Councillors’ concern over
repeated police changes
by David Skentelbery
WARRINGTON Borough Council is to be asked to write to Cheshire?s Chief Constable expressing concern at the number of changes in senior and middle-ranking officers which have taken place in the borough.
The Liberal Democrat opposition group will ask the council to approve motions regretting the recent frequent changes and to write to the Chief Constable and the chairman of the Police Authority stressing the need for greater continuity in personnel.
This follows a number of changes in recent months.
Chief Supt Helen King is leaving to join Merseyside Police on a temporary secondment with the rank of Assistant Chief Constable only two months after taking over as commander of the Northern Area ? which consists of Warrington and Halton.
Chief Supt King succeeded Supt Clive Pownell, who held the post for only two months, taking over from Supt Julia Clayton.
A successor has yet to be announced, but the rapid change-over in command, which has resulted in Warrington having three police chiefs in little more than four months, is causing concern in the town.
At the time of Chief Supt King?s appointment, Lymm Parish Council wrote to the Chief Constable expressing concern at the number of senior management changes.
The Liberal Democrats are also concerned about proposed re-organisation of police forces, which could lead to some amalgamations.
They are asking the council to oppose any suggestion of a merges of Cheshire Police with either Greater Manchester or Merseyside and confirm its belief in a locally accountable police force.
However, the motion would also support the concept of a closer federation of North West police forces to tackle serious organised crime and terrorism.
TV star helps pupils
learn to be “green”
by John Hendon
HUNDREDS of children across Warrington will learn how to be ?green? as they return for the new school term – with some help from television star Vernon Kay.
The TV and radio personality stars in a new ?100,000 recycling education pack, which is being given to junior schools across the borough to help teach their pupils an alternative version of the traditional three R’s – how to Reduce, Re-use and Recycle.
The education pack, produced by the Council’s paper recycling partner UPM Shotton, is an interactive education initiative for children aged from seven to 11 to raise awareness about the importance of recycling and the environment.
The council hopes that by issuing the new teaching resource it will help the recyclers of the future cut down on the huge amount of waste produced by the area each year.
With an emphasis on fun as well as citizenship, the ?Paper Cycle? pack features an interactive CDRom and video and an accompanying children’s journal, providing an eight week activity programme with a task a week, running alongside the current National Curriculum.
Coun Jeff Richards, executive member for Sustainable Environment, said: “The resources are brilliant, celebrities like Vernon Kay interacting with children on their own level helps make learning about recycling even more fun.
“By teaching them in this way, we hope to help combat environmental problems and ensure the children really take on board the importance of recycling for future generations.”
The fully interactive CD Rom covers the history and science of paper and gives children the chance to write their own articles for ?The Recycled Times,? weigh paper to convert into newsprint, form a lobby group against landfill and even use pester power to get their street recycling.
The fact-finding hi-tech games for the classroom and at home are based on computer games, which appeal to children – but can only be completed if they have understood the recycling messages within the pack.
Craig Robinson from UPM Shotton said: “We have put a great deal of effort into the development of the pack and book, to teach young people the vital importance of recycling. The hope is that they will go home and use ‘Pester Power’ to persuade parents, siblings and friends to recycle also.”
The Council works in partnership with Shotton Paper, which buys recovered magazines, newspapers and junk mail collected from kerbside schemes and bring sites. It uses this recovered paper to recycle into newsprint, which it sells back to local and national papers, both in Warrington and across the UK. This means that a newspaper read one week could be recycled and re-read the following week!
Capacity audience for choir’s
“Last night of the Proms”
PLAYING to a capacity house, Warrington Male Voice Choir?s “Last Night Of The Proms”, again demonstrated its ability to bring the best in musical culture to the Parr Hall.
“I’ve watched it on TV every year for as long as I can remember and have always wanted to see it “live” said octogenarian May Foster, who had made the journey from Yorkshire specially for the night. “Now I don’t need to go to London!”.
To an audience which included, the Mayor and Mayoress councillors Hans and Karen Mundry, retired disabled ex-servicemen from Broughton House, visitors from around the world including North Carolina and the winners of Warrington’s Business Awards, it was really yet another night to remember.
A night of mixed choir emotions, celebrating the 89th birthday of oldest chorister Harold Lunt but also the final concert of Frank Jennings, who, after 34 years with the choir, is about to retire to Cyprus. The introduction of Sale Chamber Orchestra as the Choir’s musical guests, proved a sure winner with von Suppe’s “Light Cavalry Overture” and “Finlandia” by Sibelius.
The beautiful contralto voice of local soloist Jan Hutchings, treated the audience to songs from ?South Pacific” and “Guys and Dolls”, as well as generating their maximum participation during Thomas Arne’s “Rule Britannia”. This superbly triumphant concert concluded with the much anticipated finale, with “Jerusalem” and “Land of Hope & Glory”…which, of course, had to have its expected encore.
The audience were on their feet throughout, participating in all the traditional razz-a-matazz, with this well crafted and highly professional ensemble.
A delighted choir chairman Barrie Johnson said after the show: “This was an evening to remember. With each year, we are noticing that Christmas Concert tickets are rapidly approaching “gold dust” status, where we have sell-out audiences on both nights. Two years ago, the choir was questioning if a “Last Night” would work in the town. The question now, is, with an ever building audience, Should the Proms become a two night event?”
“Chill out” at town’s first
public Tai Chi session
by staff reporter
PEOPLE across Warrington are invited to the town’s first public Tai Chi session in a bid to help them “de-stress”.
The event, co-ordinated by Warrington Primary Care Trust (PCT), is part of World Mental Health Day which this year is themed around mental and physical health throughout life.
Led by a local Tai Chi instructor, the event on the Town Hall lawn on Monday October 10 will take participants through simple but highly effective moves for relieving stress and improving balance, well-being and joint suppleness.
There will also be a marquee with information about ways to improve mental health, local mental health services and leisure services which offer a wide range of physical activity opportunities across the town.
In addition, there will be a small group of qualified volunteer complimentary therapists available to offer advice and free hand, neck and head massage ?taster? sessions.
Organiser Kerry Broadhead, the PCT’s assistant director of health improvement, said: “Exercise can really help people combat mental health problems as it helps to relieve tension and aid sleep. Tai Chi in particular can help to improve your memory, concentration, stress levels and your ability to re
lax – all of which contribute to mental well-being. The physical benefits of exercise include improved heart and lung function as well as muscle and joint strength.
“We are hoping that people of all ages and abilities will join us on the Town Hall lawn to take part in the Tai Chi. The event is part of the PCT’s ‘Smile Your Worth It’ campaign which promotes positive mental health in Warrington. Public feedback to events like this suggests that as well as having fun, people find them an easy way of getting useful information about local services and ways to improve their health.”
People are invited to attend the event from 11am onwards. The Tai Chi starts at 1pm for half an hour. For more info contact Kerry Broadhead on 01925 843600.
Vandals start fire
at sports club
by staff reporter
VANDALS tried to start a fire at a Warrington sports club where a stand was destroyed in a blaze several years ago.
Hooligans dragged a wheelie bin into the stand at Rylands Recreation Club and set it ablaze.
It was the third time the hooligans have struck in recent days.
Firefighters were on the scene quickly and extinguished the blaze. A spokesman said: “Fortunately the stand is of steel and concrete construction so it was not damaged. “But the hooligans seem intent on trying to damage it. It’s the third time this has happened.
“We would urge people in the area to keep wheelie bins in secure places so they cannot be dragged around.”
“A small club with
with some big ideas
by David Skentelbery
GLAZEBURY Cricket Club, near Warrington, holds its annual general meeting at the Chat Moss Hotel, Glazebury on November 3 – after a year of progress off the field but mixed fortunes on it.
The 1st XI finished in a mid-table position in the Cheshire Building Society Alliance second division while the 2nd XI – champions in their division last year – finished runners-up.
Both teams benefited from good young players stepping up from junior cricket. The three junior teams fielded very young players and, as a result, had a difficult season. But they showed great commitment and determination which bodes well for next season.
The club will be hoping to fill some vacant posts at the annual meeting. Secretary Simon Green is stepping down, as is 2nd XI captain Julian May. It is also hoped to appoint a marking and publicity officer to keep the club in the public eye.
By April, the club aims to have completed external refurbishment of the pavilion. They are looking for a garage to house equipment and are also in need of kit storage boxes that would double up as seating.
The club has seven English Cricket Board qualified coaches and give free coaching sessions to local primary and high schools, as well as running an annual Kwik Cricket tournament for local primary schools.
A recent innovation is a mid-week Twenty/20 team. The club’s activities have earned it the ECB Clubmark award – a benchmark standard for the running of sports clubs.
Chairman Paul Warhurst said: “We are a small club with some big ideas. We are committed to providing high quality facilities for our members and support the community by providing a sporting outlet for young people.
“Our future plans require a lot of time, effort and money and any help we get will be greatly appreciated.
Club contacts are Jon Gibbons on 01925 763539 and Sean Caine on 01942 517811.
