ACCESS problems which have seen several vehicles damaged are affecting the viability of a Flintshire community centre, is has been claimed.

Hawkesbury Community centre in Buckley can be reached via an access road off Mill Lane.

Video and pictures by Rick Matthews

In recent months the centre's committee has been calling on Flintshire Council to take action after a series of vehicles have been damaged while driving into the site's car park.

This is due to a pinch point where cars pass a dwarf wall and a tree on one side and temporary 'crowd barriers' put up by the owner of neighbouring Hawkesbury Hall on the other.

Cllr David Ellis, chairman of the community centre, told the Leader action needs to be taken as a matter of urgency.

He explained: "It is affecting the viability of the community centre because groups are threatening to leave and some have seen their numbers reduce because of the access problem.

"We've had several cars damaged.

"The other issue is the health and safety - there's not enough room there for a pedestrian and a car to pass safely."

Cllr Ellis added he and fellow councillors Carol Ellis and Mike Peers have called on Flintshire Council to take action by removing the wall and tree, thereby widening the road.

He added: "We have had different responses from [Flintshire Council] saying things are in hand.

"They were talking about a November timescale but that is not good enough."

Cllr Carol Ellis said: "It is OK saying they are going to remove the tree and wall come November, but we've had this situation for about five months or even longer.

"We are afraid that things will get worse. So far no one has been badly injured but that doesn't mean it is going to stay that way."

Cllr Ellis added she has concerns for people coming to access to the public access defibrillator on the outside of the community centre who, in their haste, may collide with the wall or temporary fencing.

Speaking about the temporary fencing put up by the owners of Hawkesbury Hall, Cllr Peers said: "They have applied and been granted permission for permanent fencing - that is fine.

"But it is not yet in place and there's no reason why those barriers should be there. They are restricting access and causing a problem."

Dermot Fennell, who has owned the listed building Hawkesbury Hall since 2011, explained that without the fences in place vehicles coming to the community centre have to swing out towards his wall before turning into the car park, and vice-versa when leaving.

Mr Fennell maintains the fences are within the boundary of his property and they have been put up to protect his building and his land.

He added: “When we bought this building it was derelict.

"We spent our life savings restoring it and it is for the benefit of Buckley because it is a landmark.

“There is a wall and a tree on the bend and that is the only ‘chicane’ in the access road.

"We have suggested the tree and wall be taken away because the access problems would then go away.

“We have given the council three years to do something about it. They haven’t so we have put these fences up to protect our property and to prevent trespass.

“It is not been put there to cause problems - we just want this sorted, we have done nothing wrong.”

Neal Cockerton, Flintshire Council’s chief officer for housing and assets, said: “We can confirm that there is a dispute over where the boundary lies and the location of the temporary fencing.

"The council has put forward a proposal for resolving the matter and for improving access to the community centre overall and is in discussion with the concerned parties on that proposal.”