The Best Guide for the Neston Area

Parkgate Vision - Future Improvements

Part two of four articles covering matters presented and discussed at a community meeting which took place on Tuesday 28th October at Neston Cricket Club.

Rob Ward attended the meeting and has kindly provided, for AboutMyArea CH64 readers, his notes on:

1. Neston Neighbourhood Plan - speaker Phil Baker
2. Parkgate Vision - Future Improvements - question & answer session with Cllrs Martin Barker (Neston Town Council) and Brenda Dowding (Cheshire West and Chester Council).
3. Community Involvement - speaker David Johnson
4. Mosquito Mitigation - speaker Professor Michael Clarkson.

Parkgate Vision - Future Improvements

Brenda Dowding updated the meeting on recent developments and then took questions.

Brenda committed the whole of her budget as a Cheshire West & Chester Councillor for four years - a total of £40,000 - to improvements to The Parade. To this was added money from Rural Support, Rural Locality, Parkgate Society and Streetscene, making a grand total of £83,000. Much of this - £35,000 - has been spent on the Donkey Stand. Some has gone on improved light standards and seating, and some is committed but not yet spent.

Alan Passmore is working on a heritage trail and blue plaques for historic buildings.

Parkgate Traders are supporting the plan for a 20 mph speed limit. Highways are going to survey signs and street furniture, and plan to remove unwanted signs and install gateway signs.

If a clinker-built boat could be found for the middle slipway, Parkgate Nurseries would put plants in it. Someone asked whether there was a danger such a boat could be washed away in high tides, but was reassured that it would be set in concrete.

The ownership of the seawall is disputed, but since it holds up CWaC's highway, they must look after it!

Brenda said we should agitate for the New Homes Bonus from Mostyn House to be spent in Parkgate.

In questions she was asked (questions in bold):

Could the pavement be extended in front of Mostyn House up to Nicholl's? Brenda said it would be expensive, and the present budget was committed.

Could there be traffic priority where the Parade narrows, and pedestrian crossings? This was greeted with applause.

Could Neston and Parkgate have a development plan and economic strategy, since Brenda was a member of the CWaC cabinet and had a budget of millions? Brenda explained that her brief is Adult Social Care and Health, but she does try to raise the profile of this area. She pointed out that Ewan McHenry, Senior Locality Manager - Rural Communities of CWaC, was taking notes.

Could the children's play area in The Ropewalk be improved? The budget is limited, and CWaC now upgrade only play areas where a lot of people live, and only maintain smaller ones. This could be another way of spending the New Homes Bonus.

How do we agitate? Write, email, and attend meetings of CWaC and Neston Town Council. Martin Barker pointed out that residents can speak for up to three minutes at Town Council meetings.

Why are we excluded from the important bits of council minutes, when money is discussed? [Applause].

What is the use of agitating when nothing happens? [Applause] The no waiting areas on The Parade have been extended, and new signs put up.

Can parking regulations be enforced? There are not enough Enforcement Officers. Neston Town Council could pay for more.

High tide at Parkgate in February 2014.
Photo by Bernard Rose.

What is being done about the rise in the salt marsh and increased risk of flooding? The Environment Agency found that the marsh acts as a sponge, and reduces the risk of flooding. Little Neston is more at risk than Parkgate. Ewan McHenry said there is a scheme to warn residents in flood-prone houses, and he advised people to sign up.

Could the Wirral Way have signs to Parkgate, perhaps sponsored by local businesses, and a Parkgate and Conservation Area sign in Boathouse Lane? [Applause]

Does the RSPB influence what happens to the marsh? Yes, and they should. Could they give money? They collect and spend money.

Why was it not possible to say how much was spent in Parkgate? Parkgate is a wealthy area, and CWaC spend money where it is needed. For example, the budget for old people and for children has had to be increased, meaning that other activities, e.g. Streetscene, had to suffer an extra cut. Brenda defended the principle of collecting taxes from the whole area, and spending it where it was most needed, and this was met with applause.

Neston Town Councillor Martin Barker asked for questions about Neston Town Council.

Councillors Ceri Lloyd, Pat Hughes and James Wilkie were present, but Martin answered the questions, apart from those passed to Brenda Dowding.

What is being done about problems with traffic at the Mostyn House development? Brenda Dowding said when the work was complete CWaC would look at the need for parking restrictions, and for modifying the Station Road junction. Money from the New Homes Bonus would go to Neston Town Council, and might help.

What is the difference between Section 106 money and the New Homes Bonus? S106 has to be spent close to the relevant new building. The four Parkgate town councillors would fight for the NHB to be spent in Parkgate.

Could the council purchase the shop next to the Brown Horse in Neston [Shand]? They had tried various avenues, but had not given up yet.

Improvements were made this year to the roads and pavements
around The Cross in Neston

What was the cost of the changes at Neston Cross, which made little difference? About £200,000. The council expected it to look better: the York stone was an improvement. Why was the current resurfacing not done at the same time? They did not have the money.

Could residents have parking permits in Station Road and South Parade? Brenda Dowding said an independent expert had assessed the need, and it would be possible if she paid from her budget, which was all used. She would try again, since the Old Quay were now charging for parking.

Could the NHB pay for traffic wardens [Civil Enforcement Officers] to regulate parking at weekends?

Could Parkgate Parade have a 20 mph limit? A paper was on each seat asking for comments, to email ruralcommunities@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk.

Could pavements in Parkgate be improved? It would be possible to remove all the pavements, and have a shared space.

Could the Burton Marsh Greenway be extended along the marsh to Parkgate? A show of hands suggested that a lot of people were in favour.

Could the council talk to the Old Quay pub about allowing residents free parking? Yes.

Could the NHB from Mostyn House be used to improve facilities for sports, e.g. changing rooms at Parks Field? Yes.

Could Neston Recreation Centre be improved, as it is run-down? The NHB could be used.

Related content (from the same meeting):

Neston Neighbourhood Plan

Community Involvement

Mosquito Mitigation

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Comments

GRGMAN

At 20:25 on 5th November 2014, GRGMAN commented:

I could not attend this meeting, however I am able to comment on the parking restrictions suggested at the junction of Grenfell Park & Station Road. On behalf of some residents I have contacted CWaC traffic department, about 2 weeks ago - here is their response to me.
"I spoke to Ian McNeil, – he has told me his team has already surveyed the junction and is proposing to put double yellow lines 10 metres into Grenfell Park (both sides) and double yellow lines from the Grenfell Park Junction down to the first house on Station Road ( I’m assuming this is the start of the cottages). Also from the Grenfell junction to the left, double yellow lines as far as the straight.
He thinks the process will begin shortly, and there will be a need to consult with residents who may be affected by the parking restrictions - there was no suggestion that CWaC will wait until the contractors have gone to assess the need for parking restrictions.

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