£50,000 TO REGENERATE OGLET IN MERSEY ESTUARY CHILDHOOD HAUNT OF PAUL, GEORGE AND MIKE

A popular childhood haunt of Paul and George is to be given a new lease of life.

Halton Borough council has received almost £50,000 to regenerate the Oglet- an area of the Mersey Estuary in Hale.

The area, on the shore of the River Mersey off Dungeon Lane, used to be popular with families but in recent times has fallen into a state of disrepair.

The area is also a point of interest for Beatles fans as George, Paul and his brother Mike would often visit the Oglet on their bikes as children and play in the fields.

The regeneration project aims to significantly improve access for all and allow more people to visit the site.

The council also plans to make the Oglet more visible from the adjoining Trans Pennine Trail, a favourite route of many walkers and cyclists.

The grant will be used to undertake numerous projects including the installation of benches along the walking route and the resurfacing of pathways in response to the growing reputation of the area among ramblers, naturalists and bird watchers.

 

Measures to deter 4x4 vehicles from the area who in the past have damaged the pathways will also be enforced.

Additionally the money will be used to improve the natural environment of the Oglet by clearing overgrown vegetation. Drainage issues which have blighted the area for years by causing damage to the shoreline are to be repaired. Environmentalists are expected to welcome these plans as the upkeep of the Oglet has been made more important since the site was named a ‘Site of Special Scientific Interest’ due to its large population of water birds.

As part of the promotion of the Oglet as an area of historical importance, interpretation boards will be installed which will detail the area’s rich history and points of interest. These include the World War II era stone pyramids that stand along the shore which were placed to hinder the access of potential invading forces.

The grant of £49,731 was provided by Wren for the Oglet project. Wren is a not for profit business that awards grants to community projects from funds donated by FCC Environment to the Landfill Communities Fund.

Halton Borough Council’s Executive Board Member for Finance, Cllr Mike Wharton, said: “This is a fantastic project that will make a vast improvement to an area that has deteriorated over the years.

“The area now has the opportunity to once again become a place where people can enjoy the views across the Mersey and appreciate the historical importance of the site.”