Councillor defies “gagging”
bid over “Auschwitz” homes
by David Skentelbery
SOLICITORS acting for developers wrote to planning bosses threatening action if a woman councillor spoke against their proposals for affordable housing on land opposite her home.
Coun Sheila Woodyatt had a “personal prejudicial interest” in the application and should not speak, they claimed.
But a defiant Coun Woodyatt told Warrington’s development control committee: “I have been representing people in my ward for 26 years and have spoken against proposed developments on numerous sites.
“If I am to be gagged tonight then local democracy is dead.”
Coun Woodyatt, a retired teacher, then condemned the design of the proposed houses as “similar to Auschwitz.”
Developers Wilson Connolly North West – part of the Taylor Woodrow group – were seeking detailed planning consent for more than 200 houses on land at the junction of Oughtrington Lane and Longbutt Lane, Lymm.
The application was the latest in a series which have already resulted in two public inquiries and an appeal in the High Court. A third inquiry is currently pending into a proposal refused by the council on the grounds the houses would be too high and would dominate the area.
Coun Woodyatt, who is not a member of the committee, and spoke as a ward councillor, said she accepted the land would be developed. But it was a prominent and prestigious site which offered an marvellous opportunity for a flagship development.
“The applicants have been very generous by offering to help fund a pedestrian crossing and offering a donation to the local community association. They have listened to residents’ concerns about landscaping and come up with a good scheme.
“Sadly they have produced a bog standard design for the buildings. They have no character and they are still too high. I was watching television the other night and was struck by their similarity to Auschwitz.
“They would be completely out of character.”
Nearby residents described the main residential block as “looking like a barracks.” The developers had reduced the height – but only by a “trifling amount.”
Coun Barbara Mawer said the block resembled a Victorian warehouse and was of an unacceptable “institutionalised” design.
The committee approved applications in respect of site layout, access, open space and landscaping but rejected the main proposals on the grounds of height and dominating appearance.
After the meeting, Coun Woodyatt said: “Solicitors acting for the applicants wrote to the council warning that if I spoke at the meeting and the application was subsequently turned down, they believed they would have grounds to report me to the local government standards board, which would have the power to ban me as a councillor.
“I regarded that as intimidation. I accept the land will be developed and I don’t believe it will devalue my house. Even if it did I wouldn’t care because I have lived there 43 years and have no intention of ever moving.
“If we have reached the situation where a councillor can be banned for representing their constituents then I wouldn’t want to carry on being a councillor.”
Golf course plan
causes a storm
by David Skentelbery
PLANS for an 18-hole pay-and-pay golf course at Culcheth, near Warrington have caused a storm.
Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council is opposing the scheme on land off Holcroft Lane – and residents led by near neighbour Pauline Hunter have also lodged objections.
The main objections relate to the proposed tipping of 500,000 metres of inert waste on the site, entailing more than 90 lorry journeys to the site a day.
Residents recall an earlier scheme on the site, involving excavations to create a lake as a local amenity.
This scheme never proceeded and residents fear the new scheme might also be a non-starter but that the grant of planning consent might open up the site for landfill purposes.
They claim a five year tipping programme involving 90 lorries a day is excessive compared with other golf course projects around the country.
Pauline Hunter said: “We are employing planning consultants and are prepared to fight this all the way.
“Although the proposed golf course site touches a small number of houses, the development, and particularly the lorries bringing waste materials to the site, could have a considerable impact on both Culcheth and Glazebrook.”
Residents also say the field involved is small for an 18-year-old golf course.
Mounding for the course would radically alter the local landscape which was, in the main, very flat.
Two more specialist
schools for town
by staff reporter
TWO more Warrington secondary schools have become specialist schools – giving the town a total of nine.
Penketh High School and St Gregory’s Catholic High School have acquired specialist status – for Arts and Humanities respectively.
Both schools were awarded the status in recognition of their strengths and expertise in these areas.
Specialist Schools play a key part in the government’s radical reform of education and perform a major role in its mission to build diversity in education.
Barry Fishwick, headteacher at Penketh High said: “We are absolutely delighted that we are to become a specialist school for the arts. It is a tremendous reward for our commitment to moving the school forward and developing opportunities for the pupils. As a school we believe the Arts are vital to creative learning and this status allows us to continue to develop and embrace one of our key specialisms.”
Steve Clarke, headteacher at St Gregory’s, said: “The whole school community is delighted to have received this status. This is a landmark development for the school and we are delighted we have been given this opportunity to share our knowledge and expertise with other schools and the wider community.”
Coun Maureen Banner, the borough council’s executive member for education, said: “This is a tremendous achievement and I would like to congratulate both schools. We have dedicated teams of people throughout our schools seeking to continue to improve and develop the education they provide. It is thanks to these people that we are constantly achieving outstanding results – both St Gregory’s and Penketh High are excellent examples of that.”
Other specialist schools in Warrington include; Cardinal Newman Catholic High (Maths and computing), Great Sankey High (Engineering), Birchwood High (Business and Enterprise), Padgate High (Technology), Lymm High (Languages), Bridgewater High (Arts) and William Beamont High (Sports).
Rate relief boost
for small firms
by staff reporter
SMALL businesses in Warrington are being urged to apply for a relief scheme that could see their business rates payments cut dramatically – many by as much as 50 per cent.
Payable from April 1, the rate relief has been introduced in a bid to ease the pinch of business rates to small firms across the borough.
Initiated by central government, Warrington Borough Council will administer the relief programme and ease business rate pressures for hundreds of small businesses that have a ‘rateable value’ of less than ?10,000.
Many small businesses in the borough will be able to gain rate relief of up to 50 per cent, depending on the individual rateable value of their property.
Eligible small business properties with a rateable value of less than ?5,000 will receive 50 per cent rate relief. And those with a rateable value of more than ?5,000 but less than ?10,000 will receive rate relief based on a sliding scale.
The scheme will be funded by a supplement on the rates bills of larger businesses. There will however, be a “buffer zone” in which small business with a rateable value from ?10,000 to ?15,000 will not be expected to pay the supplement.
The council has already sent a mail shot to all eligible small businesses in the borough.
However, if any local small business, which falls within these categories, has not received this form, they can contact the Council for an application form.
Coun John Morris, the borough council executive member for resources and performance,(pictured above) said: “Small businesses play a very important role in our economy and we are committed to helping ensure they continue to flourish. We would urge small businesses to contact us if they need to apply or need guidance and advice.”
Arson attack
on flat
by David Skentelbery
POLICE at Warrington have issued an appeal for witnesses after an arson attack on a flat.
The offenders piled rubbish against a rear door and set it alight. But fortunately the occupants smelled burning and were able to raise the alarm before serious damage was caused.
The blaze was at a flat in Poplars Avenue, Orford, opposite the shops at the junction with Capesthorne Road.
PC Chris McLaren said: “Fortunately this fire was discovered early and damage was only caused to the door. But obviously the result could have been much more serious.”
Anyone who saw anything suspicious near the flat is asked to contact PC McLaren on 01244 613833.
Housing and health
experts join forces
by John Hendon
HOUSING and health experts have joined forces in a project to ensure hundreds of homes provide a healthy living environment for their residents.
Warrington Housing Association – which manages more than 1,200 homes in the town – and Warrington NHS Primary Care Trust – have launched the Health@Home initiative in the borough.
As a first step they have appointed Health@Home co-ordinator Geraldine Kiddle to assess possible risks to health in the home and find solutions. She will also improve links between the housing and health sectors in Warrington.
She said: “The Health@Home initiative aims to help deliver and measure significant health improvements in the Warrington area through improved partnership working with organisations in health, social care and housing, including Warrington Borough Council, Care & Repair, Age Concern and the Citizens’ Advice Bureau.
“Projects such as this provide a lifeline, particularly to more vulnerable members of the community, and we hope to have a visibly positive effect on the health and well-being of Warrington.”
Issues being considered under the initiative include the physiological effects of housing conditions such as cold or damp, noise, infection prevention, accident prevention, etc.
The impact the housing improvements on the health of residents will also be analysed as part of the project, as will the needs of older people.
Residents urged to “come
clean” on dirty diesels
by staff reporter
TOWN Hall chiefs at Warrington are calling on people to become “environmental watchdogs” and report dirty diesels polluting the borough’s air.
A new blitz on bad air has been launched, with the borough council joining forces with local authorities across the North West to tackle poor vehicle emissions.
The new “Dirty Diesel” campaign give people the opportunity to report dodgy diesel cars, lorries and vans on 01925 442590 or via the website on www.cleanervehicles.org.uk
To help combat the problem, people are being asked to record as much information as possible, such as the vehicle registration number, company name, where they saw the vehicle and the date and time of the sighting.
Working alongside the Vehicle and Operators Agency, the council will take steps to tackle emissions from these vehicles.
Coun Terry O’Neill, the council’s executive member for Environment and Regeneration, said: “Keeping the air clean is one of our top priorities. We would encourage everyone to take responsibility for our air by either keeping a close eye on their vehicles’ emissions, be aware of the problems they cause or report dirty diesels to us on 01925 442590.”
The new campaign builds on work carried out by a roadside “testing team” which last year targeted poor vehicle emissions. Officers from the council and Cheshire Police pulled over random vehicles and tested car emissions in a bid to deter drivers from damaging Warrington’s air quality and environment.
The roadside test study revealed that smoke emissions from the 11% of diesel vehicles that failed the test were more than 10 times greater than those that passed.
If these poor performing diesel vehicles were properly maintained smoke emissions would be halved.
The council is looking to repeat the roadside tests in this year to ensure that air quality improves and polluters are properly dealt with.
