Partnership aims to give the Old Baths area of Parkgate a £60,000 facelift

Following the recent re-opening of the Red Lion pub in Parkgate, complete with a makeover costing in the region of a quarter of a million pounds, comes news of another uplifting project for the iconic village.

Cheshire West and Chester Council's Rural Localities team has been working with Neston Town Council, The Parkgate Society and RSPB to develop improvement plans around the site of the Old Baths.

The partnership will need to secure funding of around £60,000 for the project before the dream can be made reality in the winter.

The range of improvements are designed to provide a warm welcome for visitors. They include:

- Improving access on paths and the approach road

- Removing overgrown non-native shrubs and also new planting

- Relocating information boards to increase the parking spaces available in the front car park

- Development of a wildflower meadow

- New seating with viewing areas over the marsh with information boards and murals

- Creating an area next to the front car park for event vehicles The site has a long and interesting history involving shipbuilding, rope making and fishing, and the Parkgate Society is keen for the project to help to share the past with visitors for many years to come. Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council said, "Parkgate is a magnet for bird watchers, particularly at high tides and for visitors enjoying the promenade, famous Parkgate ice cream, cafes and restaurants. "Improvements have previously been made at the Neston side of Parkgate with The Ropewalk Car Park and The Donkey Stand. This is an opportunity to improve the Old Baths area at the other end of Parkgate. "I'm sure visitors and residents will enjoy the new improvements and the area will once again make a splash and attract people to spend their leisure time there in the great outdoors."