A PATCH of land in Whitecross which has become a magnet for anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping is to be transformed into an asset for the community.
The space on the corner of Kimberley Street and Delamere Street was identified by residents as a hotspot for crime through surveys and questionnaires issued by Cheshire Police.
Another issue highlighted in feedback was a lack of youth and community provisions, with the garden set to improve the area in both respects.
The project is funded from the Safer Streets Fund – a scheme run by the Home Office to reduce crime in hotspot areas – and planning permission has been granted by Warrington Borough Council.
The land which is to be transformed into a community garden
Once created, the garden will involve residents, churches, Sacred Heart, Evelyn Street and St Barnabas primary schools, Warrington Disability Team and other local voluntary charities.
It will offer a safe place where people can go to either sit and relax or join in with the planting and growing of fruit and vegetables, which will be used in school kitchens to complement a healthy diet.
Explaining the vision for the site, contract manager Andrew Broom, of Warden Construction, said: “We will erect fencing all around the garden with gates to allow access, and a pathway will surround raised flower beds.
“We also plan to build a shed for storage and a sheltered area to offer some protection from the elements.”
L to R: Inspector Ruth Atherton, resident Sarah Fillaudeau, contract manager Andrew Broom, site manager Tom Davies and FOW member Chris Ball
The garden will have full wheelchair access, and it is estimated that the project will take three or four weeks to complete.
Inspector Ruth Atherton, from Cheshire Police, said: “We caried out surveys and questionnaires among residents in Bewsey and Whitecross, and people told us there was a need for more youth and community provision.
“Sarah and Franck, who live nearby and will be garden guardians, suggested we apply to use this land to create a community allotment, which will be named the Urban Garden.
“People also identified isolation in the survey, and when the garden is up and running, people living alone can come down to a safe and quiet place to meet others.”
The plan for the garden
Chris Ball, wellbeing worker for Warrington Borough Council and representative of the Friends of Whitecross (FOW) community group, believes the garden will be a real asset for the area.
He commented: “When FOW was approached by the police to be part of this project, it was too good an opportunity to turn down.
“School children will be able to learn how to grow food, and as most houses in Whitecross have yards instead of gardens, this is something they are missing out on.”
A similar project to revamp a nearby subway that has also become the target of anti-social behaviour, graffiti and criminal damage is set to commence soon.
The land which is to be transformed into a community garden
More than 1,000 residents highlighted their concerns in surveys over the safety of people using the subway, especially at night.
Pupils from Sacred Heart, Evelyn Street and St Barnabas primary schools will assist an artist with a mural in the subway.
The three schools will also have ‘mini police’, who will check the subway every day and remove litter and report any issues to either the police or council.
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