Winnington councillors clean up 'eyesore' mission building

The ‘mission building’ on Romanes Street, in Castle, has stood empty for around two decades.

Having seen it deteriorate over the years, Cheshire West and Chester councillors Felicity Davies and Arthur Neil decided to give it some much-needed TLC.

“I would say it'd been empty for 20 years or more,” said Cllr Neil.

“It had become an eyesore because of all the litter and fly-tipping. 

“We would love to see it used again and are in touch with the owner to see if this can happen.”

Formerly leased to St John’s Ambulance, the building has played host to various community groups including Brownies and Guides.

Over the past two decades it has become a 'dump', the councillors say.

During their clean-up several suitcases and bags of litter were collected.

Councillor Neil getting his hands dirty (Image: Supplied)

Cllr Davies explained the current owner doesn’t live in the area but added they are in communications with them, with the hope of restoring the property to its former glory.

She said:” It would be lovely to have it back as a community building in the future.

“We cleaned it up as a way of providing some improvement until the issue can be resolved.

“We’d like to move the felled trees next. It would be nice if the trees could be chipped and used for a community-growing project elsewhere in Northwich.”

Before and after the clean-up (Image: Supplied)

This clean-up comes following similar project elsewhere in the Winnington and Castle ward.

The two Labour councillors recently went litter-picking at the car park on Yarwood Close

Next up, they have their sights set on tidying up the alleyways in the streets of Darwin Street.

They are hoping to follow this up with a ‘green alleyways’ initiative, arranging for some perennial planting in alleys where it is safe and practical to do so.