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The new Mersey Forest Plan launch


Geoffrey Settle

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The

 

Mersey Forest Plan – Launch at Risley Moss Friday

The excellent new Mersey Forest Plan was launched on Friday 24th January at their Risley Moss HQ. The Mersey Forest stretches from Delamere Forest in the south through Warrington (Risley Moss) and on to Formby Pines Woods.

John Handle who has been involved with the Mersey Forest from the start gave a great speech about the 30 year history of the Mersey Forest programme of environmental regeneration on Merseyside and north Cheshire. He spoke about it delivering economic as well as community and environmental benefits during that time. One key success factor quoted was that to date over 8.75 million new trees have been planted in and around some of the most urban areas of the UK, creating new jobs, protecting landscapes and providing a better quality of place and life for the millions who live and work in the area.

Susannah Gill the author of the plan has done a fantastic job producing an excellent plan as well as inspiring her team. The new plan is very well presented with a clear and exciting vision for the 21st Century. Her team has consulted with partners, public and conservation groups for almost two years in a host of different and inventive ways. The plan is a vision that is exciting and ambitious. Like its predecessor it will be a catalyst for new and sustainable growth and help make Merseyside and North Cheshire become one of the best places in the country to live.

For more information about the plan click on this direct link to the Mersey Forest web site http://www.merseyforest.org.uk/plan/

 

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It would be nice if the 3 trees planted for 1 uprooted would be likely to occur. Unfortunately Gullivers  replace them with concrete or hard standing simply to expand their amusement park  to the detriment of the surrounding residents.  Perhaps our environmental planing pundit can comment on this ?

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It was also muted yesterday on the radio that part of the problems being faced in Somerset could be down to birds and animals welfare being taken above those of people. Creating and protecting habitats in which wildlife can thrive may be having an effect on the ability for water to drain away as they haven't dredged rivers and such like....

 

Surely the human population should be more important than wildlife?

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Spot on again Baz.

 

I've just watched the news and the angry reaction of the local MP to the news that when the minister for the environment visited a flooded area, his first port of call was a nature reserve where six times more money had been spent protecting wildlife than on flood protection.

 

I'm all for helping the environment but to me it seems that it’s more about political brownie points and what makes the prettiest picture for the press. I mean, what picture would Gary like to see in the pages of his magazine? Geoff settle and a group of children being taught about water voles OR a pile of stinking mud being dragged out of the local brook?

 

Bill :)

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I usually contact the Environmental Agency for clearing and dredging our local brooks in my ward but as we are at flood risk they seem to do it on a regular basis anyway. I spoke to their contractors who did Peel Hall Park in the autumn clearing Blackbrook and there was another team clearing the silt under one of the bridges that span Spittle Brook a couple of weeks later. We are getting some flood defenses as part of phase 3 to prevent Spittle Brook spilling over into Solway Close as it did a year or so back and also prevent the water from crossing Enfield Park Road. I'm not sure what is happening elsewhere but there was an announcement on Warrington Worldwide about additional defenses last week so you can check up on that to see if you are covered. If in doubt take a look at the EA web site for planned defense work and alerts. Plus you can sign up for alerts that will be sent as texts to your mobile phone and email accounts. As for Vole training contact Cheshire Wildlife Trust they will be starting up field surveys soon. :mrgreen:

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I'm not hijacking your post Geoff, it's just you missing the point.

 

What Baz was saying was completly right in that the needs of people should come before conservation. If it wasn't for conservationist objecting to reed beds being cleared, then much of the flooding in the south might have been avoided. Take another silly example where it severly delayed dredging of the Dee estuary, needed to allow wing sections for the Airbus to be transported, in case if frightened the ducks. It cost millions and thousands of jobs were put at risk by a few misguided individuals.

 

Bill :)

 

And PS Geoff. This is a discussion forum where people are free to express their opinions. If you dont like comments then feel free to debate or bugger off and put your stuff elswhere.

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Neither of your  post responses  seem to have appreciated the point of my comment   that Gulliver's amusement park is encroaching further in to Sankey Valley Park. People who live close to GW think it is a bloody noisy nuisance neighbour. One wonders if they require planning agreement for this expansion and if so is the WBC environment dept. consulted ???

 

A further point is that it has been recognised that paving and  concreting over green spaces, whether it be a wood or a front garden, prevents rain soaking in to the water table, instead it will run into the drainage system thus swelling water courses brooks rivers etc. 

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Boris - I think they did get planning permission a while back for some holiday accomodation pods is this the are you mean as I don't know it very well.

If there is an issue about noise then contact the Environmental Health Officer at WBC and they will monitor it and take action is the noise permits the limits. They can only do this if you complain.

Not sure what your second point is asking as it is a statemenent of fact? Again if you and your neighbours believe that GW are contravening thier planning permission in this case contact the planning department.

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I'm not hijacking your post Geoff, it's just you missing the point.

 

What Baz was saying was completly right in that the needs of people should come before conservation. If it wasn't for conservationist objecting to reed beds being cleared, then much of the flooding in the south might have been avoided. Take another silly example where it severly delayed dredging of the Dee estuary, needed to allow wing sections for the Airbus to be transported, in case if frightened the ducks. It cost millions and thousands of jobs were put at risk by a few misguided individuals.

 

Bill :)

 

And PS Geoff. This is a discussion forum where people are free to express their opinions. If you dont like comments then feel free to debate or bugger off and put your stuff elswhere.

 

Lets try phrasing it another way whet has what you and Baz said got to do wityh the original posting about the MF other than going off on a tangent - you are perferctly within in your poster rights to go off on a tangent if you want but keeping to the topic is much better - why not start another TOPIC on the issues that graetly concern you?

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Geoff (and sorry if this is going off on a slight tangent too )  just playing catchup and reading these comments.....

 

But I can't help but say that I find it strange that you say things like

 

I usually contact the Environmental Agency for clearing and dredging our local brooks in my ward ........We are getting some flood defenses as part of phase 3 to prevent Spittle Brook spilling over into Solway Close ......... I'm not sure what is happening elsewhere but there was an announcement on Warrington Worldwide about additional defenses last week so you can check up on that to see if you are covered................

 

 

Boris - I think they did get planning permission a while back for some holiday accomodation pods is this the are you mean as I don't know it very well.

 

Surely as a Councillor you should know about these things and what is going on in other local areas around Warrington.   OK so you may say it's not on your patch but none of Warrington is my 'patch' and those areas are nowhere near me but I take an interest and know.

Just saying like....... sorry......

 

PS your spelling seems to suffer when you are a tad rattled.... mine's bad all the time even when I'm chillaxed :lol::wink:

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Dizzy my spelling has alway been very poor and it's no secret plus my key board skills are something to not to be desired & I'm currently writing this without my glasses. I began answering Bill and Baz questions but then I thought what am I doing I am falling into the old random high jacking trap  so I called time out.

 

Yes I plead guilty as charged to not knowing everything about the place Warrington - but I do try and get involved in as much as I can in the place called Poulton North and I try and keep upto date with the wider aspects of the Town - other Councillors are available who have specialist knowledge about other Wards and such queries should be directed to them as it's their turf.  

 

Now whay do you want to know about the Mersey Forest Plan  :mrgreen:

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Good job I'm not a councillor as I'd never be able to keep my nose out of what was going on in Warrington let alone what councillors in other wards were doing and offering to help if they needed any :lol:

 

I'm ok about the Mersey Forest Plan thanks, is there anything you want to know :mrgreen:

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  • 2 months later...

Geoff.... we hijack threads (if you want to call it that) because you are the only councillor who is brave enough to come on here and fight your corner; and I applaud you for that, but if we start a topic regarding issues we may have, you very rarely answer or contribute... at least this way we know you will at least read stuff we post!! :)

 

But as has been said, on a public forum like this, tangents do happen; even though we know that everything that happens in Warrington is down to Man Utd or Liverpool supporters, supporters of some game called rugby, UKIP, the EU, climate change, MH370, Crimea, Oscar Pistorius or immigrants..... so why do any of us bother anyway!!

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Baz simply I haven't the time to spend tracking stuff on here so I apologise for that - as it's election time I may well have to stop anyway otherewise  I won't be able to focus on what I should be doing e.g. case work, campaigns, prep etc. So if I don't or can't keep up it's not because I don't want to take part..... 8)

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Just noted no reply form Bizzy Lizzy oops should that be Dizzy :mrgreen:

Blimey Geoff the last post before today's was 10th February so apologies for me overlooking your question and not replying but it may surprise you to know that it's not only councilors who are sometimes busy, have other things to do and focus on and/or sometimes can't keep up.... or even just forget to answer things. 

 

Times moves on especially when the sun starts shining or there's more pressing things to do.... like making a new homes for baby woodlice after digging them and their mummy and daddy out of the redundant flowerbed, planting flowers and talking to trees.....

 

See I am nice and love nature really :wink:

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

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