RESIDENTS have made it clear what their priority is for any redevelopment of an eyesore site in the town centre.

It comes as plans were withdrawn to demolish a vacant former gym building on a main route through the town.

Applicant Rodgers Leask Limited submitted an application to Warrington Borough Council in relation to the former DW Gym building off Mersey Street, before the plans were pulled.

Documents submitted as part of the application state that the reason for the demolition was due to the building no longer being in use.

The gym closed in August 2020 after the firm called in administrators. The impact of the coronavirus pandemic was cited among the reasons why.

Since then, the building appears run down, with an arson fire also being lit in the structure in May 2022.

When the story was published by the Warrington Guardian on Wednesday, it received hundreds of comments from readers on what they would like to see happen to the site.

While a number of different ideas were raised, one was lobbied more than all others.

A swimming baths was suggested by many, while others said a roller rink or green space next to all the new buildings, but the most suggested by some way was an NHS walk-in urgent treatment centre.

One reader said: “It would take some pressure away from the hospitals. I can’t believe Widnes and Runcorn have a walk-in centre, but we don’t.

Another commented: “We definitely need a walk-in centre. I cannot believe the size of this town and the houses and apartments being thrown up left right and centre that we don't have one.

Also raising the suggestion, one resident replied: “It would definitely be ideal to turn this into an urgent care walk-in centre.

“It would massively help to take the pressure off A&E, which is not good having to sit there for hours because is extremely busy for a small department.

“The town is getting more people living here, but the hospital doesn’t accommodate a bigger population.”

In January last year, health bosses confirmed that the need for a walk-in centre in Warrington was set to be reassessed.

A spokesman for the NHS in Warrington said: “In March 2019, NHS Warrington Clinical Commissioning Group’s governing body agreed that a stand-alone walk-in/urgent treatment centre was not required in the town, and that the focus should be on and integration and improving access to existing services.

“Following our new arrangements within NHS Cheshire and Merseyside in July 2022, we will be re-assessing the data within the context of the current situation to determine where our focus should be in terms of urgent care.

“Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is also awaiting a decision from HM Government with regards to the New Hospitals Programme.”

Since then, the Government has confirmed that Warrington will not be getting a new hospital.

The case for a walk-in centre at the location was supported by Warrington South MP Andy Carter.

He said: “I will be working alongside the borough council and senior leaders in the NHS to make the case for our application, and offering whatever support I can in my capacity as Warrington South’s Member of Parliament.”

However, when approached by the Warrington Guardian, a spokesman for the NHS in Warrington said: “There are not currently any plans to open a new walk-in centre in Warrington town centre.”