AN ONGOING debate surrounding easier access to a country park led to the mysterious overnight arrival of a gate, since deemed 'dangerous' and removed by the community council.
For years, residents at the Parc Jasmin Estate in Broughton have been campaigning for a gate to be installed just off the estate for direct access into the adjacent country park.
Residents argue that access to the park would provide better walking routes for school children and provide a more pleasant walk when accessing other parts of the village.
Proposals have subsequently been turned down by the community council on multiple occasions which has resulted in one unknown individual taking matters into their own hands.
The newly installed gate, against the wishes of the community council, was discovered on Thursday, April 13 before being removed just five days later and replaced by mesh covering the make-shift route into the country park.
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One resident, who wishes to not be named said: "The Parc Jasmin estate doesn’t have direct access to this park.
"We have asked and been turned down by our local community council on a number of occasions.
"The gate gives access for about 700+ residents to [the] country park, a more pleasant walk to other parts of the village, shops, doctors, other businesses."
Cllr Chrissy Gee, representing South Broughton on Flintshire County Council, has been vocal on the push for an entrance to be installed.
She said: "It's about time the community council started taking into account what the residents of Broughton want.
"The residents of Broughton, by several hundreds signing a petition and by verbally telling me, want an entrance to the country park. This isn't just the residents of Parc Jasmin - this is all residents.
"It should be used by the residents of Broughton who pay their taxes for an asset that belongs to everybody."
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She added Broughton Community Council cites health and safety concerns to be the reasoning behind the objections to a gate being fitted between the estate and the country park.
A spokesperson for Broughton Community Council said: "The gate was installed without any permission being granted and the springer mechanism did not comply with Health and Safety regulations so was dangerous and therefore removed."
A debate which is no doubt far from over, it remains to be seen what will happen next in the row.
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