Public concerns raised about Riverside House in Winnington

Riverside House in Winnington has long been one of the town’s ugliest eyesores for decades and although it remains up for sale, any development seems some way off.

The biggest issue about finding a successful solution is due to the fact the building is owned by a consortium, with adjoining land owned by Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC).

Despite efforts by many, including Weaver Vale MP Mike Amesbury, the parties are yet to come together to find an acceptable way forward for all parties.

Riverside House is on the main gateway into Northwich

Speaking about the latest concerns raised at a meeting of Northwich Town Council on Monday, June 6, Cllr Sam Naylor called the building 'an awful eyesore'.

He said: “It’s obviously a very contentious issue.

“It’s been an issue for the last 25 years and one we’ve tried to resolve as town councillors and raised it with CWAC officers.

“So they (CWAC) are aware of it and we know we the owner is.

“The owners did have to improve the site a bit a couple of years ago, but it’s an awful eyesore to the town’s gateway."

In July last year, safety officers from CWAC did come out and inspect the site and found nothing 'immediately dangerous about it' as they called for the owners to enagage with them.

Cllr Naylor added: “Hopefully it will be resolved if we got the levelling-up funding for the Winnington corridor, because that will form part of it.

“Trust me, we’ve raised it at chief executive level at CWAC and always do so when discussing town centre matters with them.

“We’ve got another meeting next week and that will be on the agenda.”

The Land Registry shows Riverside House, 8-14 Winnington Street, is in the hands of three owners including Osborne House Ltd, based at Gadbrook Park, owned by John and Rosalind Fifield.

The 0.93 acres site is on sale as a development opportunity for £650,000 by property consultants Fifield Glyn, based at the same Gadbrook Park address, where John Fifield is also a director.