Five years on – the
planning blueprint
to protect the town
by David Skentelbery
A BLUEPRINT setting out Warrington’s town planning policies for the next 10 years has been formally adopted by the borough council – after five years of preparation.
The final adoption of the Warrington Unitary Development Plan (UDP) means the borough has, for the first time, a comprehensive planning policy framework to guide development and protect the environment.
It gives the borough council improved powers to control development and use of land, conserve areas of natural beauty, improve the physical environment and deal with traffic problems.
Warrington is later than most comparable boroughs in adopting a UDP because it had to abandon an earlier planning blueprint – the Warrington Local Plan – and go back to the drawing board when the council acquired unitary status.
This led to a scramble by developers to get planning consent before a UDP could be drawn up – and has resulted in a number of major housing developments on greenfield sites which might otherwise have been stopped.
An oversupply of housing land has resulted.
Coun Terry O’Neill, (pictgured)the council’s executive member for Sustainable Regeneration, said: “This will put an end to the uncertainty that has existed in Warrington since the end of the ‘New Town’ era.
“Warrington now has a clear development framework in which our countryside is protected from development by the Green Belt, Warrington’s older areas can continue to benefit from investment in renewal and regeneration and the local economy can continue to grow to support regional priorities.”
Because the government has introduced a new planning system, the council now has three years to review the UDP policy framework and incorporate it into a series of documents, which will comprise the Local Development Framework.
But Coun O’Neill added: “This does not mean that the council has to start again, but there is a lot to do to ensure that emerging national and regional policy reviews reflect Warrington’s needs and circumstances and that our planning policies are kept up to date.”
Adoption of the plan follows a lengthy preparation process that began in 2001, resulted in more than 20,000 representations from interested parties and involved a public inquiry that lasted almost 12 months in 2004.
For a period of six weeks from tomorrow (Thursday) aggrieved parties have the right to challenge the adoption of the plan in the High Court.
Pupils rise to
skills challenge
by Gary Skentelbery
WARRINGTON?S proposed ?1 billion Omega development site has started to take shape thanks to a group of teenagers from eight Warrington high schools.
The 14-year-olds designed and ?built? the first phase of the giant office, warehousing and leisure site as part of a business enterprise challenge, organised by Warrington Learning Partnership and funded by the Learning and Skills Council for Cheshire and Warrington.
Using card, sticky back plastic, glue and wooden dowels they created their vision of the Omega development, along with a fully-costed building plan.
The Building for the Future day was to demonstrate job opportunities being created by the planned super park.
The Omega site, adjacent to the M62, is expected to take up to 25 years to complete and will create 24,000 new jobs and provide work for 7,000 people during construction.
Learning and Skills Council adviser Stephen Bailey said the event was a wonderful way to expose young people to the potential opportunities the Omega site would bring.
?It?s a way of bringing young people together and allowing them greater insight into the key skills they possess and a better knowledge of how to apply those skills to future careers,? he added.
Teams representing Cardinal Newman, Birchwood, Sir Thomas Boteler, Great Sankey, Penketh, St. Gregory?s, Bridgewater and Lymm High Schools, took part in the challenge, which was also supported by the Construction Industry Training Board, Connexions, Logistics College Northwest and Warrington Collegiate. Staff from local companies played their part, acting as expert advisers for the teams to consult with.
Warrington Learning Partnership Co-Ordinator Marie Hoyles said: ?We hope the day presented young people with loads of career ideas and in a small way helped Warrington prepare its workforce of the future.?
Pictured: Stephen Bailey of the LSC, center, Deborah Hilton of the Construction Industry Training Board, left, and Marie Hoyles, of Warrington Learning Partnership are joined by representatives of the participating schools, Thomas Southworth, St Gregory?s; Mike Lagar, Sir Thomas Boteler; Annie Whittaker, Birchwood; Katherine Isherwood and Cameron Brown from Great Sankey; Suzie Walker, Bridgewater; Sarah Howarth, Penketh; Sam Mercer, Lymm and Emily Carters of Cardinal Newman High Schools.
Rugby club merger
secures its future
by David Skentelbery
WARRINGTON Rugby Union Club has merged with Warrington Sports Club ? three and-a-half years after its clubhouse at Bridge Lane, Appleton, was burned to the ground.
The merger means rugby is added to the list of sports offered at the Walton Lea Road club ? cricket, squash, tennis, archery and hockey.
Rowland Blackstock, chairman of the Sports Club, said: “The merger of WRUFC into WSC as an integral and equal sport within the family of sports that make up WSC is an exciting and massive opportunity to consolidate and then further develop a major sporting facility for Warrington.” Peter Riley, chairman of Warrington RUFC, added, “At last we can now put the disruption and uncertainty caused by the fire behind us and we can now all start working on the next chapter of WRUFC with excitement and confidence.” The Sports Club offered immediate assistance after the fire of July 2002 and the Rugby Club has played all its home fixtures at Walton Lea Rd since then.
However, the arrangement was a temporary one until an Extraordinary General Meeting of Sports Club members voted that the Rugby Club should be fully and formally integrated.
The merger allows significant benefits for members of both clubs.
Warrington Sports Club can look forward to an increase in memberships as it assimilates three senior sides, one academy side and mini rugby covering the ages from U7 to U16.
This will increase the club turnover and improve the utilisation of the bar and the function room. The joining of the two clubs also means that there will be more funds available to extend and improve the already excellent facilities.
Warrington Rugby Club can also look forward to improving the facilities it offers, both by attracting grants, as it can now offer security of tenure, and by investing some of its accumulated funding, as it is now in a position to implement long-term plans.
The merger also offers a comprehensive sports facility to the Warrington community in general. Although a members-only club, membership is open to all and other organisations, such as schools are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunities the Sports Club offers.
Sam’s a model student
by Gary Skentelbery
FINE art student Sam Lippitt is busy modelling herself a career at camera club’s across the North West.
Sam aged 19, from Padgate, is currently a coach and dancer with the popular Warrington Starlight cheerleaders and is working towards a full-time modelling career – as well as finding time to study for a place at university.
She is currently doing a Foundation in Fine Art at Warrington Collegiate and hopes to get a place at Chester University in the summer.
“I love helping out at the camera clubs and would love to get signed up by a mdoel agency,” added Sam who is looking forward to entertaining the fans at the Haliwell Jones.
Sam has been with the Starlights for six years, working as a trainer, dancer and coach!
Soccer legend’s tribute
to tragic player
by Gary Skentelbery
WORLD CUP hero Roger Hunt officially opened Warrington Collegiate?s sports and fitness complex by paying tribute to a young Warrington man who died of a heart attack while playing football.
Hunt, who still holds the league goal scoring record for Liverpool and was part of the 1966 World-cup winning England squad, said the new facility would be a lasting memory to Steven Woods, from Orford, who collapsed playing for the Jolly Tanner side in a local league game at Warrington Collegiate in 1983.
He also told VIPs and guests at the official opening ceremony of the Roger Hunt building, that the sports facility would encourage future generations of sportsmen and women to achieve their sporting dreams.
The complex, which is part of the Collegiate?s ?27 million redevelopment, boasts a fully fitted fitness suite, assessment center and sports therapy unit. The centre will share facilities with Beamont High School. Funding has come from the Collegiate, the Learning and Skills Council and the North West Development Agency.
Mr Hunt, a fellow of the Collegiate, said he was delighted to have a facility opened in his name.
?I was spotted by the Liverpool scout while playing for Stockton Heath football club and our family haulage business in Croft has always had close associations with Warrington. Hopefully a few more professional football players and other sportsmen and women can be created as a result of what?s been built here,? he added.
Neil Smith, of Woolston, the Jolly Tanner?s captain at the time of Steven death, and one of the people who tried to revive the 23-year-old player when he collapsed, said: ?It?s a very emotional day. I?m sure Steven would be looking down with a smile, particularly as he was a big Manchester United fan and Roger being a Liverpool legend.?
Maggie Williams, head at Beamont High, said the fitness suite was a terrific facility which would strengthen the partnership between the school and the Collegiate.
?Not only does it encourage students to keep fit and adopt a healthy lifestyle it opens up sporting pathways into academic subjects and career progression.?
For more information on sports courses at the Collegiate ring 01925 494494.
Man in hospital
after gang attack
by John Hendon
A MAN is in hospital at Warrington with serious head injuries after being beaten up by a gang of youths.
The attack followed an argument on a No 21 bus as it travelled along Hallfields Road, Orford.
Police are seeking witnesses of the attack, near Knight’s pharmacy in Hallfields Road and also of the earlier argument.
The victim, a 20-year-old man, was a passenger on the bus and an argument developed between him and a group of other men on the bus.
It was still going on when the man and the other group got off in Hallfields Road.
The group then attacked the man, leaving him with serious head injuries.
Police are appealing for witnesses to call them on 0845 4580000.
Reduce your salt
intake, say experts
by staff reporter
HEALTH experts in Warrington are urging people to reduce their salt intake as part of National Salt Awareness Week.
Emma Bashall, of Warrington Food and Health Team, said: “Lowering the salt intake in your diet can help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease – one of the UK’s biggest killers.”
The recommended amount of salt is 6g or less a day, but the current average is about 9g. processed foods, such as breakfast cereals, soups, sauces, ready meals, salted snacks and biscuits, are a big culprit, providing, on average, three-quarters of the salt we eat.
For some people, eating a lot of salt can lead to high blood pressure, which can lead to a higher risk of strokes, heart disease and kidney disease.
In England, one third of people have high blood pressure.
Emma said: “It’s sometimes called the ‘silent killer’, because most people with high blood pressure have no symptoms and don’t realise they have it.
“People with high blood pressure are three times more likely to develop heart disease or have a stroke than people with normal blood pressure. Eating less salt can lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
“Always read food labels. You can find out how much salt is in food by multiplying the sodium content listed in the ingredients by 2.5. If a portion of food contains 1.2g sodium then it contains about 3g salt.
“And instead of salt, why not flavour foods with garlic, pepper, herbs or spices?
“People should try to eat a varied and balanced diet including plenty of fresh foods such as fruit and vegetables, (aim for at least five portions per day), fish, chicken and lean meat.”
For more information, log onto www.salt.gov.uk or contact Warrington Food and Health Team on 01925 662255.
Vandals set
car ablaze
by staff reporter
VANDALS are believed to have set fire to a car parked in Marshall Avenue, Dallam, Warrington, during the night.
The car, a 1995 Vauxhall Corsa, suffered severe damage to the passenger compartment before fire crews were able to extinguish the blaze. Police are investigating.
In a separate incident, a car on the car park of the Sportsman’s Arms, in Warrington Road, Penketh, caught fire. Again there was serious damage to the passenger compartment. Firefighters used a hosereel jet to extinguish the fire, believed to have been caused by an electrical fault.
The car, a 2000 Vauxhall Omega, had apparently broken down earlier in the day and had been brought to the scene on a recovery vehicle.
The flames spread to a Ford Fusion car parked nearby but this vehicle suffered only superficial damage.
[ 26.01.2006, 09:32: Message edited by: DS ]
