Northwich councillor concerned about Weaver Square future

Plans for the site have been up in the air since a proposal to build a new health facility to replace Victoria Infirmary collapsed due to rising costs.

Lee Siddall said he wanted to hear more from Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) and was worried the authority could sell the land to a developer and invest the cash elsewhere.

However, a top councillor at CWAC has called those comments "misguided" and promised plans will be shared with the public when ready.

Weaver Square in Northwich

“My concern is that the consultation with the public has been lacking, and ideas have been thin on the ground,” Cllr Siddall said.

“This is a big space, and if we are not careful, we will sleepwalk into CWAC officers who live miles away, making more decisions on what they think should happen in Northwich without giving the people who live here proper input into it.

“I don't think anything imminent is going to happen with this space as CWAC don't have any funds to do much with it.

“However, I do worry that CWAC may sell the land to a developer and blow most of our profits from the sale in Chester or Ellesmere Port leaving us with more flats that can’t be sold.

“I would like to see an artisan market set up where local independent businesses can start-up cheaply, surrounded by bars and restaurants, and a great play area for the kids with leisure activities.”

Northwich Town Councillor Lee Siddall

Cllr Richard Beacham, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Economy, Growth and Regeneration said: “The Council has been working on plans for Weaver Square for a number of years.

“Up until recently these plans included proposals for new health facilities, but the local NHS Trust has decided that they would prefer to invest in their current site.

“This decision was out of the council’s hands, and it has to be respected.

“The decision has left the council in a position where it can focus on what else can be delivered on the site.

“The green space at Apple Market Place is clearly popular and has been really successful in bringing people to the square, so public open space will obviously be an important and integral part of any future scheme."

Many of the shops at Weaver Square are now empty

“We also have to work carefully and considerately with market traders and other occupiers at the square as part of any decisions.

“I think the suggestion that the council would sell Weaver Square to fund a project in Chester or Ellesmere Port is misguided at best, and at its worst designed to spread mistrust.

“Weaver Square continues to be an important part of the work of the cross-party regeneration board, which is made up of councillors from the Northwich area.

“It remains the intention of the council to get the right development in Weaver Square, which supports the future sustainability of the town centre.

“When these plans are ready, they will be made available for the public to see and comment on openly and transparently.”