CAMPAIGNERS have pledged to fight redevelopment of Warrington’s Walton Hall and Gardens as a luxury hotel complex – a move they claim could drastically cut public access to the grounds.
More than 5,400 people have joined a Facebook campaign and more than 1,400 an on-line petition to “Save Walton Gardens”.
The campaigners say the scheme, a partnership between the borough council and a private development, could cut public access to the “jewel in Warrington’s Crown” by 50 per cent.
Residents, councillors, the Friends of Walton Hall action group and people from throughout the town and beyond, area are determined to fight any loss of amenity.
Malcolm Eldrige, a Friends of Walton Hall committee member and chairman of Higher Walton Village Forum, said: “People come from miles around to visit the park. People have used it for generations and appreciate the variety of attractions.
“It is run very well and there is no vandalism. Many people believe it is the best place around for a relaxed, family day out.
“This is not a plan to save the estate for the public. It is a plan to relieve Warrington of its neglected duty to preserve a precious resource. The price is too high.”
Mr Eldridge said the borough council had not consulted the Friends about the development.
The Friends’ website claims the council is poised to strike a deal with luxury hotels group Contessa, who have hotels on the Wirral and in Lancashire, who are ready to invest £20 million to create a luxury hotel suitable for weddings and conferences.
But Coun Ian Marks, (pictured) leader of the borough council, strongly denied any deal had been struck.
He said: “We want to make Walton Hall and Gardens better – with more public access, not less.
“The council hasn’t got the money to do the work itself so we need partners. But no deal will be struck if it means any loss of public access to the hall and grounds. It may be that some areas will be to be closed while weddings are in progress, but that has always been the case. It will not be a significant area.
“We know how important it is that public access is maintained.”
Mr Eldridge said: “Our information is that the deal will consist of a 125 year lease of the buildings and a substantial proportion of the current gardens. Areas that the public currently enjoy for free will be no longer available to them. “
In exchange, Contessa would preserve existing buildings and rebuild the hall on its original footprint.
Although the conservatory would be saved it would not be freely open to the public and the Heritage Yard and all its facilities would be converted to a pub and hotel rooms.
“Already many of the park rangers, staff and management have been made redundant and the coffee shop and heritage centre have been closed. All the rooms have been measured up and the interior designers are making plans. This is dangerously looking like a fait accompli.”
Details of the campaign are at www.savewaltongardens.co.uk
It was in 2008 that the council agreed to explore the idea of introducing commercial partners to preserve the site for future generations.
Several buildings are in a poor condition – especially the conservatory and equestrian hall.
Coun Marks said the council’s executive board would select a preferred partner around June. There would then be widespread public consultation, including with the Friends of Walton Hall.
A planning application could be expected in the Autumn, including public participation. Work on refurbishment of the hall could start in the spring of next year.
He added: “We want to improve Walton Hall and Gardens and make it better for the people of Warrington. We won’t be a party to any proposal that would result in any significant loss of access.”
*A lengthy debate on the issue is currently on the warrington-worldwide Readers’ Forum.
To follow the debate CLICK HERE
Storm over plan for jewel in the crown
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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.
14 Comments
I fear the council leader speaks with forked tongue!
and what’s the cost to the rest of Warrington as the council squanders away its heritage and leisure facilities to private enterprise.
There are precious few resources for the under-privileged kids (And by under-privileged I don’t mean poor, I just mean those who don’t get £10 a day pocket money) as a youth I frequented, Walton Gardens, Moore Quarry, Orford park fields, football fields, Warrington Baths. Sandy hills (now callands) as a result this freedom of exploration, individuality and places where a child could be a child lead to an almost well rounded law abiding citizen. you shut down these facilities, turn free parkland into paying sports complexes. and poor kids like I was will find entertainment ONLY in busstops and bottles of diamond white. and ITS YOUR FAULT NOT THEIRS
As far as I’m concerned, they can do what they like with Walton Gardens. It costs a ridiculous amount to park there, the play area and children’s zoo aren’t amazing, the coffee shop is awful – if I want to take my children to a decent play area (and park for free) I go to Victoria Park. If allowing a private developer to build high-quality facilities that will bring in some money to upgrade the rest of the park, then I think it’s a great idea. Perhaps they could consider allowing council tax payers to park for free like many other councils do across the country and only visitors from out of the borough pay for parking.
Was expecting a photo of Ian Marks and co standing in front of Walton Hall saying what a beautiful Hall it is and that they are doing all they can to save it for the public.
(similar to the photos that appeared in the press of them outside Stockton Heath Community Primary School just prior to the elections……..straight after which they went full out for demolition!!!)
Didn’t get the photo of the Hall but got the usual evasive/ misleading comments as expected!
‘N’o loss of public access’…………no, the public will not lose access to the hall or grounds…….so long as they can afford to pay the prices charged by a top class boutique hotel! and with more than 75% of the population of Warrington earning less than the national average this will be very few!
‘The council have not yet decided the choice of developer’,…….. but as only the Contessa offer ‘matches the council’s own aspirations’ for the Hall and Estate the choice will be between Contessa or Contessa. (a bit like Spam or Spam? )
‘The council will decide on the developer in June’……… (will this ‘decision’ require the signing of the deal and 125 year lease (as good as a sell off) as soon as June?)
‘Coun Marks said the council’s executive board would select a preferred partner around June. There would then be widespread public consultation’,
……..errr what’s the point of public consultation AFTER the decision has been made?
‘A planning application could be expected in the Autumn, including public participation’……… Probably the only public consultation will be the mandatory notification required re the planning application process, and as for public participation during the planning application….we all know what that will entail…thousands of people will object but the application will be passed anyway!!
It looks as though Walton Hall and Estate will be offloaded in the manner usual to the present Exec Board then!!!!!
Tigger…. they have just received a lot of funding for the Play Area and the Children’s Zoo. Agree with what you say about the car parking charges if you are local and just want if you just want to go for an hour or so to let your kids run off steam.
There was no other prospective preferred partner, and what happened to the public consultation regarding the Victorian Glasshouses….these consultations are merely another case of ‘ticking the box;
Ask Cllr Alan Litton – he knows the answers
You must be joking. Vicky Park is a dump. Ok the parking is free but repairing your suspension isn’t.
There are no decent toilets, NO Refreshments. The only animals are drug-taking two-legged ones. And that is better than Walton??????
Sha, you sound well informed, and energetic about this issue. Could you get more involved? Please get in touch through the http://www.savewaltongardens.co.uk site
But he won’t give them.
Let’s see how the council cope with the anti votes on Facebook and online. Now that is puiblic consultation that cannot be ignored. Maybe the press/TV need to be informed as to the public response.
Stockton Heath Primary, Longbarn Primary, Woolston High, Bewsey Old Hall,etc, etc, etc, etc etc, and now Walton Hall and Gardens………now there’s an awful lot of public opinion that’s been ignored!!!
I agree
Quite right, if you agree, please sign the petition
I propose a demonstration on the grounds of the town hall. an a couple of weeks time. lets see if we can get these facebook thousands to more than just tick “like”.
I’d be there!