Historic road not worth preserving

HOUSEHOLDERS on one of Warrington’s most historic residential roads have been told the road is not considered worth designating as a conservation area.
Stafford Road, off Wilderspool Causeway pre-dates construction of the nearby Manchester Ship Canal and has a small number of distinctive houses.
But over the years, many houses have been altered, windows unsympathetically replaced, boundary treatment dismantled and satellite dishes installed.
As a result, independent specialists have produced an appraisal in line with English Heritage guidance, which has concluded that while the area is attractive and has characteristics which should be retained, it is not of sufficient status or quality to merit conservation area designation.
Residents were consulted and some opposed designation. Others said the street was unique in Warrington, had retained most of its original features and was worthy of conservation.
But they were not interested in a conservation scheme that would prevent the installation of double-glazed windows.
“We find this an unacceptable misbalance between conserving the street and conserving the planet and health.”
The appraisal pointed out that the situation of the properties had been altered as a result of the construction of the Ship Canal and subsequent treatment of the Black Bear Canal.
As a result, any townscape merits of the area had been lost.
It added: “While individually these buildings are attractive and for an industrial town of this period in the North West, quality examples of attractive middle class housing, individually, householders have failed to conserve the original quality materials that would warrant the implementation of great protection through conservation area designation.”
Pictured: Houses in Stafford Road.