“No need for baths”
say consultants
by David Skentelbery
WARRINGTON can only have a new town centre swimming pool if one of the existing facilities closes.
This is the view of consultants engaged by the borough council to come up with a long term strategy for the future of sport and leisure services across the town.
They say there is no strategic need for a town centre swimming facility and one could only be provided by closing one of the other facilities to keep within an affordable budget.
The Fordton Leisure Centre at Orford is suggested as the one to be replaced.
Campaigners fighting for a new town centre pool to replace the century-old Legh Street baths which closed a year ago are furious at the suggestion.
They claim the council is wasting money on consultants which could go towards providing new baths and accuse councillors of ignoring the needs of local swimmers – particularly children.
But the consultants say the council has little choice. Maintaining the status quo for leisure services is not affordable and setting up a Leisure Trust would be affordable only for eight years, after which the deteriorating condition of the five leisure centres in the borough would make the Trust unviable.
A private sector partnership with medium term investment would be viable for 15 years, after which the condition of buildings would make this option unaffordable. A similar private sector partnership with long term investment would not be affordable.
But a private finance initiative partnership with education would provide a long term solution.
This would involve the provision of new or refurbished facilities at appropriately located school sites which would become “community hubs” to provide improved health and education outcomes in line with council priorities and pledges.
It is hoped a partnership deal could be struck with Warrington Primary Care Trust.
Officers are recommending the council press ahead with this option, which will require Government approval and also the letting of a five year private sector management contract for the five existing leisure centre pending the launch of the new initiative.
The council’s executive board will make a decision next month.
Bus shelter was 137th
to be wrecked by vandals
by John Hendon
WHEN vandals wrecked the bus shelter near the junction of Chester Road and Lumb Brook Road, Stockton Heath, Warrington it was the 137th incident of its kind in the borough this year.
The late night incident sickened local councillor Sue Dodd, who was quick to report the incident to Warrington Borough Transport but delighted to find that someone else had reported it before her.
She said: “I find this sort of thing incomprehensible. It’s just a wanton waste and, at the end of the day, it is public money that is being wasted. The money of law abiding citizens. I don’t pretend to have an answer to the problem and I don’t want to blame any particular section of the community for it.
“But there is no doubt about it that when vandalism occurs, the sooner it is repaired the better. Vandalised property left unattended to only encourages more vandalism and lets the vandals think they are winning.
“People should report acts of vandalism as quickly as possible and that is why I was pleased to find someone had reported this incident before me. We must not let the vandals prevail.
“It’s a great shame that those responsible can’t put the energy and enthusiasm they have for vandalism into something more productive.” Coun Dodd said Adshel, the company which provides new bus shelters across the borough, as part of an arrangement with Warrington Borough Transport had a commitment to deal with vandalism within 48 hours and, in her experience, usually did so.
“I don’t go around seeing vandalised bus shelters all the time and if we have had 137 damaged so far this year I would expect to do so if they were not being repaired.”
Tragic Shannon’s
legacy of life
by Terry Johnson
WARRINGTON’S Little Girl Courage, Shannon Bradshaw, who inspired 6,000 strangers to donate their bone marrow as she fought a rare blood disease, has left a legacy of life to seven cancer sufferers.
Shannon’s battle with aplastic anaemia touched the hearts of people from all over the UK who volunteered their bone marrow to try and make Shannon stronger.
The strangers queued up at special clinics after a desperate appeal by Shannon’s parents, Patti and Alan Bradshaw to try and find a donor-match.
Sadly, Shannon lost a race against the clock as she slipped away – though a perfect bone marrow match was found with a donor living close to her home.
Transplant charity, the Anthony Nolan Trust, had trawled through nine million volunteers on their register before Shannon’s parents went public.
Now they have drawn comfort from the fact that the fight for their daughter produced something truly positive – seven cancer sufferers around the world have been saved by the volunteering effort. And the future offers hope of hundreds more matches.
Patti said: “We know only too well the frightening reality that no-one on any register in the world is a match when you need it.”
She added; “Of all those who came forward for Shannon’s appeal, seven have been a perfect match for other people. But there could be many more who will provide help to others in need”.
MP urges solicitors to
link with “Will Aid”
by Terry Johnson
WARRINGTON North MP, Helen Jones, is urging solicitors and townspeople to link into the charity fund, “Will Aid”.
She stated: “The scheme raises money for charity and encourages people to make a proper, low-cost Will.
“Families can endure a great deal of distress and hardship if someone dies without having left a Will.
“I hope local solicitors will involve themselves in ‘Will Aid’ and I would urge people to think seriously about writing or up-dating their Will through this scheme.”
Since its launch in 1988, “Will Aid” has raised more than ?4m for the nine participating UK charities.
Solicitors volunteer their time and skills during November to draw up basic Wills – in return for a charity donation of ?65 for a single Will, ?95 for a pair of Wills and ?35 for a Codicil to an existing Will.
For local solicitors taking part in the scheme, ring 0870-6060-239.
Wanted: budding
movie-makers
by Terry Johnson
A CALL has gone out to budding Warrington movie-makers, challenging them to make a fascinating five-minute film.
Warrington Advocacy – a project managed by the charity Warrington Council for Voluntary Service – is organising a competition for screenwriters, together with a series of film-making workshops.
Theme of the competition, “Getting Your Voice Heard”, puts the focus on an important issue. The contest is open to groups of young people, schools and youth clubs.
The winning film will be screened early next year at a Young People’s Film Festival, to be held at the Pyramid Arts Centre, Palmyra Square South.
Competition organisers are seeking ideas from young people and in turn offer to develop their talents. Contact 01925-244855.
