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In January 2007 Taylor Woodrow, on behalf of St Helens Hospitals, applied for planning permission to convert a substantial part of Sutton Park into a temporary car park for workmen employed on the new hospital build.
This would have accommodated an enormous 421 vehicles for an 18 month period.
The planning application was submitted in December 06 and local residents received neighbourhood consultation letters on 20th January (Saturday). We had until the 21st February to voice any objections.
We immediately joined together as a community and set up a campaign, getting around 200 letters sent to St.Helens Council in opposition to the outline proposal. Local press were notified and we held a protest demonstration on the park - People Power won!
Councillor's Stephanie Topping and Brian Spencer (Council Leader) attended the rally and answered a barrage of questions from angry residents. Within a matter of days the planning application was withdrawn.
The planned car park would have occupied the north-east section of Sutton Park off Marina Avenue between Philip Grove and Kent Road
Two trees each 5 metres high would have to be removed adjacent to Philip Grove to accomodate the main entrance, it would have had electronic security barriers,a security shed and would be manned 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
A chain link fence over 2 metres high would have been constructed to partition off and secure the car park (the red dotted perimeter on the map )
The turf and top soil stripped and then surfaced with 30cm (12") thick recycled aggregate.
It was good news all round when the application was withdrawn.
One good thing, however, did come out of it, The Friends of Sutton Park were born!
