I WAS one of several hundred residents who attended the public meeting about the proposed closure of (From Warrington Guardian)

I WAS one of several hundred residents who attended the public meeting about the proposed closure of

To me, the fact that the meeting was being held after the closure clearly illustrated the agenda of the county council.

Questions were solicited by the council representatives but many were left unanswered. I was astounded and disappointed with their manner, even allowing for some expected antagonism from the public. I was left with the impression of a handful of public servants not listening to the public it serves.

I came away from the meeting thinking of the telephone calls about Marbury Lane I made to local and regional government last summer.

I felt money was the real issue and regretably it will now be up to others to adjudicate on the matter.

It was sad to observe that shortly after the Marbury Lane tragedy, the roadway, bridgeworks and fencing were very quickly refurbished to a good standard but the lane remained closed.

A county council environmental agenda to support the Vision for Northwich is good and positive. Any agenda must be an integral part of a plan to improve all environmental objectives not just green issues. It should not impose a breakdown of any local infrastucture, including direct road access to towns and amenities.

The council's proposal actually ignores an opportunity to take people, including disabled groups and tourists, to the centre of any new environmental initiatives at Marbury Park.

The plan to introduce four new accesses on the perimeter of Marbury Park, along with coach and car parks, is a remarkable proposal which would only exacerbate the exisitng local road situation.

Green issues are important to me, but not exclusively and not at the exclusion of our local communities needs. I believe that with some more thought, an acceptable solution can be achieved. Marbury Lane could provide access to the very centre of the park and offer a necessary route for light vehicles travelling to Northwich.

I hope we can trust our elected representatives to hear and embrace the pragmatic views of the ordinary folk they serve and that they vote to keep Marbury Lane open at their meeting in March.

KEVIN GOULDING

Comberbach.

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