WARRINGTON Borough Council has agreed to make urgent adjustments to controversial barriers at Woolston Community Hub.
The controversial bright yellow barriers, erected to stop travellers occupying the car park, caused a storm of protest from leisure centre users, who found them too small for cars and larger 4x4s to navigate.
The news has been welcomed by Labour Party candidates for Rixton and Woolston – Chis Vobe, Andrew Hill and Pat Wright who have expressed their delight after securing a commitment from the Council that urgent adjustments will be made to the newly-installed barriers.
They have also arranged for a further programme of work to be carried out at the Hub to improve conditions for drivers on the car park.
The barriers installed at the Woolston Hub have caused distress for drivers since their installation – many have complained that the gap is too narrow for cars to navigate and that visibility is poor.
Following talks with Council Chief Executive, Professor Steven Broomhead the Council has now committed to:
* Widening the barriers at both the entrance and egress to the site – putting an end to the difficulties residents have experienced, stopping the problem of pavement parking in the area, whilst still preventing illegal traveller encampments on the site.
* Installing additional lighting at both the entrance and the exit to improve visibility in the mornings and evenings for drivers. Mirrors will also be installed on the overhead barriers to supplement this.
* Resurfacing the road on the approach to the exit to tackle the pot holes which have caused an additional hazard for drivers.
* Removing the “no exit” signs which are still in situ on the approach to the exit!
*Repainting the markings on the car park to make it easier for people unfamiliar with the site to follow a safe route in and out of the Hub.
In a joint statement, the Labour candidates said: “We have been working closely with residents throughout the local community, as well as staff at the Woolston Hub, over the past week to get the Borough Council to take urgent action to tackle the problems associated with the new barriers.
“We support having a barrier system in place, as do local people, to prevent illegal traveller encampments in the area. However, it’s clear that the way these have been installed simply isn’t good enough.
“As a direct result of our intervention, we have been able to secure a promise from the Council that, as well as adjusting the barriers to widen the point of access, they will also undertake a wider scheme of work to invest in additional lighting, improvements to the car park, and a full resurfacing of the exit road.
“All of these steps will help to make Woolston Hub a safe and secure environment for users, and underpin our personal commitment to delivering investment for our community.”
Chief Executive Steven bromhead confirmed: “The council recognises the difficulties and are taking steps to improve the situation tomorrow (Friday).
“We will be taking steps to improve the situation without losing the deterrent.”
Pat Wright, Chris Vobe and Andrew Hill
