WARRINGTON Borough Council says it is ‘monitoring’ historic buildings and sites within the town which are deemed to be ‘at risk’.

Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register lists ‘buildings, places of worship monuments, parks and gardens, conservation areas, battlefields are wreck sites that are listed and assessed to be at risk’.

Seven such locations in the borough are included on the list.

Three are the conservation areas centred around Bridge Street, Church Street and Bewsey Street.

Warrington Guardian:

Bridge Street

The register states that the town’s main high street and Church Street, which boasts some of Warrington’s oldest buildings, are in a ‘very bad’ condition and have ‘high’ vulnerability although their states are ‘improving’.

Warrington Guardian:

The Cottage on Church Street

Bewsey Street’s vulnerability is also described as ‘high’ due to its ‘deteriorating’ state – although its condition remains ‘fair’.

Two churches also featured on the register.

The Holy Trinity Church in the town centre, which dates back to 1758, is included due to its ‘poor’ condition.

It is at ‘immediate risk of further rapid deterioration’ as the ‘integrity of the plaster ceiling has suffered from water ingress’, Historic England states.

Warrington Guardian:

St Thomas’ Church in Stockton Heath meanwhile is described as being in a ‘poor condition’ due to issues with its roof and tower masonry, although repairs are in progress.

The remaining two entries in Warrington meanwhile are both scheduled monuments.

Opened in 1916, the Warrington Transporter Bridge is in a ‘poor condition’ and suffering from ‘slow decay’.

Historic England adds that a ‘long-term solution is needed to address the condition and maintenance of the bridge’.

The final entry in Warrington is farmland off Highfield Lane in Winwick.

An important archaeological site, the ‘bowl barrow’ faces ‘extensive and significant problems’ and is vulnerable due to ‘arable ploughing’.

A Warrington Borough Council spokesman said: “We are committed to preserving and investing in the town’s heritage assets.

“Recent examples include the glasshouses restoration at Walton Hall, the Cenotaph in the town centre and the frontage to the new Warrington Market on Bridge Street.

“We are aware of the assets listed on the at-risk register and will continue to monitor them.”