Popular councillor quits
over school row protest
by Lesley Wilkinson
A POPULAR village councillor has quit his post in protest at the lack of support to save Stockton Heath Primary School.
Patrick Mullee, 57, well known in the village for organising the annual steam festival, said four generations of his family attended Stockton Heath Primary School, and he is angry that the parish council did not fight its proposed demolition.
He is distraught that the school will be replaced with a pre-fabricated building and fears this may be knocked down later and the site used for redevelopment. He has also resigned from his party, the Liberal Democrats, which he said failed to save the school.
“All in all we have let the residents of our village down. We are to lose the finest building in Stockton Heath without lifting a finger. We as a party and parish council should have done all that was humanly possible to save this building,” said Patrick.
“I only hope the people who supported Warrington’s act of vandalism on Stockton Heath are around in 10 years time when the flat topped building with the pre-formed aluminium roof is the maintenance nightmare our 100-year-old school is supposed to be. Of course it will by then be far easier to redevelop,” he said.
He said the existing building could have been listed. He said he will continue to fight to save the school.
He was concerned that Warrington Borough Council decided to demolish the school and replace it with a new building at a recent meeting at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
“I arrived at 7.05 pm now with our subject being number six on the agenda I thought plenty of time. But it was not to be, our school was consigned to the scrap heap in 15 minutes.
“It is because of the lack of support by the Lib Dems and the atrocious way in which certain members of the party withheld information on certain meetings at the school, ie the viewing of the plans etc,” he said.
He said there was a lack of information in the village about plans to replace the building, and he had to rely on information from his granddaughter, who attends the school.
Mr Peter Briggs, clerk of Stockton Heath Parish Council, said members had written to Patrick to thank him for his service.
Lib Dem Leader Coun Ian Marks said :”We’re very disappointed that Patrick felt he had to resign because of his strong views on the School. I know from my colleagues that his contributions to the Council were always lively and valued and he will be greatly missed.
” He is a very well recognised member of the community and has many links with organisations and people around Stockton Heath. He is just the kind of person a Parish Council needs and had much to offer, which is why it is such a shame.”
Weight Watchers switch
on light for the blind
by Gary Skentelbery
EIGHT months of hard work came to a grand finale for a fund raising team of Weight Watchers Leaders who have raised more than ?9,500 for Guide Dogs for the Blind.
Local Leaders Michelle Garvin, Georgia Nunney and Lynne McIver, with support of their members have been raising money for Guide Dogs for the Blind Association culminating with a Charity Ball held at the Village Hotel, Warrington.
The fund raising started back in April with the St George’s Day Sponsored Walk and Balloon Race, which was attended by over 200 walkers in patriotic fancy dress. Throughout the summer there has been a Charity Bag Pack held at Asda Westbrook, various raffles, competitions and donations made by Weight Watchers members.
Not satisfied with that, the team organised a Charity Ball selling 250 tickets. The guests were all dressed up to the nines to show off their slimmer figures and were treated to a “healthy” three-course meal and entertainment late into the night.
A fantastic array of raffle of prizes, all donated by local companies helped raise more money on the night, but to top it, they were lucky enough to receive a rugby ball signed by the Warrington Wolves Team and a Manchester United shirt signed by Rio Ferdinand with an authenticated certificate.
The night was a huge success and the grand total of all the fund raising came to a staggering ?9,541.18. It was announced that the money would sponsor a puppy through its complete Guide Dog Training which costs ?5,000 and that the dog would be presented to a local blind person. It was decided that an appropriate name for the dog would be to call it SWITCH naming it after the successful 2005 Weight Watcher Programme. The remaining money would go to good use by the Charity.
However, the Leaders were not prepared for what happened next! When they returned to their meeting their members refused to let them end their fund raising and insisted they carry on until they had raised the ?10,000 target they had initially hoped for.
“It was a real case of people power” said Weight Watcher Leader Michelle Garvin, “Our members have already amazed us all with their huge generosity but we weren’t prepared for this. It’s fantastic that they are behind us completely 100%.”
Fellow Leader Georgia Nunney added: “When you see the Guide Dogs in action it ‘s truly amazing what they do for their owners. By sponsoring one Guide Dog, it has meant we have been able to SWITCH the light on for someone’s life. Now this could be even better if we can raise the final ?500 needed to SWITCH the light on for two local people!!”
Workshops to
save rare hares
by staff reporter
LOCAL farmers are being urged to help save countryside favourite the brown hare at a special workshop being held in Warrington, following a major decline in their numbers.
Workshops are being held throughout the country for farmers and estates managers to make the future brighter for the popular countryside animals.
Records from the Game Conservancy Trust show a 75 per cent decline in the numbers of brown hares in the post-war era and numbers are estimated at just 800,000 in the country during the winter.
One of the regional workshops will be held at Risley Landfill Site, Moss Side Farm, Warrington, on Friday September 30.
It is being organised by The Warwickshire Wildlife Trust in partnership with Biffa Waste Services, The Game Conservancy Trust, The Mammal Society, and Middlemarch Environmental Ltd.
Bernie Higgins, brown hare officer co-ordinating the project said: “We are very keen to get as many farmers as possible to these workshops so that we can explain how the Government’s new Entry Level Scheme will not only benefit farmers but will also encourage the creation of habitats that are particularly suited to hares.
“We will also explain how farmers can participate in a very simple, but important monitoring scheme, which will help us to accurately assess the current hare population,” he added.
Anyone who wants further details about the workshop should contact Bernie on 01676 525 880 or email: [email protected]
School forms
action plan
by Lesley Wilkinson
STAFF at a Warrington school have formed an action plan to tackle shortfalls in its performance following an inspection by OFSTED.
Birchwood CE Primary School staff and education chiefs are confident that they can improve standards and move the school out of the Special Measures category imposed by the inspectors in June.
The report highlighted weaknesses caused by disruptions to teaching and learning. It found pupils achievements and the monitoring of attendance are unsatisfactory. It also has unsatisfactory links with parents.
A special meeting was held with parents in September to discuss getting them more involved and to help tackle attendance. The target is to pull of Special Measures in 12 months, with support from education chiefs and parents.
The report did highlight school strengths including children in the Foundation Stage achieving very well.
Headteacher Elizabeth Williams said: “We are committed to and confident that we
can improve standards at the school. Our priority is the education and welfare of our children and we are committed to overcoming the serious weaknesses identified in the report and improving services.”
Norma Cadwallader, interim strategic director for Children’s Services, said: “Every child matters in Warrington and raising standards will be a priority for the school so that we can be sure that the children in Birchwood CE reach their potential. We are confident that with the support of the authority and the continued hard work of the staff the school will improve.”
Polar Ford join
Approved trader scheme
by John Hendon
HIGH standards in the motor trade in Warrington received a boost when another dealer joined the Approved Motor Trader scheme.
Polar Ford of Warrington is the latest member to join the Warrington Trading Standards scheme, designed to monitor standards in the motor trade. Applicants have to satisfy strict requirements and accepted auditing by trading standards.
Coun Pat Wright, Executive Board member for community services, said: “Trading Standards is very pleased to be able to welcome another member to the Approved Motor Trader scheme. There are nearly 30 members on the scheme and we hope many more businesses will join us.
“This scheme gives consumers the confidence that they can seek services from traders that have been checked and approved by us,” added Coun Wright.
Graham Wright, regional aftermarket manager for Polar Motor Group, said: “If we are able to satisfy trading standards that our systems and practices are correct and that we have the welfare of our customers as a key priority then this sends out a very strong message that we are committed to providing a top quality service.”
Picture shows Polar Ford staff and guests at the launch of its flagship showroom on Winwick Road.
Free book packs
Free book packs A SCHEME offering free book packs to young children is being extended at the Sandy Lane Sure Start Children’s Centre North Warrington in Orford.
Parents are being invited to The Isle of Books at The Beaches on Monday October 3 from 11.00 and to 1.00 pm, to ensure they receive their free books under the Bookstart Scheme – a national project promoting books for babies and young children.
Youngsters will have the chance to meet the Bookstart Bear, take part in craft activities and enjoy a story from the staff. There will be a chance to find out more about the project and borrow a range of children’s books and story tapes.
The government scheme has been extended to ensure every one and two-year-old receives a satchel containing books from their local clinic, and three and four-year-olds get a treasure chest – a box including books and crayons, from their pre-school.
Currently every baby aged up to 12 months already receives a free bag of baby books delivered through health visitors and libraries, and this will continue under the expanded scheme.
Ruth Kelly, Education and Skills Secretary, said: “All children deserve the best start in life and we know that supporting early learning is central to ensuring that.
“Through the Bookstart programme we are helping to underpin children’s learning and development from birth and give parents the opportunity and tools to engage with and support their child’s early learning. This is a real boost to every baby and toddler in the country,” she added.
Facelift for
recording studio
by staff reporter
A ?100,000 renovation has created a new state-of-the-art recording studio in the heart of Howley, Warrington.
Darkline Audio Ltd’s premises, on Howley Industrial Estate, has been renovated to create a full sound-proofed studio with rubber floors. There are a series of booths, a live room, control room and a relaxing room for artists, complete with pool table.
The studio hopes to expand its base of eight artists, with facilities that can now accommodate a 20-piece band.
News in
brief
Council oppose
late licence
STOCKTON Heath Parish council aisopposing an application to vary the Licensing Hours for the sale and supply of alcohol at the Mulberry Tree Inn to Sunday 00:00 Monday – Thursday 01:00 and Friday and Saturday 02:00 with provision of refreshments for a further additional hour on each day.
It was resolved that a letter of objection be sent to the Licensing Authority due to the premises being very close to a large residential area and that the unsociable hours might also lead to late night disorder.
Pigeon proofing
MEMBERS of Stockton Heath Parish Council have agreed to grant ?500 to St. Thomas’ Church to part cover the costs incurred of ?770 in pigeon proofing the church tower.
