FORMER Mayor and local environmental campaigner Geoff Settle has hit out at environmental damage being caused at a Cinnamon Brow beauty spot.
While out walking along the leisure path alongside Blackbrook brook in Cinnamon Brow on Easter Saturday, Geoff, who is the local path warden, came across a large amount of hedge cuttings.
He said, “I came across a huge mound of cuttings on the path, a large mound of sand dumped on the brook embankment and cuttings thrown on top of other bushes at the back of a fence.
“Such work should only be done by the Borough Council; it is their land and their responsibility. They wouldn’t have even considered doing such work now because it is the bird breeding season.”
Just under ten years ago the former Borough Councillor requested the arboriculture team conduct an extensive operation across Poulton North to cut back the overgrowth. It hadn’t been managed well since the new town development took place some forty years before; it was the top complaint that he received. He was told that any future growth needs had to be raised with Warrington Borough Council and just to let them know.
When he looked around on Saturday he said: “I found that there was one house where the fence panels have been removed, there appeared to be work taking place in the back garden.
“It looks like the resident has taken advantage of the pandemic situation and cut down the bushes and presumably taken unused sand and dumped it in the brook a place where the local heron loves to sit and fish.
“Sadly, it looks as though because people have been advised to stay indoors that this resident has seized on the quiet time and seen it as a green light to take action.”
Geoff asks anyone who has issues with the overgrowth to contact either the Borough Council or their local Borough Councillors and seek advice.
As chair of the Warrington Nature Conservation forum he added: “I have reported this and another incident to my local PCSO just as I did about another incident last year.
“He confirmed that I should inform the Environmental Agency because the sand may lead to a blockage in the brook and flooding. In addition, that I should report the environmental damage to the Borough Council because it is on their land and the incident has taken place during the bird breeding season.
“On a brighter note I would like to thank Warrington Borough Council for the swift and excellent work they have done on the board walk to remove the hazard, on the other side of Blackbrook Avenue in Peel Hall park following yet another arson attack and replace the damaged parts of the walkway.”
