A THELWALL community has come together to create a commemorative garden for the NHS, to recognise its work during the pandemic.

However, plans to complete the memorial garden are now on hold, following plans for a property development.

The proposed plans are for the development to take place on land to the rear of Old Village Farm on Ferry Lane.

This would mean the development would go straight through the area being cultivated for the commemorative NHS garden.

Warrington Guardian: This is what the group had hoped the garden would look like by the time the project was completedThis is what the group had hoped the garden would look like by the time the project was completed

Members of the community have raised hundreds of pounds to landscape the area, which was previously unattended and 'unsightly'.

Money that was donated has been spent on a professional artist's visualisation and future upkeep and replanting, amongst other expenditures.

The group responsible for the garden said: "We would have liked to have seen it flourish this year but have decided to stop progress because of the development plans."

The proposal is for a single house on the land.

Some residents have raised formal objections to the development, with them saying that the area is conservation land.

Peter Gilberts is a resident of the area and has been driving the garden project.

He said: "The landscaping replaced unsightly scrubland and dangerously rotting barbed wire left unattended for years on the land boundary.

"As a testimony to the NHS during lockdown and beyond, we designed and funded this area as a lasting reminder of their efforts and as a lovely vista for residents and their families to be proud of!"