Battle to save school
has “only just begun”
by Lesley Wilkinson
THE battle to save Warrington’s Stockton Heath Primary School has only just begun, according to angry residents.
More than 5,000 people have signed a petition calling for the existing school to be refurbished, rather than demolished and replaced.
A public meeting has been called at St Thomas’ Church Hall on November 16 when objectors aim to take their campaign a stage further.
Patrick Mullee – who resigned from Stockton Heath Parish Council because it failed to support the objectors – said: “We are not going away. The battle to save the school has only just begun.” Warrington Borough Council has approved ?3.9 million demolition and re-build scheme despite local opposition. Town Hall chiefs say it would cost less than refurbishment, would cause less disruption to pupils and provide better facilities.
They also claim a majority of people favour the scheme.
Stockton Heath Parish Council has voted 7-5 in favour of demolition.
But residents who attended the council’s monthly meeting made it plain they want refurbishment of the old building.
Janice Rowlands, a deputy head teacher, said she had worked in a Victorian school building that had been demolished and replaced with a new school.
“It was my worst experience in 28 years of teaching, it had a completely disruptive effect on the children,” she said.
Another resident, Julie Kueres, told parish councillors: “You knew what public opinion was and you ignored it.
“The parish council knew local residents were against it. You are elected by local residents to do what they want – you are not here by divine right.” Chairman Coun Maurice Leslie said he had done what he thought was best for the pupils.
Coun June Daynes said the objectors had “missed the boat” because at the final consultation meeting 72 per cent voted for the new build option.
Coun Celia Jordan said that the parish council did its best for the community but had “little power” over what the education authority did. She gave an assurance that at the planning stage, the parish council would do its best to ensure plans for the new school were in keeping with the area.
Police hunt men in
race hate attack
by staff reporter
POLICE are hunting two men following a racially aggravated assault at a shop in School Road, Warrington.
The pair entered the shop in the early evening and grabbed items including a bottle of cider and packet of crisps from a display.
When challenged by a shop worker, they threw the items at him and subjected him to verbal racial abuse.
They were told to leave the shop but threw shelving at the shop workers, grazing his leg before leaving the premises.
The pair were captured on the shop?s CCTV camera system and police have released pictures.
They are appealing to anyone who recognises the pair, or who has any information about the incident, to come forward.
The officer investigating the incident is PC Steve Martin at the Warrington Central Investigation Team and he can be reached on 01244 613875 or alternatively information can be left anonymously on the Crimestoppers hotline 0800 555111.
Hannah and her pony
are champions
by David Skentelbery
A NINE-year-old girl from Orford, who has only been horse riding for four years, was named “Reserve Section Champion” at the Festival of Champions in Preston.
Hannah Humphries, riding Delphfields Endeavour, was competing against riders from 58 riding clubs from all over northern England and North Wales.
A member of the Brookhead Warrington Riding Club, based in Burtonwood, Hannah gained the title for coming second in the competition.
Founded just five years ago, Brookhead has 153 members and has become one of the most popular riding clubs in the North West.
The Festival of Champions, held over four consecutive weekends, is a contest for All Season Class Winners to represent their clubs to determine the Overall Champion of all the clubs in 78 different categories.
It was the first time Brookhead could boast a champion who also went on to be a Reserve Section Champion. It was an amazing result before prior to this year, Hannah had only competed on a lead rein.
She won the Best Turned Out Pony Class 46 and Reserve Champion in the Overall Best Turned Out Championship.
Hannah is following in the footsteps of her mother, Caron, who is a qualified riding instructor, although not involved at Brookhead.
Brookhead Warrington members competed in 23 classes out of the 78 and were placed a very respectable 25th out of the 58.
Other results for Brookhead members were: Stephanie Davies on Just Bertie (7th in class); Alison Taylor on Oliver Twist (4th); Caitlin Wilde (Hannah’s cousin) on Delphlands Endeavour (7th); Lucy Thompson on Showcase (5th); Abigail Pye on Kylers Way (2nd); Class 60: Charlotte Pye on Kings Ainjel (7th); Alison Lavery on HFA Classique (6th); Victoria Parr on Emerald Quest (2nd); Lucy Thompson on Showcase (6th).
During the next few months the club is hoping to gain for the summer season which starts in April. Money raised will be used for a toilet block, including facilies for the disabled, the estimated cost of which is ?7,680.
Any surplus funds and other fund raising will be put towards the costs of providing more training and sending more members to compete at next years’s Festival of Champions.
Parents asked: Do you know
where your children are?
by John Hendon
PARENTS are being urged to help police clamp down on anti-social behaviour by young people at Culcheth, near Warrington.
PC Neil Gallagher, one of three dedicated officers for the area, has appeal to parents and guardians following an incident when a group of drunken youths turned up at an organised firework display at Twiss Green.
He said: “The family orientated event was spoilt by a few youths who were intent on causing disruption.
“There were a number of incidents relating to drunken youths using foul and abusive language. Some had been refused entry for being intoxicated and had smuggled alcohol into the event and climbed over residents’ garden fences causing damage.”
Police were quick to take action to put a stop to the anti social behaviour. One 15 year old youth was arrested and charged with a public order offence and another two youths – aged 15 and 18 – have been reported for summons for public order offences.
PC Gallagher said: “The majority of those involved were underage and local to the area. These are youths from the village so I’m appealing to local parents and guardians to help us stop this kind of behaviour. Do you know where your children are, who they are with and what they are up to?
“I’m also urging local off-licences in the area to be extra vigilant about who they are selling alcohol to and to be mindful that youths will often ask adults to buy alcohol for them.”
“Many people aren’t aware that it is in fact illegal to buy alcohol on behalf of someone under the age of 18 and you could face an ?80 fine- that’s an expensive trip out to the off-licence.”
It’s lift off for college
air training programme
by staff reporter
AN airline training programme at Warrington has reached new heights by getting to the finals of a prestigious national competition.
The programme, delivered by Warrington Collegiate and funded by the Learning and Skills Council for Cheshire and Warrington, reached the finals of the National Training Awards (NTAs).
The college was one of 11 training organisations in the North West to secure a national award, in the regional finals of the competition held at St George’s Hall in Liverpool.
It will now join more than 60 UK finalists at a ceremony hosted by BBC TV presenter Fiona Bruce, at the Guildhall in London later this month.
Warrington Collegiate’s unique programme offers young people the chance to train fo
r jobs at the region’s two main airports, Manchester International and Liverpool John Lennon.
Students can study for a BTEC National Award in Airline Operations Level 3 (equivalent to an A Level) or the Preparation for Airline Cabin Crew Level 2 (GCSE Level).
Course leader and tutor Jan Cooke said:”We were the first college in the country to develop a mock-up airline cabin, which we use for training. Our programme consists of classroom assessments, practicals, simulated flights and work placements.
“We ensure our students are very disciplined, so for example, they must come to lessons in uniform and we often start the day earlier than most courses. It’s been very successful and we’ve already helped more than 50 students to secure work at the airports.”
Twin town scheme
to be revived?
by staff reporter
A MOVE to boost the twinning activities between Culcheth and the French town of Saint Leu La Foret is being made.
Catherine Fabre, from the town near Paris, has contacted Culcheth councillor Keith Bland to see if the exchange could be given a boost.
“She wanted to try and get the exchange back to where we had visits by both towns on a regular basis. This she was finding difficult to organise due to lack of support in Culcheth and Glazebury,” said Coun Bland.
The twinning arrangement started about 25 years ago, but activities have declined since 1999. One of the founders, Derek Buckley Hall, has offered to help give it a boost.
“I have been over there and it is a nice rural area, with a chateaux and sports complex. The people were very friendly and made us welcome,” said Coun Bland.
He is urging people locally who are interested in twinning to contact him on 01925 766641. If there is sufficient interest a public meeting will be arranged to discuss the future.
Art group’s
annual show
by staff reporter
CULCHETH Art Group’s annual exhibition will be held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday November 24-26 at the Jackson Avenue Day Centre when a wide range of pictures will be on show.
The 30-members of the group will be displaying pictures painted during the year – and there will be a refreshment area serving home-made cakes, biscuits, tea and coffee where visitors can chat and discuss the work on display.
There will also be a raffle, with prizes presented at the end of the three-day exhibition.
Spokesman Brian Pyman said: “Our membership is approximately 30 and during the year we enjoy taking part in workshops and projects – we are a very friendly and thriving group.”
The art group meets throughout the year on Thursday afternoons at the Jackson Avenue Day Centre and also goes out on location for painting and sketching sessions.
The exhibition opens on Thursday, November 24 at 7pm and remains open until 9pm. The following day, opening hours are 10am to 6pm and on the Saturday, 10am to 4pm.
[ 11.11.2005, 10:17: Message edited by: DS ]
