THE redeveloped Ashton's and Neumann's Flashes site could open in spring, but a keen Northwich walker is concerned that it could stop people from enjoying the countryside.

The 60-year-old, who has enjoyed walking in the area since he moved to Comberbach more than 25 years ago, fears the new park will amount to nothing more than a heavily fenced path.

He said: "I thought it would be great, really marvellous, but it's looking like £2.2million funding for building a fence.

"I fear that this could be another disappointment along the lines of Carey Park, which is not a park at all, it is merely a heavily fenced in pathway set in 20 or 30 acres."

Work began on the New Warrington Road site, near Marston, in February 2003, as part of a £2.2million project to regenerate the area.

New woodland has been planted and footpaths and fencing created in the 73 hectares that Cheshire County Council are aiming to develop as community woodland and add to the Mersey Forest.

A spokesman for Cheshire County Council said: "Both Carey Park and Ashton's and Neumann's Flashes create nature havens from major reclamation projects.

"A balance must be made therefore between nature conservation and providing as much public access as possible where safety allows."