Truancy claims lead
to Town Hall clash
by David Skentelbery
A CLAIM that Warrington has a poor record on truancy triggered a sharp clash at a meeting of the borough council.
Liberal Democrat leader Coun Ian Marks called for an explanation of a 193 per cent increase in unauthorised absenteeism between 1997/8 and 2003/4 – which he described as a “poor performance.”
Education chief Coun Maureen Banner responded: “I take exception to the term ‘poor performance’. We are sixth best in the country – and two of those above us are the Isles of Scilly and the City of London, which are hardly comparable.”
Coun Marks – also his party’s Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Warrington South – accepted that truancy was a national problem.
He said: “Truancy figures have soared in secondary schools since Labour came to power in 1997. The figures are revealed on the Department for Education and Skills website in the tables for unauthorised absence. This means any absence from school where leave has not been granted by an authorised person. It covers truancy and most family holidays taken during term-time.
“The number of secondary pupils in Warrington absent for at least half a day due to unauthorised absence increased by 193 per cent between 1997/8 and 2003/4 and in primary schools by 71 per cent. These are some of the worst increases in the country. This surprises me because we have a very good record on education in the town with some excellent teachers.”
Coun Marks said every national survey over the last 30 years had shown that the cause of truancy was a lack of engaging lessons and support. The country needed an education system that interested young people and was not obsessed by targets and performance indicators.
He added: “The government’s solution of fining parents and forcing children into schools is a recipe for further unrest and adds to the burden of overworked teachers. Education must be accessible and relevant to young people. This means innovative thinking and support workers, not criminalising.”
Coun Marks emphasised that he was referring to unauthorised absences from school which, he accepted, could include holidays taken in term time. Coun Banner insisted that Warrington had come sixth out of 150 education authorities and was “vigorous” in pursuing parents of children who did not have good attendance records.
She said the council prided itself on its partnerships with the police, voluntary agencies and others concerned with ensuring children attended school regularly.
“MIISER” Ray
refuses to pay!
by Gary Skentelbery
OLD soldier Raymond Massey is known as a “miser” by his friends so it came as quite a shock when he received a ?100 fine for driving down a bus lane.
But there was no way 77-year-old Raymond was going to pay the fine issued by London Transport Police because he was driving on the M6 near his Lymm home at the time.
His cherised number plate “M11SER” had been scanned on the bus lane but the picture shown when he received the fine ticket was of a Black Honda while Raymond, who is President of his local Royal British Legion, drives a silver Renault.
“I couldn’t believe it that someone else had copied my number plate,” said Raymond who is now relieved that the fine has been waived.
“Its not the first time someone else has used my number plate. Three months before I received the bus lane ticket I got a phone call from Greater Manchester police asking me if I was the owner of a blue Mercedes. Apparently the vehicle had been seen acting suspiciously in the Manchester area late at night.
“It seems remarkable that I have a unique number plate which at least two other people have copied .”
Raymond, who is officially registered as the owner of “M11SER,” believes the plate has been copied because it is not identifiable to any particular town.
He was given the plate as a gift from a friend who went to live abroad.
“I was always pulling his leg about being a skin flint and a miser and admired his number plate, so I was delighted when he gave it to me. Now I get my leg pulled about being the village miser!
“But I was quite shook up when I got the phone call from the police and then the fine. I just want people to know I am the genuine M11SER!
Picture shows Raymond Massey and his “M11SER” number plate.
Mayor leads support
for tsunami victims
by David Skentelbery
WARRINGTON Borough Council is to offer full support to victims of the tsunami disaster in South East Asia.
Council officers have already, as individuals, raised ?2,000 towards the disaster fund and councillors have raised ?1,000.
In addition, the authority is investigating the possibility of seconding officers with appropriate expertise to help in relief work.
In the longer term, the council is considering setting up a twinning or partnership arrangement with a specific area within the disaster zone.
Members of the Labour, Liberal Democrat and Conservative groups pledged their support to a proposal by the Mayor, Coun Ted Lafferty that the council offer support to victims of the disaster.
Coun Lafferty said: “We can only express extreme sadness at the loss of life and the damage caused. But we must also express our admiration for the people of Warrington, and the rest of the country, in the way they have responded with such generosity.”
Tory leader Coun Keith Bland suggested Warrington should form some kind of bond with one of the affected areas to help them with long term rebuilding of the community.
Liberal Democrat leader Coun Ian Marks said: “I believe the role of this council is to look beyond the short-term. You can pour cash and skills in to rebuild a hotel but cash and skills will not rebuild a fishing community. Only the community can do that but perhaps the community here can help a community there.”
Council leader Coun John Joyce said the council was committing itself to do all it could to help with money and expertise. The possibility of seconding staff to help was being examined.
He reminded members that tragedies could happen in this country and referred to the disastrous flood that had occurred at Carlisle. Warrington firemen, using a rescue boat from Warrington, had been sent to assist there, he said.
It was also important the council should not forget Africa, where help was needed because of a man-made disaster.
Warning goes out on
bogus charity hoaxers
by John Hendon
TRADING Standards and licensing officers in Warrington are warning people not to let bogus callers take advantage of their charitable nature.
Warrington Borough Council has been alerted to reports that fraudsters are carrying out door-to-door collections posing as charity workers for many charities – including the tsunami appeal.
Coun Mike Hannon, executive member for Community and Wellbeing, said: “The tsunami disaster in Asia has touched everyone, the generosity of the public has been overwhelming so it is awful to think that some people will try to profit from other people’s misfortunes.
“People need to be vigilant and by following advice given, they can help stop these bogus collectors in their tracks and make sure that donations and supplies go to the people that need them.”
The Council is promoting the Charity Commission’s Safer Giving Guide, which has the following advice:
All collectors should be able to:
Produce a valid local authority or police licence – consideration to waive this regulation may be given due to the urgent nature of the Tsunami Appeal
An income and expenditure return to be provided to the Local Authority together with proof of deposit into the Charities Account
Wear an ID badge. Donors should look out for ID that looks altered, photocopied or home-made
Have a sealed container with the charity’s registration number and name on it
Tell you how to contact the charity direct
Prove they have
the charity’s permission to collect – If in doubt contact the Charity Commission, Trading Standards or the police.
Trading Standards manager Peter Astley said: “There are many legitimate charities that do carry out door-to-door collections and charity fraud is rare, but it is a sad fact that these bogus callers can gain the confidence of residents by posing as charity collectors and take advantage of their generous nature.
“This behaviour is despicable and will not be tolerated.”
Trading Standards also wants to remind people to be wary of rogue traders who use the windy weather as an excuse to prey on worried householders offering to carry out repairs.
Mr Astley added: “We would urge all Warrington residents to be wary of anyone who calls uninvited to the door offering repairs or asking for donations and report any alleged bogus callers to the police or ring Trading Standards on 01925 442678.”
Woman fights off
sex attacker
by David Skentelbery
A WOMAN fought off a sex attacker who struck as she walked to a telephone kiosk at Warrington.
The attack took place in Glover Road, Birchwood, around 7.15pm.
Police are looking for two men who are believed to have been nearby at the time and may have gone to the woman’s assistance.
The 31-year-old woman fought the hooded attacker when he grabbed her and indecently assaulted her on a walkway near Violet Close.
During the struggle the woman was forced to the ground and struck, but she was not seriously hurt.
The man made off and shortly afterwards the woman was approached by three men who helped her to the Turf and Feather public house, where police were called.
Two of the men may have been the two seen nearby as the attack took place and police would particularly like to speak to them as they may have vital information.
Anyone with information about the attack should contact PC Catherine Hilton on 01244 613887.
The man was wearing a red, hooded top and is believed to have been quite tall.
Health chief visits
new A&E department
by staff reporter
THE Department of Health’s national director for emergency access, Prof Sir George Alberti, visited Warrington to inspect the new A&E department.
He spent a day at the hospital, meeting directors and executive of North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust and saw at first hand the improved facilities availabe to the 75,000 patients who attend A&E every year.
One of Sir George’s main aims is to help organisations rethink the way access to emergency care is delivered. He is also focusing on improvements to the way health communities co-operate and communicate with each other to improve the patient’s overall experience of emergency care.
Costing around ?6m, the new A&E department at Warrington offers modern standards of comfort, up to the minute facilities and improved waiting times for anyone requiring emergency treatment in North Cheshire.
Only last week it was announced it had met the government’s target of 97 per cent of patients being treated, admitted or discharged within four hours of their arrival during the last three months.
Professor Alberti is clear that reducing waits in A&E is not simply an issue for A&E departments themselves.
He said: “A lot of this is about changing the way we organise the work, and it’s not just a question of Emergency Departments, it is a question of the rest of the hospital, as well as co-ordinating help for people at home and in the community.”
Professor Alberti met A&E staff to discuss national developments in care and also spoke at the regular postgraduate meeting.
Ian Dalton, chief executive of the Trust said: “I was delighted to welcome Sir George to North Cheshire and in particular to our A&E Department at Warrington Hospital.
“We are all extremely proud of our new multi-million pound department which offers facilities fit for modern day standards.”
Youths blamed for
car vandalism
by staff reporter
A GANG of youths who passed through Lymm in the early hours of Monday, January 3 are believed to have been responsible for an orgy of vandalism involving about 100 vehicles.
Police have issued details of the suspects who were seen at about4.30am in Rushgreen Road.
All were wearing dark clothing, caps and hooded tops, except for one who was wearing a long sleeved white T-shirt.
The vandalism – first reported in Warrington-Worldwide last week involved slashing the tyres of cars parked both on the street and on people’s drives. Damage runs into thousands of pounds.
It is known to have been carried out between 1.30am and 7am.
PC Vicky Tait of Stockton Heath Community Action Team said: “We received reports of a number of incidents and are appealing to anyone who has any information to contact the Stockton Heath CAT on 01244 612636/7.
Couple trapped
in wrecked car
by John Hendon
A MOTORIST and his wife were taken to hospital after their Volkswagen Golf saloon was in collision with another car in Liverpool Road, Great Sankey, Warrington.
The couple were trapped in the car and fire crews had to cut the roof off and remove the steering column to extricate the drive.
He was taken to hospital with neck, spine, chest and pelvic injuries. His wife, a front seat passenger, also suffered neck injuries. The occupant of the other car escaped with minor injuries.
The accident happened at the junction with Lingley Green.
Skip fire spreads
to stored panels
by staff reporter
FIRE crews from Warrington and Newton-le-Willows dealt with a blaze involving a large industrial skip at Wright’s Lane, Burtonwood.
The blaze – latest in the series in the Wright’s Lane area – spread from the skip to a quantity of foam-filled building panels stored in the open nearby.
There was no threat to building and no-one was hurt.
[ 14.01.2005, 17:47: Message edited by: DS ]
