Council about to axe
new baths plan?
by David Skentelbery
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TOWN Hall chiefs at Warrington may be about to abandon the concept of a new town centre swimming pool.
Consultants appointed to examine the feasibility of providing a new facility to replace the closed Warrington Baths in Legh Street say the case for additional town centre swimming baths is ?difficult to make.?
They also say existing swimming facilities across the borough have a ?good geographic spread.?
This was revealed by Coun Colin Froggatt, (pictured)executive member for social services and health promotion, at a meeting of the borough council.
He was responding to a question from Liberal Democrat leader Coun Ian Marks who wanted to know what progress had been made on the feasibility study for new swimming facilities.
Coun Froggatt said talks had been taking place with the consultants, who would be reporting to the council?s executive board on August 23.
But the early indications were that the consultants felt the case for a new town centre swimming pool was difficult to make.
Coun Froggatt said Warrington did not want to put itself in the position of building a new facility which they would be forced to close later through lack of use, as had happened at Bolton.
He said: ?You can be sure the consultants? report will be poured over by councillors.?
In January, the council decided it would press ahead with plans to replace the Legh Street baths – if they were satisfied there was still a demand for such a facility.
But they said attendances at other pools in the borough since the town centre baths closed suggested most of the swimmers who had formerly used them had ?disappeared.?
They had not, generally, transferred to other pools.
Councillors were told it would cost between ?5 million and ?12 million to provide a new facility, depending on the activities catered for. The minimum requirement would be a 25-metre pool and a teaching pool.
Four potential developers had expressed an interest in providing a new facility in partnership with the council. But the Government’s Public Private Partnership Programme has advised that a financial modelling exercise over 25 years be undertaken to identify the most affordable option.
Teenage babysitters
40 PER CENT CARE FOR
A YOUNGER CHILD
by John Hendon
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HEALTH bosses have developed a special course for Warrington’s teenage carers after discovering that a staggering 40 per cent of 11 to 16-year-olds are responsible for looking after a younger child at home.
Warrington Primary Care Trust has introduced a babysitting course for pupils aged 14-15.
Pupils at Penketh High School have recently completed the course with flying colours.
It included discussing roles and responsibilities, what makes a good babysitter, child behaviour, play development, infant and baby emergency care, first aid and accident prevention.
Tutors were from Priestly College, Warrington Play and Learning Foundation and Warrington Primary Care Trust.
Zoe Rubotham, project worker at Warrington Primary Care Trust, said: “The course teaches young people all sorts of important common sense things, like not to answer the phone and say you are a babysitter.”
Four high schools in Warrington took part in the anonymous web-based survey for the Healthy Schools project. The majority of the 410 pupils who filled in questionnaires were aged 14 to 15.
The study is an on-going project to develop a database detailing the health and attitudes of teenagers in Warrington.
Questions around diet, nutrition, physical activity, alcohol and tobacco use, among others, were asked.
Rain fails to
dampen spirits
by Gary Skentelbery
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THE annual Stretton Walking day fell victim to the weather as walkers were greeted with a constant down pour.
But undeterred members of St Matthew’s Church and the neighbouring St Matthew’s Primary School braved the elements with villagers and local marching bands.
Alice Hill, aged 10 was crowned Rose Queen, taking over from retiring queen Samantha Matthews.
Choir member Peter Hall, husband of local vicar Elaine Chegwin Hall is pictured entering into the spirit of the occasion, joining the walk on the day he returned from a lengthy sponsored walk.
For more pictures and full story see the August issue of Village Life magazine.
Gift donations wanted
for hospice charity ball
by John Hendon
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PREPARATIONS have started for St Rocco’s Hospice Annual Charity Ball and Warrington folk are being urged to help top last year’s total of ?17,000.
The event will be held at the Hanover International Hotel, Stretton, on Friday October 22. The black tie event includes a four-course dinner with dancing, entertainment and a charity auction.
Local people and businesses are being asked to donate gifts for the auction or tombola, or to sponsor a course at the meal. Further details are available from the hospice on 575780.
Tickets are ?390 for a table of 10, or ?39 per person. The hotel has arranged concessions on the accommodation rate for those attending.
RL star with brains
as well as brawn
by staff reporter
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WARRINGTON Wolves prop forward Mark Hilton, 28, has proved he can excel in the classroom as well as the sports field – by gaining a First Class Honours Degree in Mathematics.
Mark has graduated with a BSC from Bolton Institute, after studying part time for four years.
He said: “Far from being ridiculed by my team mates for studying for a degree, I have actually gained the respect of the senior players who have been very understanding of my commitments. It shows that you don’t have to ignore your education to be a rugby player.”
Head coach Paul Cullen said: “Gaining a first is a fantastic achievement considering he has combined his mathematics degree, running his testimonial year and playing front row as consistently as he has. Mark is an excellent role model for everyone involved at this club and in the game of rugby league.”
MP joins battle to
save regiment
by Lesley Wilkinson
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THE battle to save the Queen’s Lancashire Regiment- that has strong links with Warrington – has received a boost with Warrington North MP Helen Jones joining the campaign.
The MP has joined colleagues from the North West to fight any proposals to amalgamate the QLR with other regiments.
She said no decision has been made but there is a fear that it may be subject to amalgamation in any restructuring of the army that may take place.
The QLR is currently the only regiment to recruit exclusively from Lancashire and areas that used to be in Lancashire. It has been granted the Freedom of Warrington.
Helen said: “The Queen’s Lancashire Regiment has already undergone two amalgamations – in 1958 and 1970. Unlike other regiments it recruits locally and has a very strong link with Warrington.
I want to see that position retained and I have already met with Lancashire MPs to discuss what we can do to save the QLR. We will, initially, be seeking to lobby the Defence Minister to make our views clear,” she added.
Holiday fun for
Wolves “cubs”
by staff reporter
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YOUNG Wolves fans are being invited to a special celebration to get the school holidays into gear
A Wolfpack Summer Holiday Disco will be held from 7.30pm on Tuesday August 3 at the Railway Social Club, next to Central Station.
There will be dancing, Wolves goodies to be won and appearances by the players to make the night fun.
New councillors
start “surgeries”
by staff reporter
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THREE newly elected Liberal Democrat councillors in Warrington are getting down to business with surgeries in their wards to meet local residents and find out their concerns.
Keith Gleave and Judith Wheeler, both Whittle Hall, and David Earl, Westbrook, will be holding monthly surgeries at Westbrook Library to give people the chance to raise issues or ask questions.
Surgeries will be held on Saturdays from 11.00am to 12noon. Dates planned so far are August 7, September 4, October 2, October 30, November 20 and December 18.
The new councillors say they can be contacted at any time as follows – David 0771 755 8301, [email protected] , Keith 0771 755 8303 [email protected] and Judith 0771755 8307, [email protected]
