?595,000 Government
handout in jeopardy?
by David Skentelbery
WARRINGTON could lose all or part of a ?595,000 Government handout to improve the street scene in one of the most rundown areas of the town, the borough council has been warned.
The money was awarded to the borough under the Home Zone Challenge scheme for improvement work in the streets of Whitecross.
But if the work is not completed by the end of February the funding will be forfeited.
John Mulhall, an unsuccessful independent candidate in the council elections in June, raised the issue with the borough council using provisions for members of the public to ask questions at full council meetings.
He said when the bid went in, more than two years ago, the council stated that if it was successful, the authority would aim to match any funding received.
However, as no indication had yet been given as to when the work would start, he questioned whether the council could complete it without putting the Government funding in jeopardy.
Coun Terry O’Neill, executive member for environment and regeneration, agreed the scheme had been protracted, largely as a result of consultation with residents. But he believed the work could still be completed in time.
“We will do our very best to make sure we don’t lose any of the funding,” he said.
After the meeting, Mr Mulhall said: “I don’t see how the work can be completed in time – and neither do the Department for Transport who will be providing the funding.
Work can’t start before mid-December and then we have the Christmas and New Year period.
“It is ridiculous to blame consultation for the delays. There has been ample time for consultation since the bid was approved in January 2002.
“There has either been mismanagement or there is a political reason for not progressing this work.
“We have lost 10 per cent of the award already, due to inflation.”
The scheme would involve Whitecross Road, Wellfield Street, Fox Street, Kimberly Street, Percy Street, Selby Street and Delamere Street – a area with a total of 450 properties.
The aim is to change the way the streets are used and to improve the quality of life for residents by making the streets places for people and not just traffic.
Play spaces would be provided, along with improved pedestrian facilites and a review of parking arrangements. Work would be carried out to improve the environment, improve general safety and encourage walking and cycling.
College performers on show
THE Performing Arts department at Warrington’s Priestley College put on a superb two hour show in the college hall an audience of the Warrington public and fellow students.
First up were students on the second year AVCE Performing Arts pathway, who performed a kitchen-sink drama based on the day-in-the-life of a northern town, which they themselves had devised.
Next came a contemporary display piece performed by AS Dance students, while the show was rounded off by the AVCE and GNVQ Performing Arts pathways, who came up with their own unique take on the goofy musical – Little Shop of Horrors.
In total 70 students performed in the show.
Department head Sarah Mawson was certainly happy with the way things went.
She said: “The showcase was one of the department’s longest to date and from the audiences reaction, I think it was safe to say that it was well received.
“The department now looks forward to putting on a similar production come Christmas time.”
Liberal Democrats call
for talks on swimming
by staff reporter
LIBERAL Democrats at Warrington have called for an end to the confusion over the calculations of how much swimming pool capacity the town needs.
Consultants employed by the borough council to review Warrington’s leisure services concluded that there was surplus water space in the town for the near future and a new replacement town centre baths could not be justified.
Yet one of the town’s leading swimmers – former international Judy Brown – has been speaking to Sport England and claims the assumptions are wrong and that really there is a shortage of water space in Warrington.
Coun Ian Marks, leader of the council’s Liberal Democrat opposition group said: “We need a round-table meeting where the interested parties can get together and agree the best set of assumptions for the computer model that does these calculations. We will then know once and for all who is right.
“If it turns out there is a shortage of water space, then we have a firm basis for talking to potential developers about options for funding a new baths and for looking at other ways of funding the on-going costs.”
Coun Colin Froggatt, the council’s executive member for sport and leisure, said the remit he was given over the future of the town’s leisure provision made it clear there had to be evidence of demand for a new swimming baths, that there had to be adequate capital resources and that any such baths must be self-financing.
“Whatever the figures say, the proposition falls at the first fence” he said.
“It is not possible to establish the viability of a self-financing project.
“No-one has come up with a way of providing a self-financing swimming baths.”
He stressed that the consultants had not been simply considering a town centre swimming facility but the future development of leisure in Warrington as a whole.
“We want to do it by using the education system – and this does not stop us providing more swimming space,” he said.
However, it did preclude the possibility of a new town centre baths.
Later, Coun Marks said: “The trouble is the ruling Labour Group appear to have no interest in seeing a replacement baths. If the will was there, I’m sure that fruitful discussions could take place with a developer which included a modern leisure facility as part of a wider scale development.”
Town to welcome its
adopted warship
by John Hendon
OFFICERS and crew of Warrington’s adopted submarine HMS Turbulent will be visiting the town at the end of this week.
They will be arriving tomorrow (Thursday) to rekindle their close relationship with the town and will be involved in various events over the next couple of days.
During their visit, they will take part in the Remembrance Sunday service at the war memorial at Bridge Foot on Sunday.
The Mayor, Coun Edward Lafferty, said: “I am delighted that the submariners of HMS Turbulent are taking the time to visit Warrington and to join us for Remembrance Sunday.
“Their presence at the service will remind people that men and women continue to serve their country and are involved in conflicts all over the world.
“It is important that we think of them as well as those who have lost their lives in previous conflicts.”
HMS Turbulent has been affiliated with Warrington since 1984 when the town adopted it.
As part of their visit to the borough, the crew will also be visiting Grappenhall Youth and Community Association’s clubhouse tomorrow night.
On Friday afternoon they will be given a tour of Warrington Rugby League Club’s new stadium and later on will accompany the Deputy Mayor and Mayoress, councillors Hans and Karen Mundry, to the Warrington Sea Cadet’s presentation evening.
After a civic reception at the Town Hall, members of the crew will also be out in the town on Saturday morning with the Mayor selling poppies for the British Legion’s appeal.
Jane’s 155-mile desert
ride for women’s charity
by staff reporter
FORMER hole-in-the-heart baby Jane Jones cycled 155 miles in the searing heat of the Egyptian desert to raise money for the Women for Women appeal – a women’s health charity.
Jane, 39, who works at the Vertex call centre at Lingley Mere, Great Sankey, Warrington was one of 173 women volunteers who took part in the event.
She and her sister, Sue McDonough, a deputy head teacher from Orms
kirk, each raised ?2,500 to qualify for the challenge.
United Utilities – parent company of Vertex – contributed ?800 to Jane’s total.
BBC TV’s Professor Sir Robert Winston – leading infertility expert and presenter of programmes including ‘Making Babies’, ‘The Human Body’ and ‘Child of our Time’, accompanied the women on their charitable journey of a lifetime.
The gruelling cycle ride started in Luxor and headed towards the East and West banks of the Nile, before taking the route back to Luxor.
Jane suffered from exhaustion after completing 155 miles in 49 degree dry heat and was unable to continue for the full 248 mile journey.
She was born with a small hole in her heart and entered the event “the charity is very important to me and I wanted to give something back to help other mums and future generations.
“The ‘Women for Women’ appeal specialises in the prevention of a range of devastating conditions such as cancer, infertility and genetic diseases. My aim is to continue to support this worthwhile cause to help improve women’s ongoing good health throughout their lives.”
Collectively the women – hailed as “Queens of the Nile” raised ?250,000.
Planners to inspect
day nursery scheme
by John Hendon
PLANNING chiefs are to visit a nursery school before deciding whether to grant permission for an extension to be built.
Members of Warrington’s development control committee decided they would visit The Safehands Day Nursery, in Hollins Drive, Winwick after hearing of objections from Winwick Parish Council.
The plan would involve a new building to be used as part of the existing nursery school and would allow an increase in the number of children from 75 to 100.
Planning officers are recommending the scheme be approved.
The existing nursery is housed in a former Roman Catholic Church, which is a Grade II Listed Building which once formed part of the Winwick Hospital site, now redeveloped for housing.
Councillor will consider the application at their next meeting, following a visit to the site.
Soccer club seeks
commercial manager
WARRINGTON’S premier soccer club is looking for a commercial manager.
The post is up for grabs at Unibond League division one club Warrington Town, who play at Cantilever Park.
Anyone interested should contact club representative Barry Thorpe on 07733 446412.
