Flintshire County Council’s Regeneration team in collaboration with colleagues across the council is co-ordinating the delivery of three Green Infrastructure (GI) schemes in Shotton at the Ash Grove and Charmley’s Lane Car Parks and the Henry Weale Memorial Garden.

The projects form part of the Council’s wider programme to improve green spaces, enhance biodiversity, support active travel, and create healthier, more resilient places for residents. The schemes are wholly funded through the Welsh Government (WG) Transforming Towns initiative and the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) specifically for town centre green space improvements.

Throughout the development of the proposals and designs, Flintshire County Council officers have worked closely with Shotton Town Councillors and local County Councillors, ensuring that local knowledge and priorities have helped shape the designs at key stages of the project during its development.

Public consultation, both through online surveys and in-person consultation events, was undertaken in August 2025, to give residents the opportunity to comment on the proposals. Feedback received during the consultation process has helped inform the final designs, ensuring the schemes respond to local views while delivering long-term environmental and social benefits. For more information on the outcome of the public consultation, please view the page in our Consultation and Engagement area.

The final plans to be implemented include enhancements to green spaces, new planting, improved pedestrian routes, and sustainable features designed to manage surface water and increase biodiversity. 

Charmley’s Lane car park improvements will include: 

• Wildflower meadow planting
• Benches added amongst the meadow planting
• All existing trees to be retained
• Additional tree planting along the car park boundary adjacent to the former Bryn Tirion school site

Ash Grove car park improvements will include:

• Removal of the exterior boundary wall to open the space 
• Retention of the steel man sculpture within the existing raised planter. 
• Existing spiky (Berberis) planting to be replaced with low-level grasses (to reflect the planting along the Dee Estuary) alongside colourful, flowering accents to create a context appropriate and welcoming planting scheme.
• Steel benches to be replaced with timber top benches with timber backrests and steel armrests, with additional paving added next to the benches to allow wheelchair users / pushchairs and prams to sit alongside the bench, all to ensure maximum accessibility and inclusivity. 
• Stepping stone paviours (flush with the ground) added through the existing lawn, providing a playful link through the space and informal pebble seats to the north of the garden. 
• All existing trees to be retained.
• Development of the north end of the car park, including removal of the disused car park meter, and inclusion of bike stands, seating and planting 
• Replacement of the concrete bollards on the north-east of the car park

Henry Weale Memorial Garden improvements will include:

• Trees to be introduced to the planting beds either side of the garden entrance. Trees will have a 2m clear stem, with a light canopy structure – providing semi-enclosure to the garden, whilst maintaining open views in and out. 
• Bi-lingual bespoke paving artwork at garden entrance introducing the Henry Weale VC Memorial Garden. 
• Interpretation panel at entrance providing history and insight regarding Henry Weale. 
• Central circular planting bed added which will feature low-level, Dee Estuary inspired grass planting, alongside coloured, flowering accents. Informal stepping stones through the centre of the planting will add a playful, subtle feature, allowing for an immersive experience within the planting as well as a direct link through the centre of the space. 
• A trellis system with climbing plants added to the surrounding fencing, with existing shrubs retained and reshaped. Taller grasses to be added to infill any gaps in the bedding. 
• Steel benches to be replaced with curved, timber top benches with timber backrests and steel armrests, with space next to the benches to allow wheelchair users to sit alongside the bench, all to ensure maximum accessibility and inclusivity. 

A press release was shared in December 2025 prior to work commencing, to help residents understand the scope of the projects and what to expect once work begins.

Work on site is expected to commence in January 2026, with further updates provided as the projects progress.

For any enquiries about this project, please email regeneration@flintshire.gov.uk