Work to repair Chester’s historic City Walls is now complete

Mar 15 2010 Chester Chronicle

IMPORTANT maintenance work to bring Chester’s City Walls into a good state of repair is now complete.

Cheshire West and Chester Council and Chester Renaissance obtained a grant for the work, which involved carefully removing vegetation including weeds and self-seeded saplings as well as several sections of ivy.

The Council’s Environment Executive Member, Cllr Neil Ritchie, said: “People have already been able to see what an improvement this work has made. We shall now be able to see more closely what future maintenance will be needed.

“The preservation of the walls is extremely important for our heritage, the walls are part of the unique character of Chester.

“I am delighted that we were able to work so closely with all partners to ensure the minimum of disruption during the maintenance programme.”

Local Councillor, Cllr Tom Parry came along to see the final section of ivy being removed and said: “We’re grateful to both residents and tourists for bearing with us during essential work.

“It was necessary to close some sections of the wall as work progressed, but now it’s good to see the beauty of the magnificent walls clearly once again.

“I’m delighted that next year's budget allocates an additional £75,000 for maintenance of both our historic Rows and City Walls.

“The work was long overdue and the completion of this essential maintenance is a real achievement for Cheshire West and Chester Council’s first year in operation."

Chester Renaissance Chief Executive Rita Waters said: “Chester Renaissance was set up to drive momentum and bring added value to efforts to complete and accelerate the economic growth of Chester.

“Projects such as this, which has added real value to the city are important in our quest to ensure the city is a must-see European city.

“I am delighted the work is now complete and congratulate the contractors on a job well done.”

The five-month programme followed a circular route around the walls and in some sections involved the use of ropes to access the wall to carry out inspections and remove vegetation. Plastic trowels were also needed to make sure that the walls were not damaged.

Around 2.5 million visitors walk the Walls every year making it one of Chester’s top tourist attractions.