A FENCE costing £18,119, put up by Warrington Borough Council to keep residents off a field formerly used as a play area has attracted a barrage of criticism.
Stockton Heath Parish Council heard that Cartwright’s Field, off Chester Road, had been surrounded by the fence.
The field was previously used for many years by the community for recreation on an informal basis.
Despite massive objections from the parish council and nearby residents, a planning application for 51 affordable homes to be built by Warrington Housing Association was approved some months ago.
But an action group formed to fight the plan is trying to get the land designated as a “village green” which could mean the development could not go ahead.
The parish council heard the site had been fenced for health and safety reasons.
Coun Robin Wilson said: “It appears they are trying to force the hand of the residents.”
Coun Stephen Taylor said: “They started the work of putting up the fence right outside the home of the chairman of the action group.”
He complained that the borough had spent the money on the fence, when it was cutting spending on essential services.
Chair Peter Walker said the parish council supported residents at the time, but were not successful and the housing plan was approved.
He said the fence could force residents to proceed with their application quickly.
Clerk Peter Briggs said that anyone going on the land would now being doing so at their own risk.
