by David Skentelbery
PLANS have been drawn up for a major junior Rugby League training facility on a 22-acre green belt site near Warrington.
The land, at Stretton, is currently owned by a national housebuilder, but is unlikely to be granted planning consent for housing in the foreseeable future.
It is being offered for sale – and a consortium headed by lawyer Lionel Hurst, founder of the National Summer Rugby League Conference, and including the Cheshire Cats junior Rugby League club, has funding in place to buy it.
A planning application will be submitted to Warrington Borough Council in the near future.
The consortium has already given a presentation to a public meeting organised by Stretton Parish Council and attended by more than 30 local residents.
Mr Hurst said: “There were some people in support of the proposals and some against. But overall, we were very pleased with the positive response.
“We think this development would be very much to the benefit of the local community – and it would effectively preserve a green belt site in perpetuity.
“Although the present owners would be unlikely to get planning consent for housing in the foreseeable future, who can say what the situation would be in 20 years’ time?
“Hundreds of houses could be built – totally changing the character of a rural area.”
The plans involve four rugby pitches, a children’s play area and a small pavilion on land roughly bounded by the A49 Tarporley Road, Stretton Road, Spark Hall Close and the M56.
Details have yet to be agreed, but access would probably be from the Stretton Road end of Spark Hall Close.
Existing trees, shrubs and evergreen hedging would be retained.
Mr Hurst said: “This would become the home of Cheshire Cats, which caters for youngsters aged 4-18. But it could also be used by Warrington Wizards and we would welcome approaches from other football, hockey, cricket clubs, etc, or even other local organisations, so it could become a real community facility.”
Parish council clerk Linda Crewe said: “Our role at the moment is in keeping people informed. We leafleted every house in Stretton to tell people about the presentation and we were very pleased with the turn-out.
“When a formal planning application is received we will probably call another public meeting.”
Borough councillor Paul Kennedy said: “I will be working with the parish council on this and taking local soundings and seeking the advice of the borough’s development control department. I will obviously represent the views of residents.”
Pictured…part of the 22-acre site with the Park Royal Hotel in the background..
