BATTLING Wharton residents could have at last won their fight with Vale Royal Borough Council for money to be pumped into the crumbling estate.

The authority has proposed to spend £250,000 on renovation work over a three-year period.

Although Crook Lane and Wharton Gardens Residents' Association campaigned in July last year for more than £2m to be spent on the estate, chairman, Charlie Parkinson welcomed the investment.

He said: "At the meeting between Vale Royal Borough council and the residents' association, Clr Tony Hooton and Bob Floyd put forward proposals for the future of the estate - to spend around £250,000 over three years. This is subject to a housing meeting in March.

"The money is over and above the paint and repair programme that's being carried out.

"They're also talking about setting aside £100,000 for electrical work in Vale Royal. Although it's not just for Crook Lane and Wharton Gardens, we will get our fair share.

"These are proposals that will all be discussed at the meeting.

"On top of that we have plans for a new clinic which is an investment of more than £1m.

"We are obviously disappointed with the amount the council is proposing - approximately £250,000 - but we are also realistic and we do believe the council has not got the money to spend.

Charlie, who hopes the council will start refurbishments and improvements on the Winsford estate by April, announced his resignation of chairman of the residents' association at a meeting last night, Tuesday.

He said: "I would like to take the opportunity to thank the people of Wharton for the support they've shown to the residents' association.

"Hopefully the good work will carry on and go from strength to strength. We are trying to put 30 years of neglect right and it will take more than three years to do it but at least we are making a start."

Clr Tony Hooton, chairman of housing for Vale Royal Borough Council, confirmed that a list of ideas and costs had been drawn up for Wharton, based on previous discussions with the residents' association.

He explained: "I have put some proposals forward for a three year programme which needs to be approved by housing.

"We are now asking the residents what their priorities for the estate are and until I hear what the residents have to say I wouldn't like to comment any further."

The suggestions and improvement costs for the estate provided by Clr Hooton, included.

Relaying of tarmaced footways at rear of properties on the service area, £37,400.

Patching tarmac and adjusting ironwork to service areas prior to surface dressing, £4,000.

Surface dressing of service areas using a coloured slurry seal, £94,500.

Traffic calming measures to service areas, £8,012.

Marking parking bays, £2,000.

Cleaning of external faces of garden walls and sealing with a silicone treatment, £24,000.

Complete programme of replacement Stenni panelling.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.