?42 million boost for
town’s health care
by David Skentelbery
PRIMARY health care in Warrington is to be given a ?42 million boost.
The extra cash for frontline NHS services across the borough was announced by Health Secretary John Reid, as part of a ?135 billion handout to be shared by primary care trusts – the organisations which fund local health services, from 2006.
Overall, funding for PCTs is to rise by at least 8.1 per cent.
The announcement was immediately welcomed by Warrington North MP Helen Jones (pictured).
She said: “This is great news for patients. By 2007-8 it will be the equivalent of ?1,339 for every man, woman and child in my constituency and will help the NHS in this area speed up access to treatment.
“The extra funding means the NHS will be able to recruit school nurses and community matrons to help tackle public health, chronic diseases like diabetes and reduce deaths from heart disease and cancer.
“Waiting times have been halved and the government aims to halve them again. This money will help get rid of the bottlenecks in the system so no one by 2008 will wait more than 18 weeks, end to end, for an operation.
The allocation for PCTs in England for 2006-07 is ?64.3bn with another ?70.4bn the following financial year.
Primary care trusts will have an average of ?1,388 to spend on every patient each year, compared with the ?907 they received three years ago.
But for 88 PCTs, the increases will be even higher – with every patient having ?1,710, he announced.
Mr Reid said: “I am making sure that the most deprived areas, where there are appalling inequalities in life expectancy and concentrated problems of disease, receive extra investment.
“This means that the distribution of money, in both the north and the south, is fairer than ever before.” He said he was announcing “an historic level of sustained funding” for the health service across England. The allocation of funds was governed by four principles – giving all PCTs a minimum 8.1% rise; bringing hospital operation waiting times down from around 18 months to 18 weeks by 2008; meeting targets outlined in the public health white paper, Choosing Health, and giving the most money to those parts of the country which had the most health need. The extra money will be a welcome boost for Warrington PCT which last year was relegated to zero star status from 2 star status. The Trust has also lost its chief executive, Jonathan Smith, who has taken up another post after a period of extended leave from work.
?1 billion business park
faces 12 month hold-up
by Lesley Wilkinson
A HIGH-tech business park development, set to bring 35,000 jobs to Warrington over 25 years, is facing a year’s delay because of fears it would create traffic gridlock.
The Omega development, on the site of the former US Burtonwood base, adjacent to the M62, is set to be Europe’s largest business park.
But following complaints that it would snarl up neighbouring roads, the Highways Agency is seeking a study on its impact on roads, including the M62, and neighbouring towns.
The 588-acre park is expected to cost ?1 billion, and will be developed over 25 years. Manchester. Salford and Liverpool councils have already objected saying it will take jobs and investment from the cities.
Developers, The Miller Group, and land owners English Partnerships (EP) are seeking planning permission for the first two phases of the development. This is now on hold pending the traffic study.
A spokesman for EP said the study will look at the traffic impact on up to 700 junctions. He warned the project could face further delays of up to 18 months, if it is called in to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for examination.
Warrington Borough Council received a planning application for the first two phases, more than a year ago. A smaller study on the impact of traffic was completed before Christmas, and a further study should be completed by May and considered by the council in the summer.
Parents want old
school preserved
by David Skentelbery
PARENTS are overwhelmingly opposed to a ?3.9 million plan to demolish Stockton Heath Primary School near Warrington and build a replacement school on the same site.
They believe the old school is “a beautiful building” of great value to the local community and should be preserved.
Borough council officers who attended a special meeting to discuss the proposal appeared surprised that local people wanted the existing school to be refurbished rather than replaced.
They attended the meeting with three options for the future – refurbishment, which was hardly touched upon, replacement on the site of the existing all-weather sports pitch or replacement on an adjoining part of the school site.
. Coun Celia Jordan said: “The officers went to the meeting with the clear idea that demolition and replacement was the best option. They were surprised at the strength of feeling that the existing school should be refurbished.”
The proposals have been made possible because of an unexpected pledge of ?3.1 million funding from the Government which would be boosted by ?800,000 from the borough. The scheme was described as “a 21st century vision” when it was first announced by jubilant education chiefs.
But parents attending the consultation meeting at Bridgewater High School made it clear that while they welcomed funding for improvements to the school, they wanted the old school buildings preserved.
The theme was taken up again at a meeting of Stockton Heath Parish Council when members were asked if the school could be placed on the list of locally important historic buildings.
Resident Ann Dakin told the meeting the school had considerable historic value as it stood on the site of a Roman bridge and close to the site of a temple for the Roman god Minerva. An ancient gold breast plate was reputed to have been lost on the site.
“If you want to educate children, what better could you have to inspire their interest in history?” she asked.
She said the school was a superb building of great value to the village and worth a place on the list of locally historic buildings.
Chairman Coun Graham Roughsedge said the council had already requested the school be placed on the list, but this would not protect it from demolition. It was not clear whether the final plan would involve demolition of the school.
Ex-councillors win
right to herd sheep!
by staff reporter
TWO ex-councillors have been given an honour that gives them a special privilege – the right to drive sheep down the main street at Stockton Heath, near Warrington.
Alf Pester and Alan Mee, former members of Stockton Heath Parish Council were presented with framed certificates when they were installed as Freemen of the Parish.
But council chairman Graham Roughsedge also gave them “something to start the flock” – two cuddly toy sheep.
Alf was first elected to the council in 1991 and Alan in 1994. Keen gardener and conservationist Alf was chairman in 1997 and in 2002. Staunch Royalist Alan was deputy chairman in 1998 and 1999 and played a leading role in organising the parish’s Millennium and Queen’s Jubilee celebrations.
Alan said: “I enjoyed by council work – I only stood down for health reasons. It’s wonderful to be honoured in this way by one’s peers.” Alf, who is still tending the village’s planters and hanging baskets, added: “I have really enjoyed by council work and I do regret I am not able to carry on. I shall carry on doing the planters as long as I can.” Coun Roughsedge said: “Alf and Alan are everything that I think a local councillor should be. They have been really committed to the community.”
Supermarket expansion
plan is thrown out
by John Hendon
PLANS for a major extension at the ASDA supermarket at Westbrook, Warrington have been thrown out by the borough council.
Town Hall planning bosses decided the company’s argument on the grounds of retail need was flawed and that its submissions on highway and transport issues was inadequate.
In addition there was an objection from the Health and Safety Executive because of the proximity of a main ethylene pipelines on the east side of Cromwell Avenue.
Westbrook councillor David Earl (pictured)said: “This decision seems to be the only realistic one to take in the circumstances. I was aware that there were differing viewpoints on the proposals and made every effort to remain objective on the various issues.
“On one hand there appeared to be the opportunity for more jobs for local people and the promise of a wider choice of goods for shoppers. Yet on the other, there were great concerns about the effects on the local road network of increased traffic flows, especially with Chapelford village and the Omega site coming on stream, plus the ethos of Westbrook – as a ‘local centre’ – could be compromised by ASDA attempting to compete with the superstores at Gemini and the recent Tesco/rugby stadium development.
“From listening to the presentations which ASDA’s representatives made to parish councils and other groups it was apparent that not enough consideration had been given to traffic and related problems which would be caused by confining the entrance and exit – both for shoppers and delivery lorries – to the single location by the Garwood Close roundabout.
“Many local residents, St Philips school and the Medical Centre expressed deep concern on this issue.”
Coun Earl added: “While the refusal removes concerns about specific problems associated with this proposal, there still remains the continuing issue of traffic movement at the existing main entrance and exit, which is far from ideal, the bad internal road layout and the fragmented nature of the current parking areas which stem from the early 1990’s when the ‘Time Out’ diner was operating.
“There is always a case for improving facilities for shoppers, but I believe that ASDA need to take a more sensitive approach to its ownership and operation of the Westbrook centre and the effects on the district as a whole before deciding to put forward any further plans.”
Women raise ?4,200
for tsunami relief
by staff reporter
TWO friends who organised a dinner dance at Warrington Golf Club raised more than ?4,200 for the tsunami relief appeal.
Elaine Gillibrand, 46, and Mandy Hutchinson, 38, both of Appleton, organised the event which included a three course dinner, disco, raffle with prizes donated by local business and friends, and a fun quiz. More than 110 people attended.
The women have a history of fundraising locally. They both had sons who played for Appleton Football Club and previously help with fundraising, and in recent years they have organised events for charities.
Elaine said: “We were absolutely delighted with the response to the dinner dance. After hearing about the disaster, we both wanted to do something to help.”
Poetry evenings
at the library
by John Hendon
WARRINGTON Library is to stage a programme of quarterly poetry evenings, following the success of previous events.
The evenings are likely to attract a mixed bag of local poets and fans of the spoken word.
Dates already confirmed are February 18, May 20, September 9 and December 2 – all Fridays and all starting at 7pm.
Given the potential adult theme of some of the poems the evening is for people aged 16 or over.
Refreshments will be available and entry is free. Further details are available from Wendy on 01925 442732 and 07730 075966 or Susan on 01925 442889.
