A RETROSPECTIVE application for a viewing platform on the Woolston Eyes Nature Reserve, Warrington, is being opposed by local parish councillors.
The platform was erected in good faith by the Woolston Eyes Conservation Group, in the belief that it did not require planning permission.
But it does – and Woolston Parish Council has objected to the application now submitted by the group, because there is no provision for disabled users.
Woolston Eyes is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is a nationally important site for migrating birds.
Planning officers are recommending the scheme be approved when it comes before the borough council’ s development management committee.
They say the viewing platform does not constitute inappropriate development within the Green Belt, has not had an adverse impact on the landscape and provides facilities to gain enhanced views of the wetland, to assist in the monitoring of bird populations and the conservation of the nature reserve.
Additionally, they say the platform provides an invaluable asset to birdwatchers and conservationists.
Ward councillor Rob Tynan and Cllr. Stuart Mann support the application.
But Woolston Parish Council opposes the application on the grounds of the non-provision of disability access.
They consider the lack of disability access to the structure and the site as a whole to be a serious concern.
Natural England and the Greater Manchester Ecology Unit have no objections to the application.
6 Comments
It’s a genuine bonafide objection.
Disabled people are entitled to enjoy bird watching .
They need to make adaptions to cater for the disabled
With all respect you have no idea what you’re talking about
There is absolutely no respect in your comment Jim Hunter.
Yes I agree. Provision should be made for disabled people. Why exclude them in the first place, thats my question? ! The mistake has already been made, let’s not make it ten times worse by excluding the disabled too.
Hi Liz, haven’t seen you in a while. There are several reason that have been highlighted in the officers report. In addition there is a basic one – the burnt out Risley Moss (which wasn’t disability friendly in any way would have cist an estimated £1.2 million pounds to replace with disability access. Even the fund raising of RIMAG and WBC insurance came no where near the required amount. Even the RSPB at Silverdale couldn’t afford such a some nine years ago and had to compromise. There are some basic stuff that I will be suggesting that might improve the situation but at the end of the day it is a Wetland SSSI site that has been built up over 40 years and much bidding has taken place to raise money to create the magnificent place that it is. As you will be aware from the constant random fire attacks on our local reserves, Twiggeries, Moore Nature Reserve, Woolston footpaths (at least twenty fires have been started), Victoria Park, Risley Moss wildlife is under constant attack and money to combat it is scarce. The Viewing Platform is essential for the identifying wildlife and continuing the great work that is being done. My walking disability experiences when you first me were eventually diagnosed as requiring two replacement hips. I will be looking to the disabled groups that I support for their comments and ideas to try and make the place more accessible but unfortunately their are limitations. Hope to meet up soon and get that plaque up on the Latchford Tunnel Wall.
I’ve only been to the site three times. The first was as Mayor in 2016 and I was was very impressed that a small charity with limited resources had been able to achieve. I hope to arrange visits soon for two of my charities the Warrington Visually Impaired People that I chair and the Warrington BipolarUK support group. Both are disabled people with physical and mental disabilities. The WVIP visited Spike Island when I was a trustee of the Mersey Gateway environmental trust to evaluate the changes that we had made and fed back some very useful comments and suggestions. Hopefully the same can be done again.