Council fight on to save historic hall

WARRINGTON Borough Council has still not given up the fight to save historic Bewsey Old Hall for future generations.
Talks are still going on between council chiefs and Manchester-based urban renewal company Urban Splash, who last November won planning consent to convert the Grade 2 Listed hall into apartments.
Council leader Ian Marks raised the issue at a meeting of the borough council.
He said: “Talks are still underway to try and save Bewsey Old Hall for public access.
“I have personally lobbied, face-to-face, with the head of Urban Splash, the head of the Home and Community Agency in the North West and the managing director of next-door Gulliver’s World.
“The North West Development Agency has also been approached.
“It’s not proving easy to find a solution because Urban Splash has all the necessary permissions to move forward with a scheme.
“I am not sure of the outcome, but I want people to know the council is trying hard to saved this part of our heritage.”
There was outrage last year when a planning inspector upheld an appeal by Urban Splash against the borough council’s refusal to grant permission for the conversion of the hall and the construction of an enabling development of 48 apartments in its grounds.
There had been a lengthy public inquiry and the council had been supported in its stance by local campaigners.
Former Mayor, Coun Linda Dirir, one of the leading objectors, said: “We are absolutely dismayed. “This is an appalling decision. Bewsey Old Hall is one of the last bits of our heritage.”
The borough council refused planning permission for the changes on the grounds the proposals would be out of character with the area and would deny public access to one of the town’s most historic buildings.
But there was also opposition on the grounds of a loss of green space, increased traffic congestion and a disregard for the heritage site.
The council immediately announced that it would try and work with Urban Splash and site owners the Homes and Communities Agency to secure a scheme that would preserve some part of the hall for community use.
One idea was to link the development with the nearby Sankey-St Helens Canal – another piece of local heritage – which is being restored as a visitor attraction.
Campaigners believe part of the hall could be used as a restaurant or tea room for use by people visiting the canal or using Sankey Valley Park.
Bewsey Old Hall is arguably Warrington’s most historic building. But despite various attempts to bring it back into use, it has stood virtually unused and in a deteriorating condition for many years.
The hall was originally built by William Fitz Almeric le Boteler and was home to the Lords of Warrington from the 13th Century. It was purchased by the former Warrington New Town Development Corporation in the late 60s or early 70s when some restoration work was carried out.
In 1997 a campaign was launched to turn it into a tourist attraction- but came to nothing.