OBJ/349/11 PUBLIC AMENITY PRESENTATION CORE DOCUMENTS DECC009 - - PDF document

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PUBLIC AMENITY PRESENTATION CORE DOCUMENTS DECC009 Compendium Page 15 OBJ-349-002 Frodsham Festival of Walks 2011 leaflet Frodsham Parish Paths map Parish Paths – Alvanley, Helsby and Manley map Sandstone Trail Walkers’ Guide ES Volume 2 PREAMBLE Hello, I’m Tony Hinkins. I’ve lived in Frodsham for 45 years. I was on Frodsham Town Council from 2004 until earlier this year. For most of that time I was Vice Chairman of the Footpaths Committee. Our letter was written by Gordon Bell. Gordon played a key role, some 40 years ago, in establishing the Community Association which runs our flourishing Community Centre. He would absolutely love to be here presenting his letter today but his doctor and his wife, working together, have managed to stop him. My presentation will closely follow Gordon’s letter and then I would like to consider some additional “walking” documents.

• 1. Background

Despite the lagoons, the pylons and the motorway, the Marsh somehow manages to retain a certain grandeur and a surprising degree of isolation for a location so close to residential and industrial development. Frodsham Marsh is not, as its name might imply, just reedy pools of salty water of little public interest, but is a valuable and much-used asset for the local community. It is not in any way, as the applicant contends, “an existing industrial site”.

• 2. Loss of Amenity to Marsh Users

The proposed wind turbines would dominate the Marsh and would totally alter its character. This would impact on all Marsh users including:

• Cyclists: The Thornton-le-Moors to Frodsham Greenway which is a section of the

National Cycle Network Route 5 would pass less than 200m from proposed turbines 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13 and 19.

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• Birdwatchers: Generations of bird watchers have relaxed on the marsh and enjoyed

watching the large numbers of birds and the many species that live on, feed on or visit the

• Marsh. These people regard the Marsh as an unofficial wildlife reserve and rarities bring

in large numbers of “twitchers”. The Weaver Bend is a noted place for such rarities and is listed in published guides.

• Walkers, including local residents escaping for a few minutes from the bustle of their

daily surroundings and others who exercise daily, with or without their dogs, and who stop to pass the time of day with like-minded friends.

• Model aeroplane enthusiasts, who have at last found open space where they can fly their

planes but who are now seriously concerned at the possible effects of turbulence from the wind turbines on their activities.

• Wildfowlers, who own part of the Marsh, but lease shooting rights from Peel for much of

the rest.

• Members of local painting and photographic groups enjoy the variety of subjects

presented by the Marsh and are pleased to have this facility so close to their homes. Paintings of the Marsh often feature in the annual “Open Exhibition” at Castle Park Arts Centre. The applicant claims that his new roads would open up the Marsh for recreation but the Marsh is already wide open with many bridleways and footpaths. The applicant’s new roads would, very largely, be characterless access roads leading from the base of one turbine to another. I’ll skip the next section and move to:

• 3. Weaver Sailing Club

Weaver Sailing Club hold competitive events at the end of the river, where it broadens and meets the Ship Canal. Some members are concerned because the proposed turbines would generally be upwind and they fear they would “steal their wind” and leave them struggling in their turbulent wake.

• 4. Frodsham Cricket Club

There are relatively few flat pieces of land locally except on or near the Marsh and Frodsham Cricket Ground lies behind the shops and houses on the north side of Main Street. In the proposal there would be one turbine only 800m away and three more less than 1100m away. The members of the club are very concerned about the visual impact of these turbines.

• 5. The Importance of Walking

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Helsby and Frodsham are “walking towns” with many interesting local paths and with good connections to numerous long-distance paths, such as the classic Sandstone Trail. This network attracts visitors from Merseyside, from Lancashire, from all parts of Cheshire and even from North Wales. They come as individuals, as families and as organized groups at all times of the year and especially during the annual “Festival of Walks”. One of the great attractions for these people is the network of graded Victorian footpaths on the wooded hillsides, with their wonderful, open, panoramic views across the Mersey: views which would be seriously degraded if the wind farm were to be built. I’d like to look at a few aspects of this “walking town” character in a little more detail. 5.1 Frodsham Parish Paths I think this amply demonstrates Gordon’s “graded Victorian footpaths on the wooded hillsides.” Most of these hillsides are now owned by the Woodland Trust. …and some very good paths out on the Marshes. 5.2 Helsby Parish Paths Not quite so many paths on the hillside but they are all very well crafted by our ancestors. Again plenty of paths on the Marshes. 5.3 Sandstone Trail This was one of the first long distance paths to be created and it’s still one of the best. It starts at the Bear’s Paw and runs south to Whitchurch along the sandstone ridge. It has several distinct sections: the views out towards the Mersey, then Delamere Forest, Beeston Castle, the high bit over Rawhead, and finishing with a stretch along the Llangollen Canal. All the time you are getting big views either side across the Cheshire Plain towards Wales on one side, the Pennines on the other, and eventually towards Shropshire straight ahead. It starts in Frodsham and it starts on a high note: the views from the cliff face are brilliant. I’d just like to mention the viewpoint at Woodhouse Hill Fort (Viewpoint 6 in the ES). This did not get enough respect on Day 1. Helsby Hill and Frodsham Hill may be the stars but Woodhouse is the connoisseur’s choice. The only problem is that it’s about a 20 minute walk to get there so we won’t be including it on the Site Visit. A valued viewpoint with an interpretation board. The ES shows what would happen to it. 5.4 Festival of Walks 2011 Programme The Festival of Walks has been running for several years and every year it gets bigger. 60 people turned up for a walk in 2010. I’d like to pick out a few near the start:

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• 1 / Sandstone Trail (Read) We do it in quarters and oscillate up and down. Always

fully booked.

• 3 / Helsby and Frodsham’s Iron Age Hillforts (Read) Do I need to say more?
• 4 / The Marshes (Read) The best-attended walk last year. 39 walkers.

TO SUMMARISE Frodsham and Helsby provide these distinctive, high-quality, outdoor public amenities which are valued by the wider community. All would be harmed by the proposal.