THE 9,000 strong petition sent to Warrington Borough Council over the controversial plan to re-develop Walton Hall and Gardens was a “cry for help” from the public, the council has been told.
People had a feeling the council was forcing through proposals that would prevent the public from using much of the estate, said Mark White, of the Save Walton Gardens campaign.
He was addressing the council under the terms of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act, 2009, which give petition organisers the right to address a local authority prior to it being debated.
Mr White said the council’s executive board had approved moves to lease approximately 40 per cent of the Walton Estate for 150 years to hotel group Contessa.
The public would be excluded from areas they currently were able to use to make way for developments such as a heated, outdoor swimming pool for use by people using a hotel to be created out of the existing hall.
The board had also agreed that in the event of Contessa going out of business, the council would pick up the bill for any work they had completed.
Members of the public felt they had been ignored and the petition was started.
As a result, the board agreed to set up an advisory group to consider the future of the Walton estate. Contessa eventually decided to withdraw from the project.
Residents welcomed the setting up of the advisory group but the way it conducted itself would be of considerable importance,
It would need to know the full financial position. For instance, would the council be subsidising the Walton estate or would it have to pay for itself?
Coun Terry O’Neill, leader of the Labour opposition group, also stressed the importance of the “basic figures.”
He said people did not believe the figures which had been produced to show that Walton was losing money.
“We need accurate figures and we need to know what the end costs are going to be.
“We will support the advisory group provided we get accurate and transparent figures,” he said.
Council leader Ian Marks said the advisory group would examine alternative options.
“We will be open and transparent. We have nothing to hide,” he said.
Walton Hall: a cry for help from public
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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. Former Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Patron Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
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According to a comment by Mr Eldridge on the Save Walton Gardens facebook site ‘they’ (the campaign group) have not been included as being part of the new advisory group. As they have so far been the public’s voice and portal for information that’s a shame and surely they should be included….. If this is still the case and they are excluded then WHO is now representng the public on the board and at what stage do we get to know what’s possibly on the table or have a chance to give our comments or suggestions for a possible workable and sustainable way forward for Walton Gardens and it’s buildings.