Westminster Park Residents Association

Following on from the success of our January Volunteer Day, we have arranged another get together for 13th March.  The main focus of activity will be to move the cuttings from the coppiced hedge next to the Glan Aber tennis courts to a couple of locations:  the new dog walking area and the gaps in the hedge next to the pathway by the golf course.

In addition, the following will be tackled:

• clearance of the path edges from the car park to the cafe area
• the installation of footpath slabs or stones by the white gate on the pathway near to Glan Aber Tennis Club.

If you are able to volunteer please could you advise us in advance.  If you know of anyone else who would like to help with this effort, please pass on this note.

Look forward to seeing as many of you as possible on that day.  It will help to make our well appreciated open space even better.

Steve Telford, 

Chair, Friends of Westminster Park

The Friends of Duke’s Drive are holding their AGM at the new St. Mary’s Handbridge Centre on Tuesday 29th January at 7pm.  They would welcome anyone who is interested in their activities and/or who might wish to join the committee.

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Carol Farrell is giving a talk on the History of Saltney and its Industrial Past on Thursday 24th January at 7.30pm at The Venue, Lache Community Centre, Hawthorn Road, Chester CH4 8HX.

Organised by the Lache and Westminster Park Local History Group, there is no need to book.  Tickets are just £1 and are available at the door.

For more information contact Linda Shuttleworth on 01244 679791.

The plans for 1300 houses and flats and their associated infrastructure on Wrexham Road will be considered by CWAC’s planning Committee on Tuesday 8 January 2019.  The planning report for this development was issued on 22 December by the council.

Westminster Park Residents’ Association has asked Councillor Neil Sullivan to request a deferral of the decision to a meeting later in January to allow councillors and local people time to study the lengthy and detailed planning report.  We await a response from the planning committee.

Also for consideration at this meeting is the construction of an Ecological Mitigation Area for the translocation of Great Crested Newts and other amphibians which currently inhabit the many ponds on the development site.

It is not too late to comment on the plans (See here).  This is the link to the planning reports:

http://cmttpublic.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=827&MId=5595&Ver=4

There are still considerable flaws in the plans, particularly relating to anticipated levels of traffic.  Drainage and flooding is also a great concern.  We are also very disappointed that the plans do not address the housing needs of a growing elderly population.

Do ensure that you copy your comments across all applications:

17/02444/FUL    Construction of Ecological Mitigation Area

17/02453/OUT   483 dwellings and infrastructure

17/05200/FUL    786 dwellings and infrastructure

The planning committee meeting at 4pm on Tuesday 8 January is open to the public and is also live on webcam if you want to follow events.

The Evergreen over 60s club enjoyed their Christmas lunch at Chester Golf Club last Thursday.  They were joined by Councillor Razia Daniels.  Here are a few photos of the occasion.

The Sheriff of Chester toured our local shops when he visited on Thursday 6 December.  Here are a few more photos taken on the evening by Anne Ord Sykes.

Over 200 local residents joined in the fun as the children of Belgrave Primary School arrived to sing carols, and Santa appeared just in time to help with the countdown to the Switch on.

Belgrave School choir sang at the Lights Switch on

The Sheriff of Chester, Councillor Stuart Parker, praised the children of Belgrave Primary School for their excellent singing at the Christmas Lights Switch on at Westminster Park shops on Thursday 6 December.

The event was organised by Westminster Park Residents’ Association (WPRA) and was generously supported by Councillors Razia Daniels and Neil Sullivan, who enabled the purchase of new lights this year from their Members’ Budgets.

Plenty of refreshments were provided free for residents to enjoy.  WPRA supplied mulled wine and juice, Bebbington’s butchers cooked hotdogs, the fishmonger provided prawns and the Co-op generously contributed a selection of mince pies and cakes.

Santa rounded off the evening by listening to the children’s Christmas wishes and giving them an early present of sweets and satsumas.

The Sheriff of Chester, Cllr Stuart Parker, Cllrs Razia Daniels and Neil Sullivan join the WPRA committee at the Christmas lights switch on.

Santa arrived just in time to help with the countdown.

Our PCSOs joined in the festive spirit – thank you!

The Sheriff of Chester Cllr Stuart Parker congratulated the choir on their singing.