Row over proposed new entrance to pocket park in Crewe
Crewe residents are furious with Cheshire East over plans for a new park entrance which they say will increase anti-social behaviour near their homes and put children's safety at risk.
The council is revamping Samuel Street Pocket Park and is planning to put an entry point off Bright Street.
Residents support the park improvements but say the new gate should be off Richard Moon Street.
Cheshire East says putting it on Richard Moon Street would damage tree roots and could endanger road users.
Michael Dodd, who has lived on Bright Street for more than 40 years, said: "We told them, we'll work with you. We know the issues. Let's make it good for everybody."
He said the residents know an entrance on Bright Street will create problems for them because of the late-night drinking and anti-social behaviour which goes on near the gate on the other side of the park.
"There's no houses there and it's a distance from us, but the new entrance will be about 15m from our front door," said Michael.
As well as anti-social behaviour, the residents say there are also safety issues for children and access concerns for disabled people at the proposed Bright Street entrance.
Michael said: "You do get cars speeding down here because they think it's an open road and, all of a sudden, they're whacking their brakes on when they get to here [near where the proposed entrance is] and swinging into the turning point.
"Well, you're going to have pedestrians walking straight in front of that…
"It's an accident waiting to happen."
The residents say an entrance from Richard Moon Street would avoid impacting homes; be closer to Morrisons, create a safer and more direct route for pedestrians; provide more space for off-site visitors to park and still fall well within park boundaries and make use of existing fencing to save on costs.
They also point out Richard Moon Street has dropped kerbs nearby for disabled access and traffic calming measures.
Ward councillor Roger Morris (Conservative), who is backing the residents, said Cheshire East says it doesn't want to disturb the trees, but he doesn't believe creating a new entrance off Richard Moon Street would encroach on to the roots of the trees.
"They're saying if it weakens the roots, the trees are going to fall down either on people, on the pathway, or on vehicles," he said.
But residents say improvement works have been carried out on Queen Street Park close to trees without any issues.
Cllr Mick Warren (Macclesfield, Independent), chair of the environment and communities committee, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "The council thoroughly evaluated all potential options for the entrance to the Samuel Street Pocket Park.
"Unfortunately, creating an entrance at Richard Moon Street is entirely unfeasible.
"The necessary excavation would severely damage tree roots, compromising the structural integrity of the trees and significantly increasing the risk of them falling, endangering road users.
"In contrast, at Queen Street, we successfully utilised an existing hardstanding surface, allowing us to overlay the new footpath material with minimal disruption to the tree roots.
"Unfortunately, Richard Moon Street lacks such a surface, making this approach impossible.
"The most viable solution is to provide access from the northern section of the park off Bright Street.
"We will install a tarmac ramp to connect with the proposed entrance.
"Bright Street's lower traffic volume also makes it a safer and more inviting entry point to the park."
READ MORE: Crewe street to close for six-day road patching works.
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