Fantasy Frodsham. Sponsored by sheer idle thought.

We've witnessed the restoration of the Castle Park Garden house from 2009-2011, the cleaning and repointing of Overton's War memorial in 2009 and we have witnessed the superb flowerbeds and re-planting, throughout the town. But, what if we were unhampered by money, politics; the environment; health & safety, objections, land-permits, planning permission and all the rest of it - what sort of innovative projects might we embark upon to improve Frodsham for our visitors...oh, and for us?

1) What if we got the Council to bring back weekly bin collections ?

From 1st February 2012 local councils may now apply for a grant from a pot of £250 Million should they wish to return to weekly Bin collections. Imagine...No more having to force 2 weeks worth of bin bags into a wheely bin and trying to close the lid onto compressed bins to the point of catapulting cats and food into the air like some medieval weapon. No more having to pile bing bags away from cats whilst the hot sun carries the smell of rotting Chicken across the Garden like an eu de cologne attracting all the vermin into the neighbourhood. No more having to pile rotting bin bags into the boot to take them to the tip. Imagine.

JOB DONE!!

2) What if we got British Waterways to repair the Sutton Weaver Bridge on the A56 ?

We've all had guests visit us in Frodsham and passed comment on the 'state of that bridge, why don't the council do something about it?'. Actually, the council don't own it, British Waterways own this 90 year old bridge which, apart from the M56, the Sutton Weaver bridge is the only crossing over the river for miles in either direction. It carries 20,000 vehicles a day and one boat every six weeks! The council (and our money) that has to pay for costly road resurfacing everytime the iron surface plates under the tarmac expand and contract in the seasons.

They could start by fixing those shifting steel plates underneath the tarmac - the one that breaks up those same two pot-holes that we all try and miss in our cars; the ones that we have to fund for resurfacing every 12 months while we queue in the A56 hot-summer-rush-hour traffic amongst the smoke of burning tarmac. Oh, and while BW are there, with their stress-o-meters, why don't we get them to sand-blast the rust off the bridge - it's a real eye-sore. Then, they could rust proof it for a further 25 years, and give it a major chemical re-spray. We could also have a nice 'Cheshire West & Chester welcomes you to Frodsham" sign.

The cost of refurbishment is said to be close to £4million!  You could make a bridge for that!  Of course the likes of you and I can't go out there with Paint brushes as there is a risk we'd all get run over! Hence it needs to be completed by Professionals. 

It requires re-stregthening and refurbishing. Closing the bridge for the estimated 6-9 months would unfeasible due to emergency vehicle access and Frodsham's economy. It is still the only viable route through when the M56 is closed (without having to go miles out of our way).

Once refurbished it would become an attractive entrance to Frodsham with a nice 'Cheshire West & Chester welcomes you to Frodsham" sign.
 

Homework: Compare and contrast modern architectural projects and regeneration programmes in your local town. Consider and discuss the picture on the left. As a gateway to a local town, what first impressions might a casual visitor have about the town that lies beyond this bridge? 

Working in your groups, discuss how you might seek to change such visitor perceptions using local media, historical resource and local authorities. You may also use the materials provided in your pack including the three-hundred and eighty-four wire brushes; the three large paint brushes and the two-hundred and thirty-two cans of Dulux, non-drip, semi-gloss, white, wrought iron paint. Marks will be awarded for innovation, cleanliness and your ability to maintain single carriage-way access at all times for emergency vehicles. You have six weeks. Penalty points will be deducted for every day incurred beyond the 6 week allotted time period. You may begin.

 

3) What if we used the land next to the Railway Station for a permanent Market Hall ?


We could even lease that goods shed, from Spacia for A1 (shops) and A3 (cafe) use.  A little bit of rennovation and hey presto - a market under a roof! Daily rental of space, electricity so no need for petrol generators.

The market itself has been around since the 14th Century. Perhaps the land, further on, could also house 'outside stalls'; although trader access would have to be coordinated and restricted for health & sasfety reasons.

Better on-site parking, too. The downside would be the increased ground rent to traders and the visibility of the market.

JOB DONE!!!

4) What if we converted the Railway Station into a Restaurant or Cafe?
  Below: Frodsham Pictures impressions of what Frodsham Station could look like (FP. 2009).

Given the right incentive, such as a grant for restoration, some enterprising group could rent it , from Spacia, for A3 use.

Ideally, this could be a restaurant (although, arguably, we have too many of those already in Frodsham) or even a Cafe (although it would be extremely high overheads for a cafe, mind!) and who would use it ?

 
It is a little off the beaten track (excuse the pun) but some might like the idea of walking up the slight incline to sit sip tea whilst taking in the superb beauty of rusty wagons from Elsmere port as they squeak and clank past their earl gray and coissants.

Due to Health & Safety reasons, the access would probably have to be at the rear of the property with no opening access doors onto the platform area unless gating is fitted.

We could have a grand opening in the summer and sell tickets for steam train ride to Chester and have the local silver band play before the train leaves. Perhaps we could call this new fantasy restaurant: "The Railway Inn or Hotel or...The Stationhouse."


Can you imaging if it were restored to its former glory, complete with the iron canopy?

The inside is gutted and unsafe, so the rennovation costs alone would have to be met part-way with a financial incentive. A Cafe, although more practical, might not prove cost effective, unless we expect lots of hungry/thirsty people exiting Morrisons who don't have the floorspace for such. But it would be in competion with Cafe's much closer to the main shopping areas.

If it were ever 'regenerated' - it would require enough paperwork to be filled out to sink a battleship and is more than likely end up being offices for financial services to help people consolidate the country's debt into one manageable-sized loan coupled with a small estate agent at the end window who will try and flog properties just like this one.

5) What if we re-opened Frodsham Cut and developed the Frodsham Wharves on the Weaver?

Before the creation of the Weston Canal, the last cut of the Weaver Navigation was the short Frodsham Cut, which avoided the river loop above Frodsham and rejoined the river after descending Frodsham lock. But between 1807 and 1810, the Weston Canal, was built to bypass the lower Weaver entirely. This canal extended the Navigation to Weston Point Docks, and hence the Manchester Ship Canal.

6) What if we build a cycle track from Eddisbury to Helsby School?

Obviously, as our Main A56 road is like a Grand Prix racetrack these days, with lots of dangerous overtaking, no schoolchild on a bike, would feel safe cycling from Frodsham to Helsby School on such a busy road. However, what if an off-road - tarmac cycle track was developed from the back of Eddisbury Square to follow the railway line and arrive just behind Helsby car park next to Godscroft Lane? 

You can almost cycle to Helsby now - via Marsh Lane and Hare's Lane (on the other side of the railway line) but,  there is no direct link to Hartley Lane due to private land blocking what would otherwise be a direct route, so it's an otherwise long ride before you join Godscroft lane and Helsby School.  This is far too long and though lonely lanes - not very friendly.

We'll put that one on ice.