MORE than 250 residents fighting plans for a flood relief installation on playing fields near their homes at Warrington seem likely to have lost their battle.
A barrister appointed to chair a public inquiry into their application to have the land designated as a village green has recommended that it be rejected.
The land involved is off Stocks Lane and Friends Lane, Great Sankey and the flood relief scheme involves a control kiosk, six metre high pressure relief column and gated access with a “grasscrete” access road to serve an underground tank.
The underground tank does not form part of the planning application as it can be built under permitted development rights.
Object of the scheme is to divert flood water into the underground tank during periods of heavy rain to prevent sewers backing up and flooding homes, gardens and drives, particularly in Pyecroft Road.
United Utilities, who want to build the flood relief facility, and Warrington Borough Council both objected to the village green application put forward by Mrs Janice Mooney, on behalf of Stocks Lane Residents’ Committee.
Some 43 residents signed statements indicating that the land had been used freely by the public for at least 20 years – the main criteria for successfully establishing village green status.
Some in fact claimed the land had been used by the public for 69 years for a variety of uses including dog walking, bird watching, jogging, cycling, picnicking, bonfire parties, kite flying, football, street parties, horse riding, general ball games, etc.
But barrister David Manley, who chaired a two-day inquiry into the affair, came to the conclusion that although the field had been used, it had not been used “as of right” but with the permission of the owners – Warrington Borough Council since 1986.
Local football teams had used the football pitch and had paid a fee to the council to do so.
Mr Manley has recommended that the residents application be rejected – and his report will be considered by the council’s traffic committee.
MORE than 250 residents fighting plans for a flood relief installation
on playing fields near their homes at Warrington seem likely to have
lost their battle.
Village green campaigners face defeat
33 Comments
Share.
About Author
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.
3 Comments
Will the Stocks Lane Residents’ Committee be liable for costs?
If the residents of Stocks Lane value the green more than flood protection for their homes then why not take the easy option i.e. do nothing and when their houses flood, just remind them that that was their choice.
BILL
Sadly the people who object are not those which flood. They just done want any work doing near their houses. Even though there are very limited places to do such work.