Yob hotspot owned by Halton Borough Council, Marsh Maintenance and Redman Heenan, discussed at Mersey Gateway meeting

Jul 30 2009 by Oliver Clay, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

A HOTSPOT for anti-social and drunken behaviour has been discussed at the final public sitting of the Mersey Gateway (MG) public inquiry.

The project’s legal team presented evidence to planning inspector Alan Gray regarding grassland and woods in the Catalyst Trade Park, Widnes.

The meeting took place at Stobart Stadium on Tuesday, July 28.

Timothy Straker QC said the removal of woodland along the proposed bridge route would be a ‘real benefit regarding crime prevention’.

He said Halton Borough Council and Cheshire Constabulary both supported removing the woods.

It was also revealed the planning inspector and his team visited the site on Monday, July 27.

During their tour they observed litter, four drunks who appeared in the woods at about 4pm and a gang of children who uprooted the inspector’s surveying poles and threw them on the ground.

The MG team proposes that the woods and a section of grassland be removed and replaced nearby.

Options for future use include statues, urban parkland and sports facilities.

However, the open space is owned by three parties including Halton council, which supports the project, and Marsh Maintenance, which has also agreed to the proposals. A third – Redman Heenan – objected to the acquisition on June 19, because the firm was not told earlier about the proposals.

The firm did not attend the sitting and negotiations continue.