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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