Pensby green space could be turned into a driveway

Aug 20 2008 by Carrie Catterall, Heswall News

play area

THE heart of a grass play area will soon be churned up and turned into two driveways.

Infuriated neighbours signed a petition to save the green after they discovered council worker Michael Collins and Christian Seston, of 11 and 13 Woodfield Road, Pensby, respectively, put in a planning application to Wirral Council in April.

They have since been given permission to put layers of asphalt over a piece of grass that has been used by children in the area for generations.

Angela Clements, 42, of 7 Woodfield Road, said: “This has caused animosity between everyone.

“We are usually a very close neighbourhood but this application has caused a huge rift.

“I was born in this road and I played on the green as a child and so have all the children born in the area since.

“These two driveways will ruin it - I think this is very selfish.

“My garden is tiny and the nearest play area around here for my seven-year-old daughter to go to is Ridgewood Park - but this is too far away for her to go on her own.”

A similar application was made by a resident of Common Field Road, Woodchurch, last year.

The applicant wanted to build a driveway through a grass verge but this was refused and the application has now gone to appeal.

Angela said: “I can’t believe the council has said yes to one and no to another for the same type of application.”

A Wirral Council spokesman said: “While the two cases are, on the face of it similar, each planning application must be considered on its own merits.”

Pensby and Thingwall councillor Robert Wilkins said: “I wanted that grass verge in Pensby to be preserved - I was opposed to the application from the start.”