EXTREME winter weather over the past month has held up work to transform a playing field in Davenham.

Work is under way to improve Butchers Stile, starting with a new pathway.

Davenham Parish Council had originally hoped to have that part of the work complete before Christmas – but it remains unfinished.

Now, following concerns raised by residents on social media, the council has confirmed that Butchers Stile works have suffered a setback due to the recent extreme weather.

In an email sent to residents and seen by the Guardian, clerk Elaine Hamlett said: “Davenham Parish Council thought it would have been an ideal opportunity to get the pathway in before Christmas to enable villagers to have somewhere they could walk during lockdown.

“Sadly, due to some unforeseen problems with the contractor’s schedule, the work commenced a week later and was then hit by extreme weather problems – which to be fair, the contractor tried to work through.

“When the rain threatened to make more problems than solutions it was decided that work should cease until the weather improved.

“We now know we had some of the worst weather conditions seen for some time, as observed in Northwich and surrounding areas, including Davenham.

“The contractor came back and tried to roll the base stone for the parking grids and the topping, but the water levels made this impossible so we are left with all the bases in place and awaiting the topping which hopefully will be in place soon.

“The work will be completed and the end product will be a huge benefit to the village – but it will have to fit in with what nature is throwing at us just now.”

The new footpath is the first part of plans to overhaul the site.

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Last autumn, Davenham Parish Council asked residents for its views on the possible installation of adult fitness equipment, a skateboard track, a play area for toddlers and a life-sized version of snakes and ladders.

More than 120 residents responded, with most of the ideas being warmly welcomed.