Major update on Rivington and Anglezarke car park charges as United Utilities say: 'We're listening'
The car parks in the area have always been free.
United Utilities has paused controversial plans to introduce parking charges at a series of beauty spots in rural Chorley – and promised further “dialogue” with the community.
The water firm operates seven free car parks in the vicinity of the Rivington and Anglezarke reservoirs and Lever Park, close to the borough’s border with Bolton.
It emerged back in March that the company was considering charging vehicles to park at the sites – while promising to pour the proceeds back into the area by upgrading the broader facilities on offer at the popular location.
However, the prospect caused uproar amongst locals and visitors – and two petitions against the charges have so far attracted more than 5,500 signatures between them.
Now, the firm has rowed back on its proposal – withdrawing the planning applications it had lodged seeking permission to introduce the necessary charging and monitoring infrastructure. It said it will take the opportunity to carry out further consultation with the local community.
That was something councillors representing the area said had been severely lacking.
Chorley Rural East county councillor Kim Snape told the Lancashire Post that several businesses and Rivington Parish Church had received no advance notice of the proposed scheme, in spite of them relying on the car parks.
The Labour politician said the local primary school had not been properly consulted either – notwithstanding the fact one of the car parks is named after it – although United Utilities insisted to the Post that charging at that site had been “optional” and they had been working with the school to understand their parking requirements.
Meanwhile, Chorley North and Astley ward councillor Mark Perks – who condemned the attempted “commercialisation” of the area – said it was “disturbing” to discover during a visit to Horwich Council that “despite that town’s links to Lever Park, they had not been considered as a consultee”.
Responding to the news of a halt being brought to the planning process, Cllr Perks – the Reform UK opposition group leader on Chorley Council – added: “I am delighted the plans are being withdrawn. It was evident from the start of my petition against [them] that proper consultation had not taken place.
“Despite this news, the public – users going back generations – along with myself, will be watching them like a hawk.”
Meanwhile, County Cllr Snape thanked United Utilities for “doing the right thing”, but also warned: “I hope they’ve learned their lesson about the urgent need for meaningful engagement with local people, schools, businesses and the church and chapel in the area.
“We also need to see more transparency and accountability on how they conduct themselves across the estate and I hope we move to a long term future plan, not this piecemeal approach.”
Chorley MP Sir Lindsay Hoyle added: “ I was deeply concerned about the impact of these plans, but equally upset about the lack of engagement and consultation with businesses, residents, schools and churches alike..
“We will have to wait and see what plans United Utilities come back with. I remain committed to representing the views of all those who will be affected. “
A spokesperson for United Utilities said: “Our proposals for Rivington have always had a single aim – to improve the environment and visitor facilities across the estate.
“Any income generated through parking charges would be reinvested directly into Rivington, alongside our planned £2m investment programme. However, we have listened carefully to the concerns raised by local people and recognise that further consultation is needed.
“We have therefore decided to withdraw our planning applications to allow more time for dialogue with the community. We remain committed to delivering sustainable improvements at Rivington and look forward to working closely with local stakeholders as we review and reshape our plans.”
‘There’s a family history to this fight’
This is the second time the threat of parking charges has loomed over the Rivington landscape – and it is the same family that has gone into battle against them on both occasions.
Upon learning of United Utilities’ plans earlier this year, Stuart Shelmerdine was moved to set up a Change.org online petition in opposition – which has now been signed by almost 4,500 people.
In the more analogue days of 1997, his stepfather Vernon Edwards – part of a motorbike club that met on Rivington Pike – gathered 10,000 printed signatures and hand-delivered a paper petition to Downing Street. That was in response to a proposal by North West Water – the forerunner to United Utilities – to end free parking across the Rivington estate.
Stuart believes both attempts breached the spirit of the gifting of Lever Park to the public by the soap baron – and later peer – William Lever, 1st Viscount Leverhulme.
Two Acts of Parliament – first in 1902 and then 1969 – guaranteed the bucolic space would remain open and free to all. He told the Post that parking charges would be at odds with Lord Leverhulme’s intentions when he made the generous gesture 125 years ago.
“The cheek of [trying to make people] pay for parking somewhere that it’s been written into law there’s free access to,” Stuart said.
“It’s a technicality [to say] the access is still free, but to park your car there, that’s different. Well, no, it’s not really.
“United Utilities have free access and need to maintain that land so that they can obtain the water from [it], so it’s not the case they get nothing for it – it’s a reciprocal arrangement.”
Given the “family history” with opposing parking fees in the area, he said it was “great news” that the brakes had been put on the idea once again – although he fears the plans will not have been parked indefinitely.
Stuart, who lives in Wigan, said it was important to maintain free and unfettered access to what is a “rite of passage” for people from across a wide surrounding area to Rivington.
“Everybody from round here goes up in the hills – walking or in cars, cycling or on motorbikes.
“I had my first date with my wife there 27 years ago – and it was also the first place I took my babies for a walk
“It’s just instrumental to the whole area.”
Parking-funded projects
United Utilities has previously said any money generated from its car parks would enable the creation of new ones, with capacity being increased by around a third to help cope with the growing number of visitors to the Rivington area – many of whom arrive from well beyond Lancashire’s borders.
The cash was also to be earmarked for refurbishing the existing car parks and installing painted bays at the sites, upgrading local footpaths and signage and constructing new toilets and a visitors’ centre.
The firm said it could also have been used for the restoration of heritage assets including Liverpool Castle, the creation of education and engagement spaces and to employ on-site staff to help manage visitors, improve safety and protect the landscape.
The seven car parks that had been in line for charges are:
- Knowles House;
- Great House Barn;
- Main Drive;
- Hall Barn;
- Anglezarke;
- Rivington Primary School;
- Lower House