Each month, Cllr Simon Eardley presents a report to Saughall & Shotwick Park Parish Council. Here's the latest as given to their meeting held on Monday 6th January 2025:
Shotwick Park Estate – future work and project
I have had an initial introductory discussion with a CWaC officer, Roger Goulding, regarding the future project which will see the implementation of the CWaC Cabinet decision from November 2024. I am also aware that an approach has also been made for engagement with the parish council, which is on your agenda, with an aspiration for a special and dedicated meeting to take place in mid-January ideally. There is a definite wish to consult with the wider parish on what future plans might look like but it is important that the parish council is briefed fully before anything specific is embarked upon. To that end, I would strongly urge you to consider this matter with some priority and look to set up the meeting I have mentioned, at which I will also be present, as soon as practically possible. In the meantime, parish councillors may wish to consider the following points in preparation for this engagement:
- Summarise what (ideally) you feel the estate should deliver for local people (so CWaC can try to take this into account as far as they can in designing a viable scheme).
- Provide a perspective on any promotion or availably of the site for visitors from outside the parish.
- Agree communications and how any public consultation might be undertaken.
- Whether the parish might have any interest in working in partnership with CWaC to provide or manage any specific areas, routes or facilities desired for community use/benefit.
It is essential to note the collaborative nature of the approach going forward and that there will be wider discussion with the local community which is important. In the first instance, this engagement with the parish council direct is an initial stage and then we can progress things in a much wider sense.
Joint surgery dates for 2025
Following feedback received regarding attendance possibilities from police colleagues, these are the dates I’d like to go with for the above in 2025:
- Saturday 18th January 2025 (PCSO Leason can attend)
- Saturday 10th May (no police available but let’s proceed anyway)
- Saturday 16th August (PCSO Leason can attend)
- Saturday 8th November (PCSO Leason can attend)
Diversion of traffic into Saughall from Sealand Road during Elms Hotel fire
I raised queries on the above with CWaC Highways following concerns expressed when this incident occurred last year. Their response below:
“The current legislation requires that for pre-planned road closures, traffic is diverted onto sections of highway that are of an equal or higher classification and any application that is submitted that does not adhere to this would be refused. Accordingly any proposed closure on Sealand Road, A548, would need to be diverted via other A class routes and could not be routed via the village as Seahill Road is C class. The closure due to the fire at the Elms was installed under Police emergency powers where the above does not apply as these closures need to be installed quickly and there is no certainty over the duration required. For any pre-planned closure that impacts on a neighbouring authority joint approval is required.”
Drainage matters – Seahill Road area
Repeat of a note relayed to parish councillors on 10/12/24:
“With regards to the Seahill Road issue by the fisheries, the Council attended a site meeting with Flintshire County Council, the Environment Agency, and Natural Resource Wales earlier this year. We identified some blocked gullies on the Flintshire side of the border which needed cleansing, however the watercourses fall under the jurisdiction of the EA and NRW. We know maintenance has taken place on the Welsh side but we’re not aware of any maintenance on the English side. From what we know the water tends to back up and overflow down the driveway of the Chester Paint Stripping and onto the highway where it meets the low point on the border outside the fishery. We will contact the EA for an update to see if any work has been undertaken or if any enforcement has taken place.”
I am also aware that a letter was sent by the Environment Agency in May 2024 to the landowner at Lower Ridge Farm & Fisheries. This is being pursued as I am not aware of a positive outcome in response to that.
Drainage matters – rear of The Ridings area
Just before Christmas I updated the group of residents I liaise with on a regular basis regarding issues in this location, as below. I expect to make further progress here in the coming weeks, following the meeting I have mentioned in this note.
- CWaC officers have been forging a strong relationship with Welsh Water (DCWW) because of the anomalies discovered on their asset plans in Saughall, including in the vicinity of The Ridings. DCWW have provided a tanker and camera crew to help tackle other anomalies (in Blacon on Saughall Road). This dialogue is ongoing and may be one part of the explanation as to why there is an additional volume of surface water in the vicinity.
- Research has been undertaken around riparian ownership details for various Saughall ditches. This is a complicated picture and requires contact and discussion with various landowners and property owners to resolve issues / inform them of their land drainage duties and move forward to resolution. I will be meeting with the CWaC Flood Officer in early January to agree a plan of action on this point and then progress on an individual basis.
- Further research has been undertaken which has revealed the presence and location of historic ponds – which have either been filled in or are badly maintained. I have attached these images for your reference.
I appreciate this isn’t full resolution of outstanding issues affecting your properties and land, but it is a step in the right direction.
Church Road to Smithy Close footpath
This has been a problem location for some years, on and off, owing to root growth damaging the pavement. I was advised by a CWaC officer on 20/12/24 as follows (I had noticed the bamboo tree had recently been removed):
“I can confirm that officers are in dialog with the resident of the property and have advised that they are responsible for making good the condition of the footpath following the damage caused by the neighbouring bamboo plant and now await confirmation on when works are to commence. In the meantime, I will request that the location is visited by the Network Steward for the area and that the barriers to prevent the location from being used are secure.”
Public Right of Way routes
- Saughall FP4 (Church Road through to land at the rear). Some good works have been organised here in recent months including the clearing of some vegetation and the laying of gravel to improve access. However, I have asked that more be done as the soil build up requires more attention. Feedback from the PRoW officer as follows: “I instructed the contractor to clear all the vegetation and soil and lay gravel so this would supress any further weeds from growing up and require no maintenance going forward, unfortunately it looks like this message has not made it through to his men that completed the job. I will chase this up with the contractor and thank you for bringing it to my attention.”
- Further progress has now been made on other areas which have featured regularly in this report in recent months, many dating back to July (but by no means have their origin at that time). I am obliged to parish councillor, Mike Johnson, who also takes a keen interest in PRoW matters and also liaise with the helpful CWaC officer that we deal with. Most notably, fallen trees in the Bluebell / Dingle Wood areas have been dealt with, in addition to the large oak tree across ‘Saughall FP16’ which was dealt with a little while ago.
Land to the rear of Church Road
Parish councillors will recall that some SP Energy Networks cable works have been undertaken on the land to the rear of Church Road in recent months. Whilst walking the PRoW route there recently I noticed a substantial amount of SPEN ‘waste’ and have asked them to remove it (see attached image). In response, they also advised the below. I have a copy of this wayleave agreement should anyone wish to see it.
“I have passed your query on to the Head of Delivery who will either arrange for someone to tidy up the tape that has been left on site. Or remove it from site.
I have been recently made aware that there are further works required on the Council’s land, to erect new poles as per the Wayleave agreement.
[My colleague] is currently waiting on dates from O’Connors Utilities for when these works will take place, along with the works to lay the cables down Church Road.”
The above may also impact the works I have mentioned regarding Saughall FP4, above. The PRoW officer is aware.
Planning – Oakwood Farm appeals
Notification has now been received as to the outcome of two planning appeals as follows:
- Appeal A: Ref APP/A0665/C/24/3349943 Oakwood Farm, Parkgate Road, Saughall, Chester:
- The breach of planning control as alleged in the enforcement notice issued by CWaC was that without planning permission, there has been a material change of use of the land to residential use and the erection of a residential garage. The requirements of the notice were to: cease the residential use of the land; demolish the building (the unauthorised development) and remove all materials associated with the demolition from the land. The appeal was upheld.
- Appeal B: Ref APP/A0665/C/24/3349978 Oakwood Farm, Parkgate Road, Saughall, Chester:
- The breach of planning control as alleged in the enforcement notice issued by CWaC was that without planning permission, the erection of a building had taken place. The requirements of the notice were to: demolish the building (the unauthorised development) and remove all materials associated with the demolition from the land. The appeal was upheld.
The parish council should have received a copy of the full decision. I can send on to anyone who might be interested and who has not seen it.
New wildflower area
In December I confirmed the location for the next wildflower area in the Saughall and Mollington Ward – it will be introduced into the roundabout at the top end of Parkgate Road near the small service area. Parish councillors will know that I have been an enthusiastic advocate for this programme of works since its inception in 2021 and indeed pressed for it to be delivered much quicker than it was originally. You may be interested in the following highlights of what this work has achieved:
- Created 200 mini meadows, this is equivalent to 9 full size football pitches
- Secured £50,000 from the Council’s Climate Emergency Fund to purchase seed
- Continued close working with Chester Zoo, and gained £50,000 for relevant machinery via a successful bid to the Green Recovery Challenge Fund
- National showcasing of the wildflower programme through a presentation to the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) conference in December 2023
- Being a ‘go to’ for best practice from neighbouring authorities.
Green waste charge
The online subscription service for the CWaC ‘Green Waste Collection’ will be open on Monday 6 January 2025. This is an opt-in chargeable service costing £52.50 per bin per calendar year regardless of when you subscribe during the year. If you are in receipt of full council tax reduction at the point of applying for your annual permit, you are entitled to a £10 reduction on the cost of one garden waste bin permit. The service will provide fortnightly collections over 40 weeks of the year with a suspension outside of growing season of 12 weeks (December to February). Garden waste bins will not be emptied without a valid subscription and displayed permit. Collections in 2025 will take place between Monday 24 February 2025 and Friday 28 November 2025.
Miscellaneous
- The Member Budget funding request (£110) for the purchase of Community Speedwatch ‘hi-vis’ vests was dealt with during December 2024. I am pleased to see they have been purchased and are in use.
- I have received a request for the potential installation of bollards to a grassed area between properties on Darlington Crescent which I have logged with CWaC. Residents here have undertaken some good maintenance to the area and are dismayed by careless driving onto the grass by vehicles. Case logged on 01/12/24. Update received on 24/12/24 as follows: “Thank you for your Councillor Portal Enquiry requesting the installation of bollards to a grassed area between 40 and 64 Darlington Crescent, Saughall. We apologise for the delay in providing a response. We are liaising with the relevant service to ensure a response is provided as a priority shortly after the Christmas break.”
- Lighting column 16, Hermitage Road. Faulty (repeat of previous problem here). Reported on 14/12/24. Ref. CE670609180. This has now been repaired.
- Pothole, Fiddlers Lane (near the property, Brevin). Reported on 21/12/24. Ref. CE672334854.
- Pothole around grid on Long Lane (approach to the village before the village sign). Reported on 02/01/25. Ref. CE674969036.
- Grid cover dislodged, Parkgate Road (near PRoW in the mid-point between Fiddlers Lane and Long Lane). Reported on 02/01/25. Ref. CE674971736.