Skatepark closing for
repairs – after
just eight months
by David Skentelbery
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WARRINGTON’S Victoria Park skatepark – which opened only eight months ago – is to close for five days for repairs in the run-up to a major national skating and BMX event.
But council chiefs are stressing that the repairs are of a “minor” nature and that further work will also take place to enhance the skatepark and ensure it will be the best it possibly can be for the “Summer Concrete Jam.”
The skatepark – the biggest in the UK – will stage the event July 31 and August 1 and will attract top skaters from all over the world.
Borough council experts, along with professional skaters and a construction team from Harry Fairclough’s – the firm which built the centre – will be carrying out the work.
Work will start on Monday July 12 and last until Friday July 16, hopefully benefiting from good weather. It will be ready in plenty of time for the “jam” and also for the school summer holidays.
Among the works to be carried out during the closure will be the designing and painting of graffiti art created by local skaters and BMX riders as part of a community project.
Dave Stamp, the council’s head of landscape services, said: “We fully expect this international skate jam to be a highlight of this year’s UK skate calendar and these works are being carried out to ensure our park continues to be one of the best around.
“We apologise to the very many young people who use the skatepark for any inconvenience this may cause. However, these works will make improvements to this well used facility and we would ask everyone who uses the skatepark to be patient and co-operative while these works are carried out.
“We will be putting up notices to let people know the skatepark will be closed and it will be fenced off overnight.”
The skatepark in Warrington is being hailed as a good example of community partnership in action. Sport England, which helped fund a large part of the scheme, is using Warrington as an example of best practice on a new video set to be released right across the country.
Victoria Park skatepark opened in November. It was built as a result of a collaboration between the council, the local community and skating enthusiasts.
Local singer is
Top Of The Pops!!
by Gary Skentelbery
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WARRINGTON vocalist Sue Quin (pictured) has entered the charts this week at number 10!
She sings on the FHM Magazine single, a funky pop version of the Rod Stewart classic, ?Da Ya Think I?m Sexy?.
Sue from Appleton, joined the FHM girls at night club G.A.Y in London last week to promote the single. She whipped up the audience performing on stage with the likes of Jodie Marsh, Mylene Klass (Hear Say) and Nush from Big Brother.
?It?s been so much fun and the FHM girls were all lovely. This is an amazing surprise that the single has done so well in it?s first week. Fingers crossed with more promotional gigs it might go higher. I would be over the moon if it got to the top five.?
?Da Ya Think I?m Sexy? is in aid of Breakthrough Breast Cancer, with 45 pence from every single going to the charity. It was recorded by All Around The World, the label behind this years earlier no. one hit ?Take Me To The Clouds Above?.
?The All Around The World team for their hard work, they were great to work with.?
?I would like to add though that while this was loads of fun there is a serious issue here too. I was offered this job just two weeks after an old school friend passed away. She had breast cancer and so I felt that singing on this record was something important for me to do. Fingers crossed we can now all support this campaigne and help the charity.?
?Da Ya Think I?m Sexy? isn?t the first time you will have heard Sue?s voice. In a career spanning 20 years she has sung on thousands of TV ads and radio jingles and her backing vocals can be heard on countless albums and singles, including the massive dance hits Eye Opener and Tell It To My Heart. This highly regarded session singer has sung on no. 1 hits in Australia and Japan and top ten hits in Europe and South America.
Earlier this year Sue was awarded a silver disc for the Flip & Fill album Floor Fillers. This joins the the silver gold and platinum discs she was awarded for the smash hit Kung Fu Fighting she recorded in collaboration with the same DJ duo, then more famously known as Bus Stop.
?My proudest moment in my career was singing with Russell Watson on his sell out tour of 2003. We played at Stadiums including Wembley and were backed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra. That was a fantastic experience.?
When not busy gigging she teaches vocals on the Access to Music courses at Warrington Collegiate Institute, where she is able to pass on her wealth of knowledge to other aspiring singers. She also teaches vocals at Bridgewater High school in Appleton.
And yes, she has been busy signing autographs for all her students!
Rain fails to
dampen spirits
by Gary Skentelbery
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RAIN failed to dampen the spirits of walkers at Grappenhall Village’s annual walk of witness.
St Wilfrids C of E Church and Grappenhall Independent Methodists joined forces for the annual parade.
While the rain forced the crowning of the queens to take place indoors, it eased in time for the walk!
St Wilfrid’s Church Rose Queen Katy McQullian, aged 14, a pupil at Lymm High School, who was crowned by Margaret Gregory. Her attendants were Helen Williams, Hannah Melbourne, Rachael Groves and Annie Baker.
St Wilfrid’s Rose Bud was 11-year-old Megan Clarke, who attends St Wilfird’s Primary School. Her attendants were Rosie Hyde, Nina Martin, Samantha Wernham and Charlotte Brinksman.
Retiring Rose Queen was Emma Goulding aged 17 while retiring Rose Bud was 11-year-old Jessica Dorman.
Grappenhall Independent Methodist Rose Queen was 11-year-old Alison Bailey, also a pupil at St Wilfrid’s, while crown bearer was Sean Parsons and with attendants Carlos and Maria Gurnani and Sarah Newlan.
Members of Boothstown Brass Band provided the music.
For more pictures click on Grappenhall Walking Day
Government minister
opens sculpture garden
by Lesley Wilkinson
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A SCULPTURED garden, created for the Lymm Festival, was opened by the Minister of State for Prisons and Probation, Paul Goggins MP.
The garden, hosted by Sue and Alan Williams, features works prepared specially for the event by professional artists, local people and schools in the area.
The Minister was particularly impressed by the work of several prisoners from Risley Prison, completed as part of an art project.
Helen Southworth MP for Warrington South welcomed the minister.
She said: “Paul Goggins was really impressed by the quality of the sculpture, and by the involvement of Risley inmates and education department. Helping offenders change their lives makes things better for all of us.”
She added: “Three local primary schools worked with local artists to produce work for the exhibition. Children from Ravenbank, Cherry Tree and Oughtrington schools created some superb work.”
She also congratulated Sue and Alan for their initiative in hosting the garden.
Olympic sportswear: MP’s
campaign on work conditions
by staff reporter
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THE working conditions of people making sportswear for Olympic athletes need to be improved urgently, according to Warrington North MP Helen Jones.
As the Olympic flame was carried through the UK on its journey to Athens, she called on the British Olympic Association and the International Olympic Committee to back the Play Fair at the Olympics Campaign.She said the campaign, backed by Oxfam, the Trades Union Congress and the Clean Clothes Campaign, is part of a global scheme focusing on the poor working conditions of millions of workers in the sportswear and athletic footwear industry.
Helen said: “Many of us will enjoy watching the different sports during the Olympic games later this year but we should bear in mind the dignity and health and safety of many vulnerable people who produce the kit the athletes wear.”
She said in Turkey, Bulgaria and China, big name manufacturers employ mainly women to make sportswear for Olympic athletes while working long hours for low wages and without the most basic employment protection.
“Play Fair is asking sportswear companies, the IOC and British Olympic Association to meet with them at the Athens games to discuss what practical steps can be taken to ensure that products bearing Olympic symbols are produced with due regard to the rights of those who make them,” she said.
“I believe this is the least that they can do and I am calling for action to be taken, along with other colleagues.” she added.
New unit gives boost
to patient care
by Lesley Wilkinson
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A NEW surgical assessment unit at Warrington Hospital has improved patient care, according to North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust.
The seven-bed unit provides a dedicated centralised area for acutely ill surgical patients, referred via their GP or the accident and emergency department.
A highly-skilled team, trained in managing acutely ill patients, can provide rapid assessment, diagnostic and treatment facilities.
Antony Murphy, senior nurse manager, surgical directorate said: “It mirrors the successful implementation of our GP Assessment Unit and further enhances a patient’s journey through hospital.
“It is an ongoing development designed to evolve, adapting to the changing surgical services across the trust,” he added.
The unit is open every day from 10am to 8.30pm, and sees all patients over 16 who require assessment by the on-call surgical team.
After assessment, a decision is made on whether or not the patient needs admitting. If they are discharged the team makes arrangements for follow-up treatment.
Residents’ protest over
riverside dwellings
by Terry Johnson
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A RESIDENTS’ association has protested to town planners at Warrington about the building of a nine-storey block of 77 riverside apartments.
Existing homes would face a “brick walls skyline”, says the Howley Residents’ Association.
It claims that windows of the block would overlook the River Mersey and the structure obstruct river views for the rest of the community.
“A structure of nine storeys is definitely not in keeping with the existing residential area,” state the protestors.
Quayside Developments proposals for a ‘brownfield’ site between Navigation Street and Howley Quay will go before planning councillors next Thursday(July 1).
