Planners to decide on
“affordable” housing
by David Skentelbery
A CONTROVERSIAL housing scheme which poses the question “What is affordable housing?” is to come before planning chiefs at Warrington for a third time.
Members of Warrington’s development control committee have twice deferred a decision because they are not convinced that 100 so-called “affordable” homes will, in fact, be within the reach of local people at Lymm.
Developers Wilson Connolly North West won outline planning consent for 224 homes off Oughtrington Lane and Longbutt Lane, Lymm only after a long-running battle that included two public inquiries and hearings in the High Court and the Court of Appeal.
But permission was granted only on condition that half the properties would be “affordable in perpetuity.”
In fact, the three-storey flats put forward as the “affordable” element in the development will require an income of about ?27,000-a-year to purchase or cost ?650-a-month to rent according to local councillors.
Coun Sheila Woodyatt said: “The people in need of these properties haven’t got this sort of income and can’t afford rents like this.
“This scheme is out of character with the area and does not meet the ‘affordable in perpetuity’ criteria laid down by the inspector.”
She condemned the outline planning consent as “the most disgraceful and perverse decision ever known in the borough.”
Coun Ian Marks said: “This development was opposed by the people of Lymm but it’s only saving grace was it provided the opportunity for affordable housing in the village.
“Despite efforts by the planners, these houses are still not genuinely affordable.”
Coun Marks said there were too many flats and not enough houses in the plan and the three-storey properties would be visible for miles around as they were on an elevated site.
Highway safety was an issue that seemed to have been completely ignored. But the nearby Lymm High School had nearly 2000 pupils, many of who would have to walk passed the proposed entrance to the estate.
“I don’t believe a proper traffic study has ever been carried out,” he added.
Planners will expect to be given more information about the “affordability” of the homes when they meet next Wednesday (October 13).
Runners earned
?3,000 for charity
by John Hendon
A BRAVE team of Target Express staff from Warrington joined 47,000 other athletes to compete in the gruelling Great North Run half marathon earning an incredible ?3,335.00 for a number of chosen charities.
Competing in the 13.1 mile race were chief executive Paul Murray, chief operating officer Petar Cvetkovic, marketing executive Tracey Southward, regional sales manager Andrew Harden-Sweetnam and depot operations manager Michael Rowe together with his wife.
There were some pretty special times, with Andrew and Petar in particular storming home ahead of a number of semi professional runners in times of 1hr 46mins and 31 secs and 1hr 46 mins and 48 secs respectively.
Petar said: “The run was about getting through it and earning as much money as we could for our chosen charities and in this aim we certainly performed.”
The run saw Target generate funds for four deserving charities: Macmillan Cancer Relief, the Willowbrook Hospice, the Wooden Spoon Society and Cancer Research.
During the race everyone faced their own difficulties and challenges, including some having to cope with blisters the size of a 50p coin! However, when anyone started to struggle there was always another team member nearby to help them and encourage them to keep going.
Paul Murray said: ‘The Great North Run is a gruelling event, calling for commitment, stamina and determination, but we all pulled together and did fantastically well. I am really proud of everyone involved and thrilled by the amount of money we raised.”
Youth orchestra set
twin town trip
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON Youth Orchestra is to fly out to Germany on October 23 for their regular exchange visit with the Hilden Musikschule – the 25th anniversary of their exchanges with the twin-town orchestra.
The visit will start with a joint workshop at a youth hostel in Hilden where members of both groups will rehearse as a joint orchestra with more than 100 years.
After this, the two groups will take part in a concert at the Stadthalle where they will perform separately as individual orchestra and as a joint orchestra using the music prepared in the workshop.
Bob Williams, head of communications at Warrington Borough Council said: “This is a great example of town twinning in action.
” It’s fantastic this link is still going strong after 25 years and to see how music has helped build such a long lasting relationship and some very powerful personal friendships between people from Warrington and Hilden. Here’s wishing all involved at least another 25 years of music and friendship”.
Warrington Youth Orchestra chairman Roy Green said that he was really looking forward to the visit and renewing old friendships. He expected that the Musikschule would pull out all the stops to make it a memorable event.
This year’s trip should be extra special as the Musikschule have been awarded a grant from the EU to help with their costs in arranging the visit.
The exchange trips started in 1979 when Warrington Youth Orchestra first went to Hilden. Since then there have been 18 exchanges.
Hilden Musikschule staff have organised a full programme of events for the Warrington youngsters, including visits to Dusseldorf and a guided tour of Hilden during which they will meet the Burgomeister. There will be a farewell party on Friday October 29.
Before they go however, the Warrington orchestra are providing an opportunity for local people to hear the music they plan to play in Germany.
A free concert will be performed at Bridgewater High School on Sunday October 17 at 3pm.
In the meantime, WYO always welcomes new players on any Saturday morning during term time at Bridgewater High School at 9:15am.
The Orchestra has a number of instruments available for rental at a nominal charge (bassoons, oboes, cellos and horns) for youngsters who wish to try out these instruments. Lessons can be arranged for beginners in woodwind, brass and strings. More information is available from Roy Green (01925 490527) or Kath Whyte (0161 941 2350).
Health service staff
in work survey
by staff reporter
NATIONAL Health Service staff in Warrington are being asked what they think about their working lives.
North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust – which runs Warrington Hospital – and Warrington Primary Care Trust – are sending out questionnaires to employees as part of a national NHS staff survey.
About 4,000 hospital staff and 600 PCT staff are being asked to take part in the survey – the second to be held.
Explaining the importance of completing the questionnaires, Sheila Samuels, Director of Human Resources at North Cheshire Hospitals said: “The overall aim of the survey is to gather information which will improve the working lives of those who provide care for patients and in doing so help us all to provide even better care.
“Results from the national staff survey will enable us to benchmark against similar organisations. More importantly, we will be able to introduce further improvements in working conditions to make us an even better employer.”
PCT chief executive Jonathan Smith added: “I urge all staff receiving a questionnaire to take part in this important national survey. Last year, 66 per cent of employees returned completed questionnaires and this year we are hoping for even more.”
The survey contains questions about work life balance, team working, job satisfaction, training, management and supervision, violence and health and safety. It is organised by the independent inspection body, the Healthcare Commision, in conjunction with the Staff Survey Advice C
entre at Aston University.
Trusts will receive a detailed report on the findings in February.
200 fight plans
for takeaway
by John Hendon
NEARLY 200 people are fighting plans for a hot food takeaway on a shopping parade at Fearnhead, Warrington.
They claim the proposed takeaway in Orchard Street would lead to anti-social behaviour, noise, litter and cooking smells close to a residential area – and road safety hazards arising from increased traffic.
Forty seven individual letters of objection have been received, together with two protest petitions signed by a total of 183 people.
Local councillors are also opposing the scheme because of likely traffic problems, excessive opening hours and the impact on neighbours.
The issue is to be considered by the borough council’s development control committee.
Planning officers say the shop – the end unit in a small parade – adjoins a car park with adequate capacity to accommodate any traffic generated by the proposal. They are recommending the scheme be approved.
News in brief
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 5, 7, 10 and 13. There was two winners sharing the ?1431 jackpot. Next week’s top prize will be ?200. The ?25 consolation prize was won by K. Ogden.
Notice board
THE parish council at Stockton Heath, near Warrington, has arranged to remove a badly damage parish notice board from the Forge Shopping Precinct.
Bridge closures
WARRINGTON Borough Council has made an order for the temporary closure of the Knutsford Road, London Road and Chester Road swing bridges over the Manchester Ship Canal tomorrow (Sunday) while maintenance work is carried out. It is not expected the closures will last more than 28 days.
Farm plan
PLANNING chiefs at Warrington have given the go-ahead for the conversion of agricultural buildings at Walnut Tree Farm, Northwich Road, Lower Stretton for offices and storage.
