Turnpike Field – any more ideas?

Since the field was acquired for the community there have been a varied range of excellent suggestions made regarding its development and future use.

The current list of suggestions, which can be viewed on the TFRAS website here, is:

• Improve the main access gate for cars – the fitting of a high level bar above the access to allow cars free entry to and from the field but prevent unauthorised access for higher vehicles. E.g. Clear. caravans, lorries, etc.
• Provide a pedestrian gate from the field alongside the canal bridge that is suitable for disabled access
• Clear Field of Himalayan Balsam (3/4 to 1 acre) and Ragwort 30 to 40 plants)
• Green Car Park
• Allotments
• Orchard
• Bog Garden/ Wetland/dry walk boards
• Show Field for transport festival instead of main football field
• Boules Park
• Lights for car parking areas
• Discuss with Canal and Rivers Trust Joint grant applications for improved access
• Keeping the field under good management
• Renting land to farmers for animals to graze
• Renting land for silage, hay etc
• Keeping hedges in good order
• Green Gym
• Picnic Area
• Pony Trekking path
• Pond
• Nature Conservation/Wetlands walk area
• The possibility of a BMX /Skate type course for young people.
• Herb garden
• Table tennis table
• Bee keeping area
• Nature park/trail
• Community Farm
• Courses for children/disabled

Suggestions that might trigger the 30% overage charge and therefore potentially unsuitable:

• Toilet Block
• Permanent Caravan/camping area
• Moving the Fire station onto field releasing existing fire station site for affordable housing.
• Possibly longer term parking on the field for canal boat users who live on the canal at or around
• Audlem Locks
• Charging points for electric vehicles
• Pipework for ground source heating
• Row of terraced low cost housing for rental like council houses for young local people
• Visitor centre
• Basketball/netball court
• Children's playground
• Humanist/pet cemetery
• Solar panels with battery storage

As you can see, the list is already pretty impressive. There are a few suggestions that are unlikely to be used because of the so called 'Overage Clause'. This was part of the purchase agreement and means that if the value of the field is increased as a result of certain types of development, then 30% of the increase has to be paid out, by Audlem PC, to the former owner. This is standard or common practice in this kind of land transaction.

On February 28th next year there will be an Open Meeting, to which everyone is invited. During the meeting it is hoped that a priority list for developing the field will be debated and agreed. The venue for the meeting, commencing 7.30pm, will be confirmed nearer to the time.

So, if anyone would like to send the working group any additional thoughts, then please email us at:- turnpikefield2018@gmail.com

Prior to February's meeting we will also be holding a public survey so as to start the prioritisation process – watch this space!

This article is from our news archive. As a result pictures or videos originally associated with it may have been removed and some of the content may no longer be accurate or relevant.