Community orchard plan in jeopardy

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A QUESTION mark hangs over the future of a proposed community orchard –

because Warrington Borough Council wants to store leaves on it.
The

land, off Cliff Lane, Grappenhall has lain unused for 25 years but three

years ago a committee was set up – with the backing of Grappenhall and

Thelwall Parish Council – to press forward plans for a community

orchard.
Cliff Lane Community Orchard Committee opened a bank account with around £2,000 in it committed towards funding the project.
The

borough council was approached and, although they at first thought it

was not their land, were supportive. Local borough councillors backed

the idea as did Warrington South MP David Mowat.
Cllr Dave

Hockenhull, chairman of Grappenhall and Thelwall Parish Council, said:

“Three years have elapsed with no final decision made by the borough

council – and then, right of the blue, two council employees turned up

with a JCB to re-establish the site entrance which had been sealed for

years to keep travellers off.
“No approach had been made to the community orchard committee, the parish council, the local borough councillors nor the MP.
“Apparently

the borough has suddenly decided it needs the land to store leaves –

although I’m sure there were just as many leaves to dispose of last

year.”
Borough councillor Mike Biggin, who is also a member of the

parish council, said: “This represents shameful duplicity on the part

of the borough council and clearly illustrates they had absolutely no

intention of supporting the project from the beginning.
“It is also

another example of a worthy project in South Warrington being

deliberately derailed. What is most appalling is that it appears to have

been under a cloak of secrecy.”
A council spokesperson said the

community orchard committee had been informed some time ago that the

future of the site would depend on an ongoing depot review.
When the review was completed, the site might, or might not, become surplus to requirements and available for the orchard
In

the meantime, the council had a need for leaf storage in the south of

the borough and the Cliff Lane site was considered ideal.
“The council’s present requirements outweigh future external requirements.”
Pictured: Cllr Dave Hockenhull outside the Cliff Lane site with Jim Robinson, a member of the community orchard committee.


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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.

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