TOWN Hall chiefs are to be asked to go out to full public consultation on more than a dozen council-owned sites across Warrington which have been identified as surplus to requirements and could be sold-off.
Members of the borough council’s executive board will be asked next week to approve the list of properties which include Bank House, in Sankey Street, council offices at 86, Sankey Street, a commercial frontage in Winwick Road, opposite Orford Park, Lymm Youth Club and Bewsey Old School..
But it is stressed that the property identified – which could be worth £2.5 million = is put forward to seek opinion on the option to sell and is not for seeking approval to sell.
The full list is: Former community centre site, Knutsford Road, Latchford; former playing fields, Irwell Road, Latchford; Houghton Hall, Greenwood Crescent, Orford; former youth base, Phipps Lane, Burtonwood; various fishing sites; Bewsey Old School, Lockton Lane; former Oliver Plunkett playing fields, Admirals Road, Birchwood; Lymm Youth Club, Leigh Street, Lymm; commercial land, Winwick Road, Warrington; council offices, 86, Sankey Street; Golden Gates Housing offices, Bank House, Sankey Street; grazing land next to Cherry Tree Primary School, Lymm.
A report by Cllr Mike Hannon, deputy leader of the council, points out that sales of surplus sites has raised £11.1 million for the council since 2007 and also reduced revenue costs by about £250,000-a-year.
The money has contributed directly to financing projects such as Orford Park, Contact Warrington and Woolston Neighbourhood Hub.
Some of the sites, such as Lymm Youth Club and various fishing sites, are being considered for or may be suitable for community asset transfers (CATs)
These involve the council handing over the sites to community groups competent to run a community service for 30 years for a peppercorn rent..
Cllr Hannon says forecasting future values of property is difficult in the current market.
But council property asset sold at auction over the last four years have sold well and achieved good value.
Consultation will include local councillors, parish councils, neighbourhood boards, occupiers, tenants and neighbours.
After consultation, it is recommend the executive board should be provided with a report and recommendations on the future of the property.
TOWN Hall chiefs are to be asked to go out to full public consultation
on more than a dozen council-owned sites across Warrington which have
been identified as surplus to requirements and could be sold-off.
Council lists surplus sites worth £2.5m
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
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Councillor Hannon -once thecouncil have “consulted” their subjects will they keep us peasents in the dark as they seem intent to do with regards to Fordton Leisure Centre?
What can we expect? The current adminstration do not believe in any sort of consultation with its electorate. They seem to forget that they are elected and that we can vote them out of office as quickly as they were voted into office! Roll on May 2012 when we will get the chance to make changes. Several of our current Councillors have had their day and should be looking for some new blood. People who put the electorate and consultaion into everything they do.