Bellway have submitted detailed plans to build residential and sporting facilities on derelict land of the former Moorfield Road Sports and Social Club in Widnes. Since the closure of the site back in August 2021 the clubhouse and facilities has been the subject of vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

As part of the development Bellway is prepared to lay new sports pitches and construct a new club house with leisure and changing facilities, for use by the local sports teams. It would also build a multi-use games area (MUGA), a new car park and make improvements to the existing playing field at Moorfield Primary School. Members of the Moorfield Action Group agree that this is positive news for this community and would bring much needed sporting facilities back to this area.

When Bellway homes held an open public exhibition in June this year, members of the Moorfield Road Action Group went to raise their concerns regarding the serious road safety issues associated with Moorfield Road and any further impact the proposed development could have on these issues. Surprisingly, Bellway listened to our concerns and offered to undertake a Highway survey to look into what measures could be taken to make Moorfield Road a safer place for all residents.

After the survey was complete Bellway came up with a number of solutions and offered to pay for these measures to be implemented to be part of the planning process. Having presented these solutions to Halton Borough Council’s Highways department, they have stated that there are no serious road safety issues on Moorfield Road and that they have never received any complaints about the issue! As you are all fully aware, residents living on Moorfield Road have been raising key concerns about the continued danger from excessive speeding, dangerous driving and the misuse by large overweight HGV’s since 2004. 

This is where we need your help. As part of the planning application, the public are allowed to comment on the proposed development by Bellway Homes.

By using the link below: We need as many local residents as possible to take this opportunity to back Bellway Homes suggested solutions which they are offering to fully pay for and implement. The more people that voice their concerns, there is more chance of a permanent solution to our serious road safety issues. 

https://webapp.halton.gov.uk/planningapps/index.asp?RegList=2023-11-23

We have always known that the only viable solution to our on-going road safety issues was for Halton Borough Council to install physical traffic calming measures at specific points on Moorfield Road to slow down the traffic flow in both directions. They have refused to do this on many occasions dismissing our community concerns and even now, they are stating there is no need for this and will reject this as part of the planning application. This is despite the fact that Halton Borough Council has given the go ahead for the building of nearly 1000 houses at the North end of Moorfield Road which will bring a further increase in traffic and associated problems. Not one of these Developers are offering our community any benefit yet Bellway Homes are offering substantial investment in both community sporting facilities and providing a fully paid for solution to our serious road safety issues.

Our Community has seen things get progressively worse over the last few years and have complained to Halton Borough Council and Cheshire Police many times to try and get something done. Unfortunately, both agencies are just not interested and choose to ignore our requests for help. Will it really take a death of an adult or child before either of these organisations take our situation seriously and act on our behalf?

In closing, if you also have the same genuine road safety concerns as the Moorfield Road Action Group, we would ask that you join us in supporting Bellway homes with this residential and sporting facilities development and to make Halton Borough Councils Highways team aware that there is a serious road safety problem on Moorfield road for our community.

If you are unable to use the link above, within the planning section of the Halton Borough Councils website, Bellway have this week submitted an application.  The planning application number is 23/00459/FUL and you can also submit your comments by emailing dev.control@halton.gov.uk

Thank you for your continued support. 

In the meantime everyone take care yourselves and each other!

Contact: moorfieldroadactiongroup@gmail.com