TOWN Hall policy chiefs at Warrington have voted in favour of giving extra protection to Peel Hall Park by nominating it for Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge status.
Members of the borough council’s Supporting the Local Economy Policy committee agreed to ask the executive board to review the issue and submit the park for designation.
If the executive board agree, it will represent a U-turn by the council as last year a similar request was turned down by the council’s Overview and Scrutiny committee on the grounds there would be no additional benefit to the council in safeguarding the council’s green spaces through the Queen Elizabeth II Fields initiative.
If Peel Hall Park is accepted for QE2FC status, it will receive a number of benefits, including funding of up to £5,000 to improve outdoor recreational spaces, a partnership to help community led events and a commemorative plaque.
Councillors have pressed for nomination as they believe this will not only be a positive step forward for Peel Hall Park but will also protect the park from future development.
Cllr Steve Roberts said: “I am delighted that we are able to offer this protection and so will residents who often enjoy Peel Hall Park. The benefits QE2FC brings and its status alone are something our community will be proud of.
“I urge the executive board to support the application as submitted by the policy committee. If the nomination is successful, this will be an achievement worth shouting about.”
Peel Hall Park, not to be confused with Peel Hall Farm, is council owned and has not been identified as land to be developed on in the near future.
Cllr John Kerr-Brown said: “We have listened to residents and the Facebook group ‘Woodland and Wildlife against the development of Radley Common and Peel Hall’ and we are very happy that the committee voted for the recommendation.
“I would also urge the council to propose that the opposite piece of land between Ballater Drive and Mill Lane is recommended for QE2FC status as the benefits the status brings along with the added protection of the green space is what our community wants. I will always stand up for protecting our green spaces and urge all residents in our community to make the most of them.”
Cllr Billy Lines-Rowlands added: “The extra protection QE2FC brings gives our community that little bit of reassurance that our parks will remain green spaces.
“In Warrington North there are very few green spaces left and the last thing we want to see is those parks turned into housing developments simply for a quick buck. Plus this is our mark of Olympic Legacy, even a year on, as the extra funding opens up positive opportunities for the community to get more involved with Peel Hall Park and all of our green spaces.”
TOWN Hall policy chiefs at Warrington have voted in favour of giving
extra protection to Peel Hall Park by nominating it for Queen Elizabeth
II Fields Challenge status.
Councillors vote for park U-turn
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8 Comments
The main trigger for this week discussions was the petition of over a 1,000 signatures collected by the Friends of Peel Hall Park supported by St Bridget’s Primary School. It was the school that really gave the Friend’s a boost over three years ago when they made a plea to the Mayoress about the state of the park. Since then a massive change has taken place.
Although I have been an active member of the Friend’s group I have been unsure about the need for additional protection until two weeks ago. I thought that there was enough protection. That was until I read the documents submitted to the Local Core Strategy that is taking place this month ahead of the Satnam appeal on the 29th May 2013 for their application to build 150 homes. They had disclosed their vision for 1500.
As a member of the Policy Committee I was pleased to speak in support of this application for QE2 status on Wednesday. I was swayed not only by the strength of the petition but the evidence submitted by the applicants who want to build 1500 homes on Peel Farm Land – from Peel Hall Park to junction 9 of the M62 and alongside it.
In addition there is the evidence collected by the Fight against Peel Hall Development Committee last year about the land behind the Mill House alongside Ballater Drive. Hopefully this land can be secured, as Home and Counties would like it, to continue to be used as fields for sport whoever owns it after them.
I know that Cllr Bob Barr made a comment about Peel Hall political ping pong (or words to that effect) and still enjoys taking a swipe at me for something I got caught up in as an inexperienced councillor. I do however accept his reassurance that his comments are directed at me at a personal level purely a political one. I also thank him for his support at the Policy meeting on Wednesday.
These matters should stand apart from politics and we should remain focused on the main goal protecting Peel Hall Park and Ballater Playing Fields, not to mention all the other significant sites of interests caught up in this development. Satnam dismiss these wildlife sites as being insignificant. Well I suppose they are to a company that is based near Cheltnam.
We all remember how the developers ploughed and burnt the fields, bushes and trees back in year over 12 years ago. The fire brigade were called out it was so bad and the Rangers were outraged.
I don’t want to see any repetitions of such action or spurious road being driven through our parks or playing fields sake of a fast buck or sack of gold!!!!
Finally I’d like to thank everyone who has campaigned so far not just recently but since the first application was refused all those years ago. We have a long way to go yet.
This is the link documents Satnam’s have submitted to the Core Strategy Inspector
http://warrington-consult.limehouse.co.uk/portal/planning/cs/examination/hearing_statements/hearing_statements?tab=files
Wjat do you think?
Good news on the u-turn, we do need to protect open spaces but I also agree that the playing fields off Ballater Drive should also be included with the same protection the council are looking to afford to Peel Hall Park.
QE2 Field status is more appropriate to the playing fields (clue is in the title of the initiative).
We could be at risk at losing a significant tranche of open space, if Satnam are successful in developing the land off Mill Lane. So this is even more vital that the council do the right thing, not only with Peel Hall Park, but also the playing fields off Ballater Drive and put both areas under protection for the local community.
Good work Geoff, and I fully agree with Mr G.
Just to clarify, will Ballater Drive fields be included in the nomination?
No one doubts your integrity Geoff on the Peel Hall situation, we know you stand four square behind its protection. It’s the others on the Council who say one thing and mean something quite different, that we worry about. Everyone understands the need for planning, but it should never be conducted with smoke and mirrors to deceive or mislead the electorate as so many developments in the borough have for the last two decades.
That would be ideal – The Fight against Peel Hall Developement did write to the owners last year asking them if they would, however as it stands the request put to the meeting on Wednesday was by Friends of Peel Hall Park and for Peel Hall Park. Both the Friends and the Fight against….. welcome everyone’s support in this matter.
You can lend your support by coming to the next Friends of Peel Hall Park Right on 10th April at Greenwood Centre at 6:30pm and checking out the Facebook sites Fight Against Peel Hall Development for latest news. It would be great to see new faces and have new LIKES 🙂
Protecting Ballatter drive fields must be pushed forward i will be showing my support on the 10th of april.
Not sure what this adds but happy to support it if it helps keep it out of development