RESIDENTS, councillors and conservationists at Warrington have joined forces to protest over a 2m high boundary fence that has been erected on land where unauthorised clay pigeon shooting has been taking place.
They are also opposing a retrospective application for planning consent to upgrade an existing track on the site at Prospect Farm, in Prospect Lane, Rixton.
Planning officers say permission is not required for the fence and are recommending the upgrade to the track be approved.
Two previous applications to change the use of the land for clay pigeon shooting have been withdrawn.
Officers say the proposal is not a planning application but a request for a lawful development certificate.
They say debate over the use of the site, lawful, authorised or otherwise, will not be relevant when the issue comes before the borough council’s development management committee.
But Rixton-with-Glazebrook Parish Council, borough councillors Bill Brinksman, Russ Bowden and Geoff Settle, Risley Moss Action Group and 17 neighbours are all objecting.
They complain of additional traffic on an unmade road, danger to users of footpaths, danger to a nearby railway line, impact on nature conservation areas at Rixton and Risley Moss, impact on the Green Belt and noise.
Cllr Settle (pictured), on behalf of Warrington Nature Conservation Forum, has strong objections because the land adjoins two significant nature reserves and is close to Woolston Eyes Site of Special Scientific Interest.
He says the proposal would impinge on the tranquillity of the area, its visitors, etc and cause an all-year round disturbance to birds.
Officers say material has been imported onto the site and used to create mounds, hard surfacing and two wooden buildings have been erected without planning consent, but a retrospective planning application is in the process of being submitted.
Storm over clay pigeon shooting
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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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“danger to a nearby railway line? and an all year round disturbance to birds?” The mind boggles.
What next? Stop people walking in the country in case the birds get disturbed? Birds adapt as do animals. get real.
Another application after the horse has bolted – these people know what the planning rules are and yet blatantly ignore them. These applications don’t even cover the unauthorised/illegal buildings that have appeared on the site. It is high time the Council got some balls and took enforcement action against them!