PLAYING fields adjoining Warrington’s Peel Hall Park should be taken over by the borough council, according to local Liberal Democrats.
They could then be included in a bid to provide extra protection for the park under the Queen Elizabeth II Fields in Trust initiative, they say.
The Liberal Democrat group on the council has welcomed a vote by the council’s local economy policy committee to 
ask the executive board to bid for Fields in Trust protection for Peel Hall Park.
Deputy leader Cllr Bob Barr (pictured) pointed out the move had been suggested by the Liberal Democrats last year – but had then been rejected by the Labour controlled council.
Now it seemed Labour had performed a U-turn.
Cllr Barr said: “When the Liberal Democrats put a motion to the Council with this proposal last year, Labour voted it down. Now local activists have presented a petition to the council with around 1,000 signatures asking for the park to be put forward for the scheme.
“I felt strongly that it was time to think again and said so at the meeting.
“Council officers had argued that this status would offer no more protection and may cost the council money. But when questioned, they had to admit that it would add a ‘belt and braces’ to protecting the park and may not involve the spending of anything not already committed.
“I am particularly pleased that the community may now get the opportunity to become more actively involved in plans for the park and in ensuring it is protected in perpetuity. We hope that the Labour Executive Board supports this policy.
“We would also like the council to talk to the Homes and Communities Agency about taking over the adjacent playing fields. They are likely to be willing to allow the council to take control of them and then they should be included in the Fields in Trust bid.”
Protect Peel Hall playing fields too
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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.
2 Comments
Why is Cllr making this statement now?
It was discussed at the POLICY committee on the night and agreed to be looked into so that ownership could be established. I raised the issue on behalf of Friends Peel Hall Park and the Fight Against Peel Hall Development.
I am a member of both groups as well as a Policy committee member. I spoke on their behalf because they have both been doing the donkey work because they are both very passionate for obvious reasons and have both mounted very strong campaigns.
Bob speaks of political interference and headline grabbing – BOTH of these groups act out of NO political allegiance to my knowledge and never have done.
Cllr Bob Barr seems to be making out that it was entirely the LibDems who have come up with this idea NOT so it was these two community groups that took the lead and did the spade work, literally in the case of the Friends group. They have been working and contacting the land owners lobbying them to protect the land and put it under QE2 status.
I was very pleased to vote in favour of supporting the proposal to support the application for Peel Hall Park additional protection and also for confirmation of the status of the Home and Counties land, which I had to point out on a map on the night, to be investigated and if found to be ok to be included in the package. I understand that this work is under way.
I would simply ask the question, Bob are you colouring what went on at the meeting for Political gain – surely not as you made an opening statement against such action by any political group?
On reading the news about the councils turnaround in favor of supporting the QE2 application including the playing fields last week i wanted to show my support on the issue,so i went to source of the action and attended Wednesdays friends of peel hall park meeting held at the greenwood center.i am sure the public are aware how much time and effort the group has put into this matter.