Barnton lists verges of shame (From Northwich Guardian)

Barnton lists verges of shame

11:10am Friday 22nd February 2013 in News By Gina Bebbington

THE worst grass verges in Barnton are being put in a top 20 of shame as part of a bid to solve a longstanding issue.

Frustrated parish councillors are drawing up the list because of too many verges being churned up by parked vehicles.

Clr Mike Hinton said: “They’re a mess.

“I did go round and take some pictures.

“In my opinion the issue isn’t about putting out bollards so people don’t park on the grass, the issue is that there isn’t enough parking space.”

Clr Lynn Gibbon said: “I agree wholeheartedly that it’s a mess.

“It’s a 1950s village coping with 2013 vehicles.”

One of the solutions discussed by councillors was putting down a mesh that would allow grass to grow through but stop it getting damaged.

Clr Gibbon said: “We presented that idea a number of months ago but were told it was too expensive.

“But we could look at places individually – get one place done at a time rather than just saying ‘it’s too expensive’.

“We could get proper costings and look at putting something in the budget each year.”

Clr Helen Kirsopp said: “I sounded out highways engineers two or three years ago and they basically said ‘absolutely not’.

“They’re not in favour because they said the lifespan was short for the expense and they didn’t think they were very practical.

“But I think county highways are very quick to say no to everything so it could be worth pressurising again.”

Barnton Parish Council decided to work on its list and, at the same time,write to Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) and Weaver Vale Housing Trust to find out who owns the different verges in the village.