Halton
Background and analysis
Halton mostly lies within the Mersey Valley region, but in the south-east corner it rises up to the Cheshire Plain. The district is dominated by the two towns of Widnes and Runcorn which lie on each bank of the Mersey and are linked by the Runcorn and Widnes road and railway bridges. Open agricultural land occurs to the west of Widnes around Hale and to the east of Runcorn around Moore and Daresbury. The development of both towns has been based on the chemical industry. The Mersey crossing is a main focus for the transport network which has its roots in the waterway system - coal came down the St. Helens canal and salt down the River Weaver. Industry is concentrated on the river edge, with housing beyond.
The differences in the appearance of the two towns are linked to topography. On the north bank of the Mersey the land slopes gently down to the river. Industry has spread further back away from the river and the flatter land permitted the development of waste tips. The decline of chemical manufacturing has resulted in a significant number of empty or derelict sites. These, combined with the waste tips, remaining old industry and fringe uses, have created an uneven and very unattractive industrial area. This both dominates the town and cuts Widnes off from the river, so that generally the quality of the urban area is poor.
On the south bank of the river, Runcorn Hill has created a different urban landscape. The industrial area is more constrained to the edge of the river and much of the older town on the steeper slopes looks over the industrial area to the river beyond. There are no significant tip sites within the industrial area and far fewer empty or derelict sites.
The heathland on Runcorn Hill is an important area of natural open space within the town. The development of Runcorn New Town over the last 20 years has more than doubled the size of the town and is continuing to expand eastwards into the Keckwick Brook Valley. Areas of parkland and woodland have been retained within the development and form an important part of the landscape quality of the area.
The open agricultural area around Hale is still moderately intact. It is strongly influenced by the Mersey Estuary and there is an important area of marshland. The urban edge encroaches to the east and west, but northwards the area extends across the A592 into the Tarbock agricultural area.
The agricultural area around Moore exhibits a number of urban-fringe uses. Roads, railways and pylons dominate this landscape. To the south the land rises steeply up Keckwick Hill, which is an important landmark and viewpoint over the Mersey Valley.
Keckwick Hill marks the rim of the Cheshire Plain and south of this there is an agricultural landscape. Although under some urban pressure and in decline, this still exhibits some of the typical Cheshire Plain characteristics of hedgerows, hedgerow trees, ponds and small woodlands.
Guiding principles
- Provide a woodland buffer around the urban edge and create a wooded edge to the Mersey Estuary.
- Extend planting into the urban area using all appropriate and available open land, including derelict land.
- Provide a new woodland structure for surrounding agricultural areas.
- Protect and manage the existing resource of urban trees and woodlands in a sustainable manner.
Policies and opportunities
Numbers refer to the 'Halton planting strategy' map.
CLICK ON IMAGE ABOVE TO SEE LARGE SCALE MAP
H1 Create a woodland structure along the corridor of open and development land running south from Pex Hill to the A562.
H2 Create a woodland structure on the reclaimed derelict sites and development areas between the A562 and the River Mersey. Create a wooded edge to the Mersey.
H3 Create a woodland corridor along the A562 extending into Knowsley Borough.
H4 In the agricultural area around Hale, restore hedges, hedgerow trees and ponds, and plant copses and small woodlands in sympathy with the existing field pattern. Support the management of existing woodlands. Increase the frequency and size of new woodlands around the urban periphery to the north-east and west. Safeguard the important open marshland adjacent to Ram's Brook.
H5 Create woodland on derelict sites and as a setting for any redevelopment of the Moss Bank area. Create a tree-lined edge along the north bank of the St. Helens canal.
H6 Create a well-wooded landscape along the open corridor of land from Clifton to Runcorn Hill. Protect areas of lowland heath on the sandstone outcrops.
H7 Establish an 'in the Forest' landscape for the M56 motorway from Clifton to the A56 junction. Liaise with Vale Royal Borough over the corridor at Sutton Weaver. Provide a green barrier at Preston Brook between the industrial area and the village.
H8 In the agricultural area from Dutton to Daresbury, restore hedges, hedgerow trees and ponds, and plant copses and small woodlands in sympathy with the existing field pattern. Support the management of existing woodlands.
H9 Support the management of existing and new woodlands on the eastern edge of Runcorn.
H10 Create a well-wooded setting for the new developments in the Keckwick Brook and Halton Moss area.
H11 Create a well-wooded landscape on the open land from Keckwick Brook to Keckwick Hill and around Moore. Planting is especially required to integrate the railway embankments and infrastructure developments into the landscape. Maintain some open views from the canal towpath.
H12 Safeguard the important areas of open marshland on both banks of the Mersey, east of the Runcorn Bridge.
H13 Carry out extensive planting in the Bongs and surrounding open space and school sites to integrate the new link road into the landscape.
H14 In the urban areas, manage existing trees in accordance with good arboricultural practice. Carry out planting of individual trees, groups of trees or small woodlands on any available and appropriate sites, such as school playing fields, public open spaces, highway verges and development sites.
