Below is the email I have sent to everyone who contacted me about Walton Hall: 

Dear All
 
I am writing to you because you all wrote to me expressing concern about Walton Hall and Gardens. I apologise for not getting back to you earlier but commercially confidential negotiations were going on and the Council was not in a position to correct many of the more alarming rumours that were circulating about the future of the Walton Estate.
 
These negotiations have concluded and a report will be coming to the June Executive Board. However, on Friday the Leader, Deputy Leader, three other members of the Executive Board and Andy Farrall, The Executive Director for Environment and Regeneration met with three representatives of the bodies campaigning for the retention of public access to the Walton Hall Estate.
 
The meeting was lengthy and informative and I hope that many of the concerns that have led to the campaign have been allayed. In short the proposals will improve, and increase, access to the Walton Hall Estate for the public. While it is proposed to convert the Hall into a Hotel, with the building restored to its original size and design, only a very small part of the surrounding garden will become private, while the public will get improved access to more areas of the Estate and gardens than has been the case so far.
 
The restored buildings will provide cafe, restaurant and toilet facilities which everyone visiting the park can use.
 
For the full statement please see:
 

Walton Update on Warrington website
 
The statement includes a link to the Master Plan which shows the areas of the Estate that will remain fully accessible to the public as at present and the small parts of the garden adjacent to the hotel which will be private.
 
I believe the proposals that will come to Executive Board will satisfy the very many friends of, and visitors to, the the Walton Estate who have been concerned. They offer a way of improving the park and restoring the buildings, which would otherwise be lost.
 
Please feel free to get in touch if you would like any more details.
 
With best wishes
Bob