BRINGING wealth into Northwich and reversing its decline were highlighted once again as regeneration leaders discussed the initial public reaction to their plans.

The redevelopment of Baron’s Quay has been the subject of much debate since ideas were revealed in July.

A public consultation finished at the end of August and the preliminary findings were discussed at Northich Town Council’s meeting on Monday.

Geoff Hope-Terry, chairman of the Weaver Valley Partnership, said: “The quantity of responses wasn’t lots but the quality, I have to say, was high.

“The comments were well thought through and we are sifting through those to see what action we should take.

“What people have been telling me is firstly ‘it’s about time too’ and secondly ‘I will believe it when I see it’.

“But one thing we can all agree on is that at the moment the town is in decline.”

He said that the response can be divided into five areas, including shopping, recreation and leisure, transport and environment, design and style of buildings and the opportunity for housing in Baron’s Quay.

The next stage for the Weaver Valley Partnership is to work with a development partner on more detailed plans ready to submit an application to Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC).

Clr Mike Jones, CWAC leader, also spoke at the meeting to say that the council had been buying up land ready to move regeneration forward and was working on purchasing the current site of Northwich Magistrates’ Court, which closes at the end of September.

He explained that he wants to see shoppers and workers brought back to the town centre.

“The wealth that sits around Northwich and Winsford is very considerable but people go shopping in Knutsford, Chester, Liverpool and Manchester instead of Northwich and Winsford,” he said.

He added: “We need to get people employed in the town centre, spending money in the town centre at lunchtime.

“That will accelerate the more you do it and will be an upward spiral instead of a downward spiral.”