Giant park aims to inject more life into leisure (From Warrington Guardian)

Giant park aims to inject more life into leisure

A MAJOR new Cheshire park, stretching for 25 miles and taking in Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach looks set to boost leisure and recreational facilities.

Reaching down the spine of Cheshire, the park will run from Frodsham in the north, taking in Northwich, Middlewich and Winsford, and include Sandbach, Nantwich and Crewe to the south.

The first conference to discuss the Weaver Valley Regional Park, which will reach four million people heard about the park's potential for major recreational, leisure and economic benefits.

Its aims include building on the area's salt mining legacy to celebrate the heritage in the Weaver, Dane and Wheelock valleys.

This would be used to regenerate towns and rural areas, promoting tourism and recreation and boosting new business.

The county council's executive member for the environment Andrew Needham said: "It could take several years before all these plans become a reality.

"The conference gave all key decision makers from local, regional and national organisations in the private and public sector, a deep understanding of the range of opportunities available as well as how to develop ideas."

The park's supporters include the county council, Northwest Development Agency, Vale Royal, Congleton and Crewe and Nantwich borough councils, British Waterways, The Mersey Forest, Groundwork, Mersey Basin Campaign and the Environment Agency.

The conference focused on practical insights into existing and emerging projects including the ongoing development of a regional park in Germany.