Parts of the Old Baths car park area are overgrown and inaccessible to those with limited mobility. A new pond has recently been created but is not acceptably visible to all. The project provides safe access for people of all ages with mobility issues to view the abundance of wildlife across a wide panorama. The area will be sympathetically cleared and landscaped and will include seating and interpretation boards to help with identification of bird and other wildlife. An additional outcome will be the opening up of sightlines and as a consequence reducing opportunity for unsocial behaviour previously experienced at the location. We aim to increase the visitor experience of this, the only seaside resort in Cheshire, and to encourage more visitors to explore areas other than just the centre of this historic village. It is an important part of an overall scheme to enhance visitor experiences and knowledge of the rich heritage through displayed QR codes linking to our updated website.

What we'll deliver:

• Design of the scheme
• Clearance of the overgrown area
• Landscaping the site
• Creation of a viewing platform and safety fencing
• Creation of a wheelchair access route and platform surfacing
• Provision of seating facilities

Why it's a great idea:

* Clearance of an unsightly, inaccessible and potential unsocial behaviour area. * Enabling individuals with mobility needs access to a purpose designed viewing area and associated seating. * Educational help through interpretation boards to identify wildlife viewed on the marshes. * An alternative area for bird watching and general sight-seeing across to the hills of Wales. * Increase in visitor numbers to this the only seaside resort in Cheshire and * Greatly enhanced visitor experience * Enabling especially those with mobility issues to exercise their independence in a safe location and offer chance to add to their health and life opportunities. * Adding to the community facilities of Parkgate and enhancing the feeling of it being a great place where to live and visit. * Providing a safe facility for upcoming generations and local schools to visit and provide educational opportunities on environmental issues

Steps to get it done:

• Project design
• Site Clearance
• Creation of viewing area and associated safety needs
• Creation of wheelchair accessible route
• Provision of seating
• Provision of interpretation board (s)
• Opening event along with publicity

This is a project of longstanding background intended for delivery by the CWaC Council, but now with much reduced budgets and unavailable project funding. This version is a reduced scheme putting in place the essential features of the original scheme. The Old Baths site carries a rich heritage, and this project further adds to the visitor experience through QR codes displayed on neighbouring notice and interpretation boards leading to in depth information on the very wide range of local topics contained on the newly updated website www.parkgatesociety.co.uk Timescales for the project are influenced by two factors. 1. The impact of the embargo imposed over local authority election periods - with elections scheduled in May 2023 limiting partnership work with CWaC colleagues, but mainly by the, 2. Bird nesting periods during Spring and Autumn 2023. Hence projected completion has to be later in the year.