VOLUNTEERS from the Woolston Eyes Conservation Group (WECG) are seeking support for a retrospective planning application for a viewing platform they raised £22,000 to build.
After being told in good faith that it didn’t need planning permission it has now transpired that it does.
Dave Bowman from WECG issued an appeal to members on The Woolston Eyes Nature Reserve Facebook site Facebook at the weekend.
He posted:
“An unusual post here, requesting a bit of help for Woolston Eyes. When we finished construction of the No.4 wetland three years ago, we wanted to provide a viewing facility for our permit holders. So, we raised £22,000 and built a wonderful, elevated platform overlooking both wetland cells. We did so with the consent of Peel Ports and with the understanding that planning consent was not needed. However, a certain local councillor has been pressing Warrington Council to pursue the issue of planning consent and we received a letter threatening to require us to take the platform down. So, we spent £1,500 to put in a retrospective planning application, which is due to be heard at the end of this month.
“We would be grateful for anyone who is willing to support our application, as the loss of the platform would be a real blow, both to our many hundreds of permit holders and to our ability to monitor the rare breeding birds on the site.
“You can help by sending a supportive email to devcontrol@ warrington.gov.uk quoting the case number 2025/00253/FUL All submissions should be sent in as soon as possible.
“Many thanks in hopeful anticipation.”
The view from the platform
The Woolston Eyes Conservation Group (WECG) is a small, local charity which has been managing the non-operational parts of the Woolston Eyes Deposit Grounds, on behalf of Peel Ports, for the benefit of the wildlife and local people since 1980. Since then, the ‘Woolston Eyes Nature Reserve’ has become a nationally important area for birds and a registered SSSI.
In 2019 construction began on a new deposit ground on No.4 bed, funded entirely by £600,000 raised by WECG. The agreement with Peel Ports was that the new deposit ground would be managed for wildlife by WECG, until required operationally at some future date. The area already holds nationally significant breeding populations of red-listed wildfowl.
A condition of one of the funding streams was that a viewing facility for visitors would be provided. In the light of this a galvanised steel viewing platform was commissioned, to be set on a thirty -ton concrete base. It is an open structure, accessed by a two-stage stairway with a deck height of 4500 mm. It was of sufficient elevation and sited in a position to permit views across both the deposit ground cells, without causing disturbance to the birds. A suitable access route was agreed with Peel Ports, as part of the process leading to WECG being granted a lease on the site.
Consultation with Peel Ports led to WECG being informed that planning consent would not be required due to Peel Ports rights under the company’s permitted development rights. The platform was subsequently largely funded by Natural England and erected in March 2022. It now transpires that the direction received about planning consent, though given in good faith, was erroneous, hence this retrospective application.
Warrington Borough Council planners will make a decision under delgated powers.
2 Comments
This is a fantastic reserve and the viewing platform is a great asset that enhances the site offering wonderful views that will mean better recording of birds and their habitat.
Sixty nine letters of support have been received by close of play on 15/4/2025 which is a fantastic level of support for an application.