AS A third generation ‘Bartonian’ I felt compelled to write regarding the ongoing petition for another bridge at Winnington. If the Barton Parish Council had done some research and had spoken to the elderly residents in our village, they would know that ICI offered to build and pay for another bridge between Barnton and Winnington when Marbury Park was being used by American soldiers as an army base and also why it was rejected.

Barnton’s parish councillors aren’t seen around the village speaking to residents to see what would benefit Barnton. A few of my elderly neighbours are housebound so are unable to attend meetings at our memorial hall, and some do not have access to the internet so are unable to share their opinions via social media.

Barnton Parish Council allowed the building of four housing estates, none of them council. We now have only one primary school. We used to have two but one was demolished for these houses to be built. So now the primary school is so overcrowded that families born and bred in the village cannot get a place. While I applaud the petition for a new swing bridge, the village of Barnton does have other rather more important issues that the residents I have spoken to would like addressing at Cheshire West and Chester headquarters. A bit of research and speaking to residents goes a long way.

Amanda Jane Vernon Barnton