by David Skentelbery
AN e-mail has been sent to every member of Warrington Borough Council calling for the controversial proposals for the future of Walton Hall and Gardens to be put on hold.
It has been sent by John Thorpe, a resident of Croft, who describes himself as an elector, ratepayer and supporter of the Friends of Walton Gardens.
He calls on councillors to press for the proposals - due to come before the borough council's executive board on Monday, June 14 - to be deferred pending a "meaningful" discussion with the public.
The plans involve the council and a private sector partner revamping the hall as a luxury hotel, raising fears that public access to the gardens could be restricted.
Mr Thorpe points out that a petition opposing the proposals has been signed by more than 6,100 and that more than 17,400 people have registered as "fans" of the cause.
"Surely they can't all be wrong"? he says.
"Whatever your political persuasion, for there to be so much local and vocal opposition to this scheme, must surely suggest to you, that something is drastically wrong with it?"
In his email, Mr Thorpe claims if a decision is affirmed on June 14 it will be irreversible.
"It is therefore absolutely vital to the people of Warrington, that councillors search their consciences and make the correct one. Whether you are a member of the executive board or not, you have a responsibility to influence their deliberations, and I would sincerely ask you to do so, because you have a duty of care to the people who elect you.
"Because of so many unanswered questions, misleading information and lack of serious consultation, the best result from the meeting would be for a decision to be deferred and meaningful discussions with the public set up.
"This would be in line with the new Coalition Government's Bill to make local authorities set up forums for the discussion of contentious local issues such as this, and therefore prevent bad decisions being made.
"I would suggest that if the Walton Gardens plan is pushed through, it would be in contempt of local opinion as well as against the new Government policy."
Mr Thorpe says he has received seven replies from councillors - some of them broadly supportive of his suggestions.
One of the seven, Coun Mike Hannon, deputy leader of the Labour Group on the council, said he totally agreed with Mr Thorpe.
If Labour had been able to form a minority administration to run the council they would have halted the Walton Gardens discussions.
He added: "I am Warrington born and bred and Walton Hall and Gardens is a jewel and should remain that way.
"People making these decisions have no loyalty and are not even Warringtonians."
It has been sent by John Thorpe, a resident of Croft, who describes himself as an elector, ratepayer and supporter of the Friends of Walton Gardens.
He calls on councillors to press for the proposals - due to come before the borough council's executive board on Monday, June 14 - to be deferred pending a "meaningful" discussion with the public.
The plans involve the council and a private sector partner revamping the hall as a luxury hotel, raising fears that public access to the gardens could be restricted.
Mr Thorpe points out that a petition opposing the proposals has been signed by more than 6,100 and that more than 17,400 people have registered as "fans" of the cause.
"Surely they can't all be wrong"? he says.
"Whatever your political persuasion, for there to be so much local and vocal opposition to this scheme, must surely suggest to you, that something is drastically wrong with it?"
In his email, Mr Thorpe claims if a decision is affirmed on June 14 it will be irreversible.
"It is therefore absolutely vital to the people of Warrington, that councillors search their consciences and make the correct one. Whether you are a member of the executive board or not, you have a responsibility to influence their deliberations, and I would sincerely ask you to do so, because you have a duty of care to the people who elect you.
"Because of so many unanswered questions, misleading information and lack of serious consultation, the best result from the meeting would be for a decision to be deferred and meaningful discussions with the public set up.
"This would be in line with the new Coalition Government's Bill to make local authorities set up forums for the discussion of contentious local issues such as this, and therefore prevent bad decisions being made.
"I would suggest that if the Walton Gardens plan is pushed through, it would be in contempt of local opinion as well as against the new Government policy."
Mr Thorpe says he has received seven replies from councillors - some of them broadly supportive of his suggestions.
One of the seven, Coun Mike Hannon, deputy leader of the Labour Group on the council, said he totally agreed with Mr Thorpe.
If Labour had been able to form a minority administration to run the council they would have halted the Walton Gardens discussions.
He added: "I am Warrington born and bred and Walton Hall and Gardens is a jewel and should remain that way.
"People making these decisions have no loyalty and are not even Warringtonians."
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24 Responses to "Council told: "Delay Walton Hall decision" " 
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said this on 09 Jun 2010 8:55:21 AM BST
Whilst I agree with Mike Hannon's last comment, it is a pity that he and his "I want Warrington to be a City" mates didn't invest the money on Walton Hall instead of the stupid skittles and the River in Bridge street that people don't realise is there.
We might not be in this situation if they had.
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said this on 09 Jun 2010 11:57:43 AM BST
Well done John Thorpe!
The Campaign Site has been updated please go here, sign the petition and email all the Councillors'; http://www.savewaltongardens.co.uk/
10mins of your precious time could end up saving your park, so please invest the time.
And join us on Monday 14 June, 6.00pm to demonstrate.
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said this on 09 Jun 2010 8:39:59 PM BST
Agree with you bob, well done John Thorpe! Walton Hall and Gardens belongs to the people of Warrington. It is one of the few places where people of all generations can enjoy FREE of charge, as the recession worsens very many people will not be able to afford commercial leisure facilities so it is now probably more important than ever that the whole of Walton Hall and Gardens are retained for the public to enjoy. The Exec board are planning to choose a 'preferred developer' on Monday night so that they can progress a plan to turn the Hall, the Glasshouse, the heritage yards, the riding school and the rose gardens into a hotel complex. The Exec are saying that we will not lose access to any of the site........but those of us who cannot afford the prices charged by a prestigious boutique hotel most certainly will!! Exactly how much of the grounds will be lost is unclear, there would obviously have to be adequate car parking, this doesn’t appear to be accounted for in their plans though! THE EXECUTIVE BOARD SHOULD NOT BE MAKING ANY DECISIONS WHATSOEVER REGARDING WALTON HALL AND GARDENS UNTIL THERE HAS BEEN A FULL, TOWN WIDE PUBLIC CONSULTATION! The Exec board have chosen the hotel option because it matches ' their aspirations ' to turn the site into a top class leisure facility which they suppose will attract people from all over the North West and beyond. The general public have not even been informed what other options were offered! Walton Hall and Gardens belongs to ALL of the people of Warrington, and it is ALL of the people of Warrington who should decide which if any option is chosen!!! Whilst ALL of our councillors of ALL wards should be helping us!!!
Why should we lose Walton Hall and Gardens just to satisfy the Exec board’s grandiose aspirations? What we really need in Warrington is a common sense approach and an emphasis on the quality of life!! Too many decisions in this town have been bulldozed through against public opinion! NOT THIS TIME! GO TO THE TOWN HALL.ON JUNE 14th at 6:00pm. STAND UP AND BE COUNTED!
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said this on 09 Jun 2010 12:17:37 PM BST
YOU REALLY ARE A SOMETHING SILVER SURFER. THE SKITTLES ARE AN IMPRESSIVE PIECE OF ARTWORK THAT BENEFIT THE TOWN CENTRE, I REALLY DONT UNDERSTAND WHY YOU LIVE IN WARRINGTON WHEN ALL YOU DO IS SLAG THE PLACE OFF. MOVE TO RUNCORN WHERE THEY STILL LIVE IN THE PAST, YOU WOULD BE WELL SUITED THERE.
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said this on 09 Jun 2010 12:38:14 PM BST
"THE SKITTLES ARE AN IMPRESSIVE PIECE OF ARTWORK " LOL !!
excellent...will you be at the comedy club in the pyramid next month, they havn't had anyone that funny in ages.
ahh, the past..when to be an artist you had to be able to create something both beutifull and awsome in you representative skill...now you can just us a CAD to cut equaly sized tubs and stick them on top of each other...maybe Mr Jones you should look at some of the gargoyles,facias even the town clock and wonder at the skill and craftmanship...then glance back at the skittles...20 minutes work for me to design them on my pc...if not better.
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said this on 09 Jun 2010 12:47:41 PM BST
You have missed the point Mr Jones - it's about prioritising funds and what Labour run Councils have failed to do over the last 65 years is set aside or spend funds for on going maintenance of buildings of Walton Hall and Glasshouses/Conservatories with inevitable results of major dereliction and instead of having properties which over recent years would have been generating income our Council has been running the place ar an annual loss of £400k+ . Take a look at the Palm House in Wavertree Gardens and see what can br done with initiative and funding which has been available to WBC.
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said this on 09 Jun 2010 12:59:43 PM BST
No wonder this town fails to move forward, its small minded people like you lot that hold it back, not the council. my argument isnt about funding, its about the skittles. Art is meant to create debate and be used and be interesting. look at the people who sit around them and enjoy them. look at the debate they created, therfore they are a wonderful piece of artwork that i for one are very proud of. Alongside the other wonderful architecture around the town. modern and old. So you would rather have a shoddy town centre that would fail to bring investment to the town and a nice walton hall that gets used in the summer. walton hall has been neglected i completely agree but you cant blame the skittles for that.
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said this on 09 Jun 2010 1:29:27 PM BST
I wonder how many of the members on Facebook or people signing the petition have actually read and digested the plan? The plan shows some areas reverting to private but the vast majority of public open space remains and with improved facilities. We have to wake up an realise that Private Sector funding is vital to maintaining high queslity public services in this economic climate - in this case the balance seems to be fine and indeed in the public interests.
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said this on 09 Jun 2010 1:42:08 PM BST
The town centre is not full of artwork Mr Jones, it is full of clutter that is mistaken for sculpture, the money of £6 million plus could have been spent better else where, it is the shops that bring custom, not pieces of green metal or fancy italian mosiac paths.
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said this on 09 Jun 2010 2:00:18 PM BST
And it is developments like the skittles that bring shops, and investment. also well said casper. Change is not always a bad thing.
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said this on 09 Jun 2010 2:25:58 PM BST
MR Jones, people are not against change, but from experience of what this council invests in behalf the tax payer is laughable and so is your comment.
Warrington, it businesses or shops do not exist because of the green skittles or other such pieces or ornaments you call art.
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said this on 09 Jun 2010 2:44:41 PM BST
Public art is an essential element which brings the element of distictiveness which sets apart our most important high street from any other in the Country. We shouldn't be a clone! Refer to the following link for the value of investing in public realm........ http://www.cabe.org.uk/publications/paved-with-gold
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said this on 09 Jun 2010 2:44:58 PM BST
What a stupid thing to say, of course they dont exist because of the skittles but you have to speculate to accumulate, investment from the council on bridge street created investment in other parts of the town, Golden Square for example. By the way this is what Britannica Online says about art. Art lacks a satisfactory definition. It is easier to describe it as the way something is done -- "the use of skill and imagination in the creation of aesthetic objects, environments, or experiences that can be shared with others, rather than what it is. Get it now?
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said this on 09 Jun 2010 2:55:17 PM BST
So remind me - has the guy who came up with the Skittles idea ever won anything for his ART - maybe he has been on the Turner Prize short list.
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said this on 09 Jun 2010 3:09:14 PM BST
heres a link to his website, why dont you have a look for yourself? http://www.bentre.com/sitepage.cfm
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said this on 09 Jun 2010 3:26:42 PM BST
And this is what information britain says. "Town Centre Warrington has recently undergone its biggest ever transformation. With fully pedestrianised streets and designer artworks, American artist Howard Ben Tré, has created a stunning and three-time award winning town centre which sets it apart from any other town or city in the North West".
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said this on 09 Jun 2010 3:37:26 PM BST
Mr Jones, Casper your comments are worthy of comedy sketch on Benny Hill.
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said this on 09 Jun 2010 3:44:44 PM BST
The proof is in the pudding as they say lauran. Three awards? You could always live somewhere a little more boring and uninteresting?
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said this on 09 Jun 2010 3:57:55 PM BST
MR Jones, there was once a housing estate in Padgate that won award for building and architecture, guess what?, they knock them down, not suitable for purpose. Same could be said for the skittles in the town centre.
Though we are straying away from the original article, the present town centre is not user freindly and is more of an obstacle course and a hazard rather than an attraction to entice shoppers to spend money to keep the local economy alive and people employed.
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said this on 09 Jun 2010 4:14:44 PM BST
Now that is funny, are we talking about the same town centre? Your saying it is not attractive and doesnt entice shoppers? Nobody spending money there? Not user friendly? You really dont know what your talking about do you? Your just talking rubbish for arguments sake now. As i said you could always live elsewhere. Please?
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said this on 09 Jun 2010 5:19:59 PM BST
MR Jones, the evidence is there, you just need to take a trip around the town centre to see the decline. You should read carefully my comment before you send a reply.
You are reading and sending a response to what I have not written.
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said this on 09 Jun 2010 8:43:32 PM BST
Bridge Street is a thriving High Street according to you. Perhaps you need to remove the rose-tinted spectacles. The real attraction in Warrington is the old architecture.
What did confuse me was the reference to people sitting there enjoying the skittles. Would that be the drunks or the druggies?
I suppose the next comment from Mr Jones will be that the parking is fantastic, the transport sublime and that there are NO traffic issues.
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said this on 09 Jun 2010 10:05:45 PM BST
MR Jones.. you are to be commended for the way you have so quickly redireced comment away from the news article regarding WALTON GARDENS. ps the skittles do not benefit the town centre in any way they are just there.... Walton Gardens in contrast though is marvelous have you signed the petition yet or joined the FACEBOOK site !?!
www,savewaltongardens.co.uk :)
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said this on 10 Jun 2010 7:43:43 PM BST
Why 'commend' such an obvious tactic?
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