Notes from Walk between Representatives from South Parish Council Group - Traffic and Transport Sub-Group

Meeting held at Rake Public House to (Durban Avenue), 9:30am on Saturday 7th March 2020

Present Cllr Keith Scargill – Gt Boughton Parish Council Cllr.Amanda Miller – Gt Boughton Parish Council Cllr Ian Huffer - Gt Boughton Parish Council Cllr Andy Tassell – Huntington Parish Council Cllr Clive Buckler – Huntington Parish Council Cllr Susan Robson – Christleton Parish Council Cllr Simon Kent - Christleton Parish Council Monica Robinson – Cycle Campaign Louise Gibson – Clerk of Huntington Parish Council

APOLOGIES Cllr Tim Christie (Huntington Parish Council Representative for Traffic Infrstratucre working Group)

Purpose of the Meeting/Joint Partnership To work together between parishes to investigate the feasibility of a Huntington / Gt Boughton footpath to Christleton, to benefit all communities for healthier, sustainable lifestyles in the future and to link villages. (Please see Appendix 1 for the context of why Huntington Parish Council support this project)

To also identify common aims and goals between our parishes and to work together to achieve them.

Notes taken from the Meeting  It was identified that the Stile leading to the footpath, at the back of the Rake, was broken. ACTION: Clerk to inform CWAC of broken stile  It was discussed that in order for parents to be reassured that the footpath was safe to use, it would need lighting. has received LED Solar-power lighting which was extremely effective and this could be considered for this path, which may lower costs.

 Access was challenging at times with the extremely muddy conditions which made the path only accessible by wellies or sturdy walking boots. Overgrown shrubbery and vegetation also made the path impassible in one area – Please see photo 2.

 Surfacing – Some Cllrs discussed the possibility of a ‘Cinder path’ which may be considered more environmentally friendly, more in keeping with the area as well as lower cost. However, other Cllrs dismissed this as the aim was for footpath to have cycle access which would require hard surfacing. In a feasibility walk carried out by CW&C officers and Huntington Parish Council, CW&C officers were also of the opinion that hard surfacing would be the only suitable surfacing.

 In order for this path to be of benefit to the whole area, including both Huntington and Gt Boughton, it would need possibly two link paths.

a. One of these would be at the back of the estate – please see map and photo 3. b. Another link would need to be included for Gt Boughton – please see map. This would also require some form of access over the A55 North Wales Expressway. This could be a bridge over the carriageway or a walkway underneath.

Both links would then join the path, as shown on the map.

 Gt Boughton Parish Council had met with Sean Traynor, CW&C officer, who had suggested that a project manager from CW&C could be appointed to look at the technical issues surrounding re-establishment of the footpath such as the feasibility and engaging with the landowners.

 Huntington Parish Council had previously met with Karl Farrow and other CW&C officers who carried out the same walk. The formal response to this had been that they could definitely see the merit of this project. Funding would be an issue but the project had been referred to the S106 Traffic Alleviation Team within CW&C who was responsible for determining where the Camp money of £4.2 million should be spent.

 Further investigation by both Gt Boughton and Huntington Parish Councils found that there IS still £3.8 million remaining in the S106 money, specified to be spent on traffic alleviation issues as a result of the Saighton Camp development. Huntington Parish Council have also had it confirmed that the Footpath project is still a consideration for some of this funding.

 Christleton Parish Council has significant paperwork detailing the work they had carried out with CW&C officers in identifying public rights of way which needs to be formally recognized by 2025 or they would be lost. In order to be formally recognised, it required evidence that the footpath/public right of way was used. It was discussed that this footpath would need that type of evidence. ACTION: Christleton Parish Council to send copies of paperwork to Cllr Amanda Miller

 It was discussed that the Working Group should consider contacting Sustrans to gauge their support for this initiative. ACTION: Working Group to consider this at the next meeting.

NEXT STEPS:  The Working Group to arrange a convenient date where they can all meet. Sean Traynor, CW&C officer should also be invited. Post-meeting note: Gt Boughton Parish Council Chairman has invited the Chair of Huntington, Christleton and Littleton Parish Council to a meeting on the 28th March. The Chairman have also been asked to invite 1 Cllr Representative from the Traffic and Transport Working Group.

Start of the Walk at the field at the back of the Rake pub, accessed by a Stile

Problems occurred here as the designated footpath has now been overgrown by vegetation and the pond has merged with the footpath. (Clerk was asked to report to Cheshire West Council)

This is the view to Saighton Camp estate, where it was discussed the estate link could join the footpath (please see map for estate link location)

The bridge was found to be in a relatively good state of repair

To cross over the railway line (near Christleton exit on Durban Avenue), it requires walkers to use a brick built bridge. Again, this was found to be in good repair.

The footpath is clearly signposted from the Christleton side.

This is the entrance point for the footpath, off Durban Avenue. In the background of this photo is the exit onto the A41.

A view onto the A41 from the road which leads to the footpath.

APPENDIX 1 HUNTINGTON TO CHRISTLETON FOOTPATH FEASIBILITY STATEMENT FROM HUNTINGTON PARISH COUNCIL Huntington Parish Council have been campaigning for the Huntington to Christleton Public Right of Way to be upgraded, in order to provide better access for residents and to link two villages together. Huntington children, of high school age, travelling to Christleton High School, would be able to walk to school instead of parents having to travel via Sainsbury’s roundabout and via the A41. This would not only promote a healthier lifestyle, with the direct route along the footpath being just 1 mile, but also this would alleviate traffic problems, especially associated with Sainsbury’s roundabout AND Christleton Village itself. Huntington Parish Council had contacted the previous headteacher of Christleton High school and had obtained figures for the number of cars which may be reduced. At present, 120 pupils attend Christleton from Huntington. This did not take Great Boughton children into account which would raise the figure further.

This would also benefit Christleton due to the complex traffic issues that they are facing in their village at school drop-off/pick-up whilst also benefitting Gt Boughton who may see traffic reduced on the Sainsbury’s’ roundabout as a result of less parents needing to use their cars as students were walking.. It was acknowledged that some cycled, but this was considered dangerous when there was no pedestrian crossing over Sainsbury’s roundabout.

Both Great Boughton and Huntington Parish Council’s had agreed that there should be a combined approach to tackle this and the footpath would be one of a list of strategic measures proposed to tackle the traffic issues in Christleton and on Sainsbury’s roundabout as well as better access for Huntington residents.