A HOSPITAL capable of meeting the needs of Warrington’s growing population has emerged as the biggest concern raised by residents during a street survey carried out by Reform UK in the town centre.
Members of Warrington Reform UK were out in the town centre on Saturday asking people to complete the sentence: “The one thing the town needs is…”
According to Reform UK, the response that came up most frequently was the need for a hospital which properly meets the needs of the town.
Branch Secretary Carl Knapper said the response reflected what he described as widespread dissatisfaction with the current hospital provision.
“It wasn’t surprising that the top priority for residents is to have a hospital that matches the needs of the town,” he said.
“There is clear dissatisfaction that the current hospital cannot adequately cope with the population of the town as it is now.”
But healthcare was not the only issue raised by residents.
Traffic congestion, potholes and the general appearance and maintenance of the town were also among the concerns highlighted during the exercise.
The town’s bus station also attracted criticism, with Reform members saying a surprisingly common response centred on its condition – including complaints about doors which residents claimed had remained unrepaired for a considerable period.
Mr Knapper said the responses demonstrated that residents were more concerned about basic services working effectively than large-scale new projects.
“It is clear the public don’t want fancy new schemes, but want what we have at present, to work properly and be fully maintained,” he said.
“A Reform-led Council would try and match the people’s priorities.”
The party said the exercise was intended to provide an opportunity for residents to identify the issues they believe should be prioritised locally.
Among the recurring themes were the condition of roads, congestion, potholes, cleanliness and the overall appearance of Warrington town centre.
One positive finding from the day, according to Reform UK, was the number of people visiting Warrington from surrounding towns.
Members said they were pleased to see visitors coming into the town from neighbouring areas, which they described as an encouraging sign for Warrington’s retail and visitor economy.
The survey comes amid continuing debate over the future of Warrington’s public services, including pressure on local authority finances, roads and transport infrastructure and the future investment needs of Warrington Hospital.
For Reform UK, however, the message coming from Saturday’s exercise was straightforward: residents want the basics to work – and they want their priorities to be heard.
