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Saltney Riverside Regeneration

Published: 27/11/2014

Regeneration work at Saltney Riverside is putting the area firmly on the Wales Coastal Path. Coastal Rangers from Flintshire County Council’s Countryside Service have been hard at work in Saltney, delivering a multi-agency project on heritage, art, access and wildlife themes. The work is backed by the Council’s Countryside Service, Saltney Town Council, Natural Resources Wales and Cadwyn Clwyd, Rural Development Agency for Flintshire and Denbighshire. A two-phase project is seeing the land, which is owned by Flintshire County Council and Natural Resources Wales, transformed. An avenue of 30 trees has been added, along with a viewpoint, footpaths, a maritime feature and a special pollinator hedgerow project. A unique sculpture of a worker from the former Henry Woods factory (which made maritime chains for ships) has been created by sculptor Mike Owens. Councillor Bernie Attridge, Cabinet Member for Environment said: “With views down the Dee into Flintshire and out into Wales, this site provides an excellent getaway to Wales from Chester for walkers, cyclists and families and will be a great way to reconnect the Saltney and Saltney Ferry communities to the river.” Karen Rippin, Coastal ranger and project lead, praised Saltney Town Council and the local residential and business community for their enthusiastic support for the scheme: “Without them we wouldn’t have achieved any aspect of this coastal regeneration project,” said Karen. “The local County Councillors for Saltney approached us following the Big Dee Day to see if we could help turn the site around. Natural Resources Wales officers immediately agreed and a search for funding partners began.” Cadwyn Clwyd stepped in to support the scheme and has secured the majority of funding for the project from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) through the Welsh Government’s Rural Development Plan. “It’s a great scheme and a great site” said Sarah Jones, Cadwyn Clwyd’s Environment and Heritage Officer. “We’ve been more than happy to support this excellent regeneration project on such an historic section of the Welsh coast that links so well to the Wales Coast Path.” Phase two of the project will see the installation of four Michael Johnson sculptures designed with the support of Saltney High School students, Saltney and Saltney Ferry History Group, and an audio trail, benches and interpretation panels. Other organisations supporting the scheme include Cais, Go Outdoors, Groundwork Trust, Edward Homes and P Dobbins scrap metal. A grand opening of the site is scheduled for the New Year. Image Pictured with the sculpture are Karen Rippin and sculptor Mike Owens