estimated to be post Medieval as well as a Medieval boundary ditch being found too.The majority of 'modern' houses on the Rectangle have been built within the Industrial revolution era.

As you can see there is a long and diverse history to the site and the Council's idea to develop it does not meet with the villagers approval. Can I ask you to please add your support to our cause by writing to Graham Smith, Director of Planning and Development at Knowsley Council at the address below voicing your opinions.

PO Box 26 Municipal Buildings Archway Road Huyton Knowsley Merseyside L36 9FB

You can also visit our website at http://www.help-halewood.co.uk

and our e-mail address is enquiries@help-halewood.co.uk

Many thanks for taking the time to read this letter.

Brian Brandreth on behalf of HELP

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