Schools win cash grants
for sports development
by David Skentelbery
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TWO Warrington schools have won cash handouts from the Big Lottery Fund to help them develop sports facilities.
Cardinal Newman Roman Catholic High School at Latchford has been awarded a grant of ?475,000 while Culcheth High School has won ?125,000.
They are among more than 30 schools across the North West celebrating following the announcement of nearly ?14 million lottery cash for new and improved sports facilities.
Cardinal Newman High have won the funding towards the cost of modernising the school’s six-court sports hall and extending the changing facilities.
This will provide improved and increased access to cricket, Rugby League, tennis, badminton, dance and football, to benefit 680 pupils and 20 staff, 210 primary school pupils and to allow more than 28,000 visits from community users each year.
Culcheth High will use its grant towards the cost of a new floodlit, fenced full-size synthetic turf pitch and to modernise and increase the capacity of car parking facilities.
The school will be better able to tackle existing barriers to participation in sports, leading to increased use by pupils and the wider community.
It will also support the development of hockey and girls’ football for the benefit of 1,251 pupils, 202 users from other schools and allow more than 29,000 annual visits from members of the wider community.
Nearby Lowton Specialist Sports College also benefits from a ?312,454 grant to develop a fenced, floodlit multi-sports games area to remove barriers to participation in sports and supports the development of football, Rugby League, hockey and dance.
Some 1,150 pupils, another 1,000 pupils from other schools and about 450 community users will be able to use the facilities.
Headteachers fed up of
“jumping through hoops”
by Lesley Wilkinson
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HEADTEACHERS are fed up with “jumping through endless hoops” for additional cash, according to Ian Marks, Warrington South’s Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate.
He said quality in education for all schools is more important than the Government’s emphasis on “choice.
“Head teachers in Warrington don’t want more powers, they want less interference,” said Coun Marks, who is also leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition group on the borough council.
“They want freedom from the endless grind of meeting targets, freedom from the distraction of too much testing and league tables and freedom from jumping through endless hoops for additional cash,” he added.
He criticised government plans to encourage secondary schools to become independent specialists and to adopt foundation status – meaning they controlled their own land and buildings and employed their own staff.
Coun Marks said most parents were not concerned about choice and just wanted good quality local schools with high quality teaching, access to good facilities and a curriculum that meets their child’s needs.
“The choice that both Labour and the Tories are offering will only be available for a few. This simply isn’t good enough. We are calling for quality for all, not choice for a few,” he said.
He said there was currently some choice with 92 per cent of children are already offered their first preference of secondary school and half of those who appeal against their allocation are successful.
“Parents should have the right to choose schools, but should not have to by-pass their local school to escape from failure,” added Coun Marks.
Baby girl dies
in garden pond
by staff reporter
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A 19-month-old girl has died after falling into a garden pond at her home in Warrington.
The toddler was rushed to hospital in Salford after being found in the garden at her home in Rixton.
Paramedics and hospital doctors battled to try and save the girl – but in vain. Her father and mother were with her at the hospital.
Police are treating the death as a tragic accident. A post mortem examination has been held and it is believed the youngster died due to drowning.
Cyclist attacked
and beaten-up
by David Skentelbery
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A MAN cycling home at Warrington was attacked and beaten up by two youths.
The victim was taken to hospital suffering from injuries to his face and body after being punched and kicked as he lay helpless on the ground.
Police said the attack took place under a bridge under Loushers Lane as the victim cycled in the direction of Victoria Park.
The two youths physically stopped his cycle and knocked him to the ground.
Anyone who witnessed the attack is asked to contact PC Dawn Akrigg on 01244 350000.
Children’s safety
poster contest
by staff reporter
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YOUNGSTERS in Warrington have been busy creating posters that will be used in a campaign to reduce the number of head injuries in children.
The Mayor, Coun Ted Lafferty, will present prizes to the 14 winners, aged three to 14, at a ceremony today (Wednesday) at the Vida Centre, Warrington Business Park.
Winning posters will be used by Warrington Primary Care Trust to spearhead its campaign during the next 12 months. They will be displayed in community centres, GPs’ surgeries, hospitals and public buildings such as libraries.
The Trust’s health improvement specialist Jane Knight said: “We are very impressed by the standard of work the pupils produced and by their creativity in getting the message across.
“We are hoping that by using these posters throughout Warrington we will raise awareness of child accidents and reduce the number of children who have accidents even further. We also hope to reduce the rising number of children who go to hospital with head injuries,” she added.
Last year 1,352 children went to Warrington A&E with a head injury – of these 54 were due to cycling accidents.
Music to go
shopping to
by staff reporter
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MUSIC to shop by will be provided in Warrington’s Golden Square Shopping Centre on Saturday when the Radio General road show visits.
Events start at 10 am when Jim Jefferies broadcasts his live show until 12noon. Others attending from the station include Kevin Farrell, Claire Grout and Ed Nurse.
They will be collecting money for the station and offering shoppers the chance to win prizes.
Also on Saturday Warrington Advanced Motoring will be in the centre offering advice to drivers and giving information on their advance driving courses. They will also be promoting the Vehicle Driving Extravaganza taking place on Sunday at Warrington Collegiate Institute, where visitors will have the chance to drive an articulated lorry or double-decker bus.
Government spending
review wins praise
by Lesley Wilkinson
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GOVERNMENT plans to provide a cash boost for more children’s centres and for extra police community support officers – were praised by Warrington North MP Helen Jones.
She welcomed the recent Spending Review announced by Chancellor Gordon Brown In May Mrs Jones called for a debate on the role of community support officers and an increase in their number, citing the important work they do in her constituency as an example.
As part of her research she accompanied CSO Barry Flynn on his beat in Oakwood in June.
Also in May she called directly on the Prime Minister to expand the network of children’s centres. And she repeated the request recently when she visited the North Warrington Sure Start Child Safety event.
Speaking in Westminster the MP said: “Clearly I am pleased with the Cha
ncellor’s announcement of more funding for housing, education, transport, health and science research but I was particularly delighted with the news that the children’s centre and community support officer initiatives will be expanded.
“These are issues I have been campaigning on and it is marvellous to see real progress in these areas. My goal is for every community in Warrington to have its own children’s centre thus giving every child access to the best possible start in life,” she added.
She said the CSO’s successfully assist police, and that she was angry when opposition MPs called for cuts in the criminal justice budget, meaning the CSO role cut have been cut.
Picture shows Helen Jones at the North Warrington Surestart child safety event.
News in brief
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Family fun
at the pub
NEW managers at The Highwayman pub, Manchester Road, Warrington, are holding a Family Funday on Sunday.
Michelle, Peter and Steve are inviting regulars and new customers to enjoy the fun. There will be a children’s play area, mobile play barn and free buffet.
Car blaze
POLICE are investigating a fire which wrecked a Vauxhall Cavalier in Green Lane, Burtonwood, near Warrington. Arson is suspected.
Homes plan
STIRLING Homes Ltd are seeking planning consent for 26 houses and 14 flats on land off Sandy Lane, Oughtrington, Lymm, near Warrington.
Speed camera
APPLETON parish councillor John Price has expressed concern that the speed camera in London Road, near Warrington Golf Club, appears to be little used and largely ineffective.
New stables
A PROPOSAL to demolish existing stables at Redcot Farm, Booths Hill Road, Lymm, near Warrington and build new pre-fabricated stables has been submitted to Warrington’s planning department.
