Cleveleys new Country Park

Added 14 May 2011

Plans to convert the former ICI lagoon and landfill complex at Hillhouse, Thornton Cleveleys into public open space, to create the new Wyre Country Park

The former ICI lagoon and landfill complex at Hillhouse Industrial Estate, Thornton Cleveleys, is set to have a new long term lease of life as public open space, which linked by the Wyre Way will improve access along the River Wyre.

NPL Estates in association with Global Renewables Lancashire and Lancashire County Council are proposing to restore this site to a
country park style public amenity and will be designed with a mosaic of wildlife habitats and public access. This will include areas of
woodland, grassland, reed beds and open ground. This mix of habitats will not only support and encourage a wide variety of plant and
animal life to colonise the area, it will also complement the existing coastal salt marsh of the Wyre Estuary.

The park will be accessible via a new public footpath which will connect to the existing Wyre Way coastal footpath and Jameson Road enabling easy access between the Wyre Estuary Country Park at Stanah and Fleetwood Marsh Nature Park.

This reclamation will open up a large site which has been fenced for decades, providing a new amenity area for local residents and visitors
alike to enjoy. Due to its sheer size, equivalent of over 100 football pitches, it will take some years to complete, but a phased restoration
programme will allow areas to be released for public access on an ongoing basis.

Providing a valuable community asset is a priority but the safety of the former landfill is paramount. This will be ensured by restoring the
site with locally sourced recycled materials to minimise traffic movements and disruption to the neighbourhood. The restoration will be designed and managed to ensure the creation of a high quality attractive public open space which will significantly improve the local
environment.

Global Renewables Lancashire are proposing the use of a compost-like material that they produce from household waste at the Thornton
Waste Technology Plant. This compost like material has excellent properties to act as a soil improver to aid plant growth, especially tree
growth, and is currently subject to rigorous testing as part of a process to ensure that it is suitable for use on brownfield land. The country
park project will substantially increase tree cover with over 20 percent of the site expected to become woodland following the completion
of works.

It is intended to submit a planning application for the country park proposal to Lancashire County Council in early April 2011. Larger scale
drawings are posted at Wyreside Visitor Centre at Wyre Estuary Country Park, Stanah and at Thornton and Fleetwood libraries.

Print out this information leaflet with the pdf at this link.

For further information contact Ann-Mariea Boyd, Community RElations Manager at NPL Estates on 01253 861809, or email ann-mariea.boyd@npl-estates.com