As a resident of Northwich, I am deeply concerned by the proposal to convert part of Verdin Park into a car park. This much-loved green space is used daily by local people of all ages - families, children, dog walkers, and those simply seeking peace and fresh air in the heart of our town.

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For many residents, especially those living in the nearby Victorian terraces where gardens are small or non-existent, Verdin Park provides an essential refuge. It is not just a park, but a vital community hub and one of the few accessible open spaces in this part of Northwich.

Verdin Park is a legally protected green space, covered by covenants established by the original benefactor, Sir Joseph Verdin. He recognised back in the nineteenth century that the people needed to touch grass, and the only way to protect the park from developers was to put in place long-lasting rules on its use. 

The plan put forward by Northwich Town Council and Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust would carve away a section of this valuable green space for around 40 car parking spaces. This is unnecessary and short-sighted. Alternative sites and solutions exist - including moving certain services to the town centre, underused town centre car parks, brownfield land, and the option of decked or multi-storey parking at the hospital itself.

Sacrificing part of Verdin Park not only diminishes a cherished community asset but disregards the wider environmental and health benefits of protecting green space. Parks like this are proven to support physical and mental wellbeing, reduce air pollution, and strengthen community life.

Since launching this petition, we have uncovered serious issues with the proposal to carve away part of the park for a small 40-space car park. The legal documents and Freedom of Information disclosures show that the land is protected by statutory trust and historic covenants, meaning Northwich Town Council has very limited powers to dispose of or repurpose it. The Council can only act within those legal boundaries - yet internal papers now show they pressed ahead without first confirming they even had the authority to do so.

We have also discovered that the consultation process relied on by the NHS Trust and the Council did not meet basic standards of fairness. Key information was withheld from the public, alternative options were not presented, and residents were invited to comment after key decisions had already been made behind closed doors. This is not a genuine consultation, and it has left the community completely sidelined.

The proposal itself remains unnecessary and short-sighted. Better alternatives exist — including underused town-centre parking, brownfield land, decked or multi-storey options at the hospital, and the relocation of high-footfall departments such as phlebotomy and physiotherapy to satellite sites in town. These options would meaningfully reduce parking pressure without destroying part of our park.

We need investment in our town, but not at the expense of the very spaces that make it liveable.

I call on Northwich Town Council and Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to abandon this proposal and seek alternative, more sustainable solutions to address hospital parking pressures.

Please sign this petition to show your support for preserving Verdin Park for current and future generations.