Waste fees to fund new projects
SPENDING chiefs have approved a £1.3m programme of projects paid for by gate fees from the Runcorn incinerator.
Halton Borough Council, which administers the scheme, has given the green light to the following works: £118,000 to install a perimeter fence and an entry on the Boston Avenue border at Runcorn Town Hall, £300,000 to be spent on roads at a rate of £60,000 a year, £350,000 for the Town Park in east Runcorn, the permanent closure of a Weston Point lay-by, a £250,000 ‘renewable energy scheme’ to sell electricity to Select Security Stadium or Alstom in Widnes, £130,000 to boost Runcorn Ski Centre and Town Park miniature railway access, £56,043.40 for Highlands Road ‘improvements’, £37,327.16 for a playground in Beech- wood, £118,159.28 for the Town Hall boundary works, £17,279.33 for Wood Lane Pond and £30,000 for the restoration of Runcorn Locks.
A Halton Council spokeswoman said the energy scheme is believed to be solar.
She said the schemes’ approval is delegated to Mick Noone, operational director, policy, planning and transportation, in consultation with the environmental fund board of three councillors – Mike Wharton, Ron Hignett and Bill Woolfall – who examine comments from members of the public and other elected members and councillors.
Andrew Plant, Halton Council’s principal planning officer, said the £350,000 Town Park scheme will involve employing two staff at the nature spot for the first time, with the overall project costing £75,000 per annum for five years.
Mr Plant said improvements will also be made to the nearby car park serving the ski slope, miniature railway and adjacent children’s play area, using £130,000 of funding separate to the main Town Park pot.
The Runcorn incinerator environment fund was set up as part of the Government’s granting of a permit for the Viridor energy-from-waste plant in Weston Point, with the operators obliged to pay Halton Council 60p per tonne of waste burned at the controversial facility.
Discussing the Town Park spending, Mr Plant said: “The work will be undertaken this year.
“It is part of a bigger package of improvements that will be carried out at Town Park over the next five years.
“Town Park is the borough’s largest public park and serves the new town areas of Runcorn.
“In addition to capital investments in the Town Park, it will also benefit from having two dedicated staff based within it. ●
“At present Town Park does not have site based staff and hasn’t had for over a decade.
“The staff will be responsible for routine maintenance and public safety.
“We hope to have the staff in place by June 2017.”