THE OLD rugby posts used at Wilderspool Stadium will be put up on Brian Bevan Island after councillors approved the proposal.

Wilderspool, the home of Warrington Wolves for 105 years, was demolished in 2014 and the club’s 140th anniversary will be marked by reinstating the 10m high goalposts at the junction of Chester Road and Wilderspool Causeway, which formerly housed the state of Brian Bevan which is now sited at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Warrington Borough Council’s development management committee approved the application by the Warrington Wolves Charitable Foundation at a Town Hall meeting on Wednesday August 17, the decision having been referred to them as Brian Bevan Island is council-owned land.

An agenda from the meeting stated: “Bearing in mind the prominent location of the existing roundabout at the junction of the A49 and A56 primary routes the central consideration is whether the rugby posts would cause a visual distraction and subsequent loss of concentration to motorists.

“Bearing in mind the heavy traffic usage of the existing roundabout, road speeds in this location are relatively slow.

“The council’s highway engineer considers that the risk of driver distraction is low as the proposed structure would not be overly prominent and would not be illuminated.

“There have been no recorded collisions in recent years where vehicles have mounted the Brian Bevan roundabout let alone travelled to the centre of the central island where the posts would be positioned.

“The dimensions provided would suggest that if a post was struck and fell it should not reach the live carriageway to strike passing vehicles or become an obstruction.”

Notes from the meeting also stated that residents of Bevan Court, located 60m to the south, would not have their views obstructed by the posts and views of the grade-two listed St James’ Church would not be affected.

The agenda added: “The existing apartments are located within a four-storey building and residents’ views of the post would be within the context of existing street light columns which are of a similar height, width and appearance.

“The posts would therefore not be viewed as an alien feature within this location and no harm to the amenity of the adjoining residents would arise.

“It should also be noted that the posts now proposed are in the same location as the previously existing statue which incorporated three rugby posts the same height as those now proposed.”