12:36pm Thursday 21st January 2010
By Miranda Newey
MORE than £18,000 of council cash has been spent on fencing despite the authority announcing that spening needs to be tightened.
Peter Briggs, clerk of Stockton Heath Parish Council, said that according to a letter from the council the barrier which has been placed around Cartwright’s Field cost Warrington Borough Council £18,119.
At Stockton Heath Parish Council’s meeting last Tuesday Clr Stephen Taylor (Con – Whitefield) said: “It is hard times, Warrington Borough Council could have saved this money.
“If you look at the annual savings on the budget it could have saved almost £20,000 straight away instead of taking £20,000 to remove school crossing patrols.”
Clr Wendy Emsley (LD – Whitefield ward) questioned whether residents would be prosecuted if they were caught trespassing on the land.
The land, which is situated off Chester Road, Montclare Crescent and Brian Avenue, Stockton Heath, faces being developed by Warrington Housing Association’s application for 51 affordable homes, after councillors gave the plans the go ahead in 2008.
But developments are on hold until a village green application, proving the land has been used for sports and pastimes for at least 20 years, is submitted by the Save the Field action group.
When building work starts the barrier will have to be removed.
In November, Phil McConnell, chairman of the action group, told the Warrington Guardian that the council’s approach to deny access to the land was ‘aggressive’ and ‘robust’.
Graffiti was daubed in the village objecting to the decision after the mesh fence was put in place.
Mr McConnell said the fencing was only placed around half of the field and did not prevent access.
He said: “However much the council spent on the fence originally they didn’t even achieve their objective of denying access.
“Now we know it was at least £18,000 – how can that be justified when we haven’t had our bins emptied for three weeks?
“Events seemed to have shown the council’s behaviour as very short-sighted and foolish.”
He said residents’ alternative suggestions were dismissed. Peter Taylor, head of regeneration and development for the council, said: “Although I understand that part of the land known locally as Cartwright’s Field has been used recreationally, it is owned by the council and, as landowners, should anyone have an injury on our property we are legally responsible. We have, therefore, taken steps to secure the site.”
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