THE historic Lymm Hotel has now closed its doors for the final time and demolition work is expected to start in a few weeks time.
At a meeting of Warrington Council’s planning committee in December, permission was granted to remove all the existing buildings on the site to be replaced by a children’s nursery, a residential care home and retirement-with-care apartments.
Cllr Ian Marks said, “Lymm Councillors and local residents were extremely disappointed, angry and saddened with the decision to award planning permission for a large development on the site of the Lymm Hotel.
“It was a disgraceful decision by the planners to allow this. The concerns of over one hundred and eighty residents were ignored and the decision has been made by people who don’t even live in Lymm so cannot have direct experience of our worries. We have been well and truly let down and nothing can be done now.
“The Lymm Hotel may not be an architectural gem but it has a distinct charm and character. It has a heritage with links to the old railway and to famous people who have been associated with it.
“We are losing a hotel and gaining a nursery but we have seen no evidence of a need for more nursery provision. There are serious issues for neighbours with noise from the proposed nursery. The site will be over-developed and the surrounding area will not be able to cope. There are major highway safety issues on the nearby roads and parking will be a big problem. There has been no change to the public transport provision although when officers turned the previous proposal down, this was a concern. Both doctors’ surgeries claimed they would not be able to cope with the extra numbers of elderly people.”
Cllr Ryan Bate, the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Warrington South added, “When the demolition takes place and then when the new construction starts there will be chaos on the roads nearby. From my time at Lymm High School I am very familiar with the area. The road by the Golf Club is very dangerous and cars are forced to mount the pavement to pass each other. The far end of Statham Avenue is a private unmade section of road with a dangerous exit onto Barsbank Lane.”
In 2016 the Hotel was packed at a special exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Brazil World Cup team, including soccer legend Pele, staying at the hotel.
Special gusts included Warrington based England World Cup winner Roger Hunt.
Picture shows Cllrs Ian Marks and Ryan Bate outside the Lymm Hotel soon after its closure
Roger Hunt at the Lymm Hotel during the 50th anniversary exhibition
