MP backs plan to keep golf club ‘green’

BLUEPRINTS to keep Widnes Golf Club as a green space have been backed by Halton’s MP.

The Highfield Road club is mentioned in the Kingsway site assessment section of the borough’s draft Local Plan.

A petition campaigning against the area being used for housing was started by Cllr Andrea Wall of Kingsway ward last year, urging that it remain as green space.

At the time of writing, the petition had reached nearly 500 signatures.

Cllr Wall said last year that she was informed by golf club members that an online ballot took place and that the ‘majority’ of the 50% who voted opted to try to gain planning permission which would enable the selling of land for housing.

But the Kingsway site assessment has said the existing green space designation ‘remains appropriate’ for the club and is not considered suitable for development due to its current use.

MP Derek Twigg welcomes ● Widnes Golf Club, and right, Kingsway Cllr Andrea Wall has started a petition to prevent the area being used for housing the recommendation.

In a response to the Local Plan, he said: “I fully support the proposal to maintain the land currently occupied by Widnes Golf Club as designated green space.

“If this was ever developed it would change the character of the whole area, impact on biodiversity and result in significant additional strain on the local road network.

“In addition, it would increase pressure on school places, making it even more difficult for children who live on the existing estates to find a place at Wade Deacon and other nearby schools.”

Cllr Wall has also welcomed the draft document’s recommendation.

She said: “This land, along with the playing fields makes up the ‘green lung’ of Widnes. It is vitally important that we retain this green space for future generations.

“I have no interest in whether Widnes Golf Club choose to stay or to relocate out of Widnes but that land must remain as green space in any eventuality.

“The land was bought by the United Alkali Company, which later became ICI nearly 100 years ago, to become Widnes Golf Club.

“Widnes residents know the history of the chemical industry in Widnes, yes, it brought prosperity to our town.

“However, it also left us with a legacy of contaminated land, which is why it becomes even more important to retain what little green space we have left.”