AN ‘improved access’ at Brian Bevan Island could be introduced in the future following major development in the area.

An outline application for up to 160 homes on land formerly home to Wilderspool Stadium, on Fletcher Street, came before the development management committee at its meeting in May.

As recommended, it was approved subject to conditions.

But, in the event that the Section 106 legal agreement remains unsigned six months after this resolution, the application will be reviewed by the development manager and if ‘no meaningful progress’ is being made to sign an agreed Section 106 agreement then delegated authority is given to the development manager to refuse the application in the absence of an agreed Section 106 agreement, without which the development will be ‘unacceptable in planning terms’.

During the meeting, committee member Cllr Judith Wheeler said the pedestrian access around Brian Bevan Island into the town centre is ‘very good’.

“There are enough crossings, there are enough dropped kerbs,” she added.

“What I do have an issue with, and I’ve always had an issue with, is the access down Priory Street and Fletcher Street.

“Fletcher Street is terraced houses, double parked, very tight to get down, Priority Street is slightly better, but again it’s a narrow road, so you’ve got an awful lot of traffic accessing a high-density development, and the only egress and access is Fletcher and Priority Street.

“You then go out onto Wilderspool Causeway, which is the A49, we know how busy that gets.”

“And if you are exiting either Priory Street or Fletcher Street and turning right, you are virtually turning right onto Brian Bevan Island hoping somebody will let you into the traffic, on both sides of the road, to your left and to your right.

“I really struggle to see how that will work. I also think there is a significant impact for the residents of Fletcher Street.”

She was told that it is envisaged that ‘if these were to remain as the main points of access, it is likely that we would look to enforce a one-way system’ – with one being ‘formalised’ as one-way in, and one being ‘formalised’ as one-way out, ‘looped via the new development’.

Furthermore, she was told that this is intended as one of the developments of the Southern Gateway, the ‘intention of which’ is also to provide an access to an ‘improved’ Brian Bevan Island, so that there ‘should be another access point coming in’, at a point in the future.

Warrington Borough Council has been asked if plans are in place to ‘enforce a one-way system’ at this location and if plans are in place to provide an access to an ‘improved’ Brian Bevan Island, with ‘another access point coming in’.

It was also asked if it believes Wilderspool Causeway, and Brian Bevan Island, can cope with the extra vehicles, following the development of these new homes – as well as if the Section 106 agreement has been signed yet.

In response, a council spokesman said: “This application for outline planning permission for up to 160 residential units was considered by development management committee in May.

“This sought to establish the principle of development, including associated car parking, landscaping and open space, as well as details of access. Detailed matters of appearance, landscaping, layout and scale are reserved for submission in a future application.

“The committee approved this application and allowed six months from the date of the resolution for meaningful progress to be made on the S106 agreement. There are still a number of months to run on the identified timeframe. A decision on the application will not be issued until the S106 agreement has been signed.

“It would be premature to progress with a one-way system relating to this application in the absence of a decision on it. This cannot be implemented through the planning permission but would be subject to separate highway controls.

“The impacts of the development have been thoroughly assessed, as detailed within the report to development management committee, and it is concluded that there would be no significant adverse impacts on the highway as a result of the proposals.

“In terms of the impact of the wider development of the wider Southern Gateway area, detailed proposals on how this will be accessed by all types of transport will be included as part of planning applications when they come forward.

“All options to provide adequate access will be fully assessed, with an improved access at Brian Bevan Island being one of a number of potential options.”