Education Minister unveils
?27 million college project
by David Skentelbery
EDUCATION Minister Kim Howells unveiled two major education developments at Warrington during a whistle-stop visit to the town – a ?27 million transformation of Warrington Collegiate’s Winwick Road campus and the new North West Media Centre at the Fearnhead campus of Chester College.
Dr Howells performed a simple ribbon cutting ceremony at the Collegiate to formally unveil the proposals there – and then went on to officially open the media centre at Fearnhead.
The Winwick Road project will include a ?3.5 million business school, a theatre, a training restaurant, hairdressing and beauty salons and a major construction skills centre.
It will involve demolition of the 30-year-old landmark building by the Longford roundabout to make way for a landscaped area which, Collegiate principal Paul Hafren said, will provide a “softer” more appealing gateway to the town from the north.
The new campus, located within the existing site but further back from the main road, should be completed by April 2006 and open to students by the following September term.
Only then will the existing buildings be demolished.
Mr Hafren gave assurances that the work would be phased and carried out in such a way as to avoid disruption to students.
The new buildings would be separated from the existing ones – indeed would be as far away from them as possible.
But he said there would be some positive advantages for students – particularly those training for the construction industry – in being on site and seeing the work progress.
Although he accepted the present building was a landmark, the main priority had to be on education and he believed the building was reaching the stage where it was “getting in the way.”
Planning for the re-developed had taken two years, he said.
Dr Howells was taken on a tour of the Collegiate buildings during which he was shown a mock-up aircraft cabin used to train students to be air stewards and experienced an Indian head massage in the holistic therapy unit.
Among others present for the unveiling ceremony were Colin Daniels, chairman of the Collegiate governors, Warrington North MP Helen Jones and Andrew Gurr, chairman of the Cheshire and Warrington Learning and Skills Council.
Mr Daniels said: “We are looking forward to an new era and we can be confident we are building on strong foundations. The Collegiate is focused on its commitment to excellence in teaching and learning.”
The campus development plans include the creation of additional sports facilities at Beamont School – already a specialist sports college – in partnership with Warrington Wolves. The intention is to jointly develop a centre of sports excellence as part of wider developments in Orford Park.
A full report of the Minister’s visit to the Fearnhead campus of Chester College will appear in Warrington-Worldwide tomorrow (Friday).
Youth suffers broken
jaw in club attack
by John Hendon
A 17-year-old youth ended up in hospital for five days with a broken jaw after being assault at Mr Smith’s Club, Warrington.
Police have just released details of the 1.50am attack in the club.
The youth was leaving the toilets in the club when he was attacked by three youths. He was punched in the face and suffered a broken jaw.
After treatment at Warrington Hospital he was transferred to a specialist unit in Liverpool where he had metal plates fitted in his jaw.
Police said one of the attackers had short cropped ginger hair and hat a cut on his forehead. Another had short dark hair but there was no description of the third.
Any witnesses are asked to call PC Phoebie Dickinson on 01244 613833.
Teenager runner-up in
sport achievement contest
by staff reporter
A WARRINGTON teenager was named runner-up in the Achievement in Sport category at a prestigious awards ceremony organised by children’s charity NCH in Liverpool.
Sian Allen, 17, was chosen came second in the close contest. She was pipped at the post by Liverpool skipper and England midfielder Stephen Gerrard.
Sian is a talented sportswoman and represented Sefton in the Merseyside Youth Games and went on to join Everton Girls, winning many trophies. She has been selected for the Tranmere Rovers Centre of Excellence and the National Centre of Excellence.
She was also the first choice goalkeeper for Cheshire, winning the English Schools FA tournament this year. She was one of the youngest goalkeepers to play in the Premier League. In school teams she has played netball, tennis and hockey as well as gaining five As at A-level and was in the top five for PE out of over 6700 candidates.
The awards, which celebrate the achievement of the region’s outstanding children and young people, were hosted by television presenter Esther McVey. Awards organiser Gill Smith said: “At NCH we believe in the potential of all children and young people – and our finalists show that we are right to do so. Sian is an inspiration.”
MP leads campaign to
speed up A&E treatment
by Lesley Wilkinson
A CAMPAIGN is being launched to help the Accident and Emergency team at Warrington Hospital to treat every patient within four hours.
Warrington South MP Helen Southworth is spearheading the project, following news from the National Audit Office that A&E treatment times are dropping nationally.
She said: “I worked very hard with the hospital team to secure ?5.4 million of Government funding needed for the new Accident and Emergency facility at Warrington Hospital.”
She has visited the new unit several times and is “delighted” in service improvements.
“The new building is a far cry from the old dilapidated and cramped A&E. The hospital staff have been fantastic improving the clinical service while the building work was happening, and opening up part of the new building very quickly so patients can benefit. I am very impressed by their determination and commitment,” she said.
She said that the team under Dr Anne Robinson, clinical director of A&E, had maintained excellent services while the building work continued.
“One of the biggest challenges for the NHS is to treat people in A&E quickly. After all, when you are in an emergency, the last thing you want to face is a delay,” she said.
In Warrington, 93 per cent of patients were treated in less than four hours, with urgent cases being treated more quickly.
Mrs Southworth added that staff report that many people who visit A&E could have been seen by their GP or a pharmacist, rather that taking up valuable hospital time.
“Naturally we should always phone 999 if there is a real emergency, but otherwise a visit to www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk, a call to NHS direct on 0845 46 47 or a look at your copy of the Thomson Local directory NHS self help guide, could give a patient the information they need to get better,” she added.
Woman jailed for
benefit fraud
by court reporter
A WOMAN who falsely claimed more than ?27,000 in benefits from Warrington Borough Council and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been jailed for nine months and ordered to pay back the money.
Nadeen Oakley, 39, of Bridgewater Avenue, Warrington, pleaded guilty to two counts of false accounting and two counts of obtaining property by deception at Warrington Crown Court.
The court heard she claimed the money by declaring she was a lone parent when she was living with her partner.
Between October 2000 and November 2002 Oakley defrauded council of Housing and Council Tax Benefit amounting to ?12,069.83. During the same period she also defrauded the DWP of Income Support totalling ?15,168.88.
Judge David Hale sentenced her to nine months imprisonment for the total overpayment.
Adrian Webster, the council’s benefits manager,
said: “Benefit cheats must realise that they cannot abuse the benefit system and steal from the rest of society. They are not just defrauding government or the local authority, but their own neighbours and communities.
“Fraud is a serious matter and this case is a clear demonstration of our determination to tackle benefit theft and to reduce the amount of money lost through fraud and abuse,” he added.
Fraud operations manager Roy Paul said: “This is an excellent example of government departments working together to combat benefit fraud. Our recent research shows that the public are fed up with cheats who steal money from the taxpayer that should go to those in genuine need of help.
“Tough action against benefit crooks is paying off, but we can’t do it alone. People around Warrington, supported by local media, can play their part by telling us about alleged fraudsters free and in confidence, on our National Benefit Fraud Hotline 0800 854 440.”
Burglary and vehicle
crime goes down
by staff reporter
A DROP in the numbers of burglaries and vehicle crimes in the town was reported to a meeting of Warrington Police Furom.
Divisional commander Supt Julia Clayton said the numbers of these two types of crimes continued to fall.
The forum heard that the new Licensing Act will mean that Warrington Borough Council and not local magistrates will control the opening hours of pubs and off-licences. New pubs will have to apply to the council for a licence and local people will have the opportunity to put their concerns.
Plans were also announced to improve local policing by introducing Neighbourhood Policing Units supported by additional officers working in the Community Action Teams.
These extra officers will work closely with the community to address crime and disorder issues and target local criminals. To assist this the number of policing divisions has been reduced from six to three to cut management and administration.
Forum chairman and Cheshire Police Authority member Coun Peter Walker said: “The positive police work being undertaken to target burglaries and vehicle crime is extremely encouraging and proves that Warrington is a safe place in which to live and work.
“The proposals to improve local policing services announced tonight will provide what the public have been requesting – a more local, visible and accessible police presence,” he added.
Other issues raised by the public included call handling by the police, road safety, how officers are deployed to incidents, truancy and the sentencing of offenders.
The forum next meeting will be on January 11 at 7pm at the Town Hall, Warrington.
Piece of cake
for Wolves
by Lesley Wilkinson
RUGBY League fans from Warrington have the chance to mark a special occasion and honour their team with the launch of a new range of celebration cakes.
Local firm Cheshire Cakes is supplying celebration cakes to Warrington Wolves featuring a range of designs including rugby shirts, photo cakes and Wolfie cakes, for any occasion.
A range of Wolves cakes for Christmas is also on offer.
Cakes are offered with various fillings and at different sizes and can be decorated with a personalised inscription.
Prices start at ?19.99 and cakes can be delivered to the home or direct to a party.
Details are available from Wolfware at the stadium or from the website www.cheshirecakes.com
Barn fire
battle ends
by staff reporter
FIRE crews were today carrying out final checks at the scene of a major barn fire in Park Road, Great Sankey near Warrington
The blaze had occcupied firefighters for two days, two nights and part of a third night and involved 2,500 tonnes of hay. At one time it threatened the adjacent farmhouse and other buildings.
Dense smoke drifted across a nearby housing estate and even the Mersey Valley Golf Club course.
Three fire engines were involved in the operation at its heighth but today Fire Service chiefs said it was believed the emergency was over.
No-one has been hurt.
