WINCHAM Parish Council is interested in the possibility of buying land in Linnards Lane outside a tender process currently being conducted for the site.

Parish councillor Annie Makepeace asked the council last week to look at the possibility of it buying the 4.5-acre site.

The land is opposite Keats Drive, and is being offered for sale by informal tender for £45,000 through Northwich estate agents Wright Marshall, with a closing date of noon on Friday, May 27.

The sale description states: “A rare opportunity has arisen to purchase land on the outskirts of Wincham village extending to 4.54 acres or thereabouts.

“The land may have development potential and is suitable for a variety of purposes, some subject to planning.”

The proposed sale of the land was raised at Wednesday’s meeting of Wincham Parish Council, and sparked the interest of Cllr Makepeace.

“In principle it would be very advantageous if we had the ownership of that land because there are so many positive things we could do with it,” said Cllr Makepeace.

“There are an awful lot of things we need land for, apart from the fact that we do not have a great many activities for the young people.”

She mooted the possibility of the land being used as a football pitch, and proposed that the council look at the possibility of buying the land.

It was agreed to ask the parish clerk to seek advice from the Cheshire Association of Local Councils on the possibility and practicalities of such a purchase.

However due to the short time before the closing date the council has decided now that it is impractical to submit a bid under the informal tender process.

“The parish council have decided that, although they think the land on Linnards Lane would have been an asset to the village, the time schedule was impracticable for them to submit a bid in the informal tender process,” said parish clerk Naomi Morris today.

“Since the parish council does not hold sufficient funds in reserve to buy the land, it would have had to obtain a commercial loan and it could not do that without obtaining the consent of the Secretary of State.

“Instead, the council have asked me to write to the agents handling the sale saying that Wincham Parish Council are unable to submit a bid, but would be interested in talking to the agents about a possible purchase of the land, outside the tender process.”