Warrington today – the
whole nation tomorrow!
by John Hendon
AN accessible transport scheme developed in Warrington could soon become a national standard.
Devon County Council has recommended to the Department For Transport that the Warrington Travel Wallet scheme ? developed by the borough council – be used as a National Standard for Public Transport Travel.
The Travel Wallet, developed in conjunction with local disability groups, provides help for people with special needs while travelling on public transport. The fluorescent wallet originally developed to help people using low floor buses has now become multi functional.
It uses, amongst other features, the latest communication technology to activate a voice announcement system at bus stops equipped with Real Time Information.
The Travel Wallet and other associated features has already been used by the European Commission in a good practice guide published last year on transport for people with special needs.
Initial reports from Department for Transport have been very positive towards the proposals.
Coun Jeff Richards, (pictured) the borough council?s executive member for Sustainable Environment, said: “It is always excellent to have work recognised and promote council achievements, especially as we are a smaller authority.
?To have our work on this scheme put forward as an example of a national standard reflects the amount of hard work and dedication put in by the Passenger Transport team and members of the council, towards their aims of providing services that are of benefit.
?There is still a long way to go in the creation of a fully accessible public transport system but I am delighted that this scheme has been a success.”
Witty words of wisdom
from funny girl Jo
by staff reporter
COMEDIENNE Jo Caulfield appears at Warrington?s Pyramid arts centre tonight (Friday) ? hot on the heels of her second Radio 4 series and following a sell-out success at last year?s Edinburgh Festival.
Jo will be offering her witty words of wisdom on such subjects as modern shopping centres, national statistics, people who swap partners, binge drinking and why it’s wrong to let nuns teach sex education.
She said: “The shows are a celebration of everything that is currently annoying me. I’ve just got to get it out of my system. But it’s not all one sided – each night I ask the audience to write down what’s annoying them and we release our frustrations together. Think of it as a ‘comedic exfoliation and deep pore cleansing.?
The show starts at 7.30pm and tickets are ?12 and ?10.
Jo’s recent TV appearances include Have I Got News For You (BBC1), Never Mind The Buzzcocks (BBC2), The Comic Side Of 7 Days (BBC3), So Last Week (Ch5), The Comedian’s Comedian (Ch4), The Comedy Store (Ch5), The World Stand’s Up (Comedy Central) The Stand-up Show (BBC1) and Stitch-Up (BBC1).
She is regularly in demand at all major UK comedy clubs.
Free health checks –
the salt of the earth
by staff reporter
FREE health checks and advice were just some of the activities taking place in Warrington as part of Salt Awareness Week.
The borough council’s Trading Standards’ food labelling team, together with Warrington Hospital’s food and health team, put on displays and gave advice about salt at The Gateway as part of Salt Awareness Week.
Advice about reducing salt intake, healthy eating recipes, free health checks and a prize draw were all part of the week long activities.
The recommended amount of salt is 6g or less a day for an adult but the current average is about 9g. More than three quarters of the salt consumed comes from processed foods including breakfast cereals, soups, sauces, ready meals and biscuits.
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.
Coun Maureen Banner, the borough council?s executive member for Well Being, said: “Everyone needs to start thinking about how much salt they eat and try to reduce it if the amounts are high. Looking after our health is very important and by eating less salt you can reduce the risk of high blood pressure and related illnesses such as heart disease.”
Campaigning anti-violence
play to be staged in town
by John Hendon
V-DAY ? the global movement campaigning against violence against women ? is coming to Warrington with a special performance of Eve Ensler?s famous play ?The Vagina Monologues.?
The production follows an initiative by Great Sankey student Jacqui Denson, who has pulled together a V-Day Warrington organising committee to produce the performance.
More than 860 colleges and communities across 45 countries are putting on their own productions of ?The Vagina Monologues? to generate funds, raise awareness and inspire others to join the campaign to end violence against women and girls.
Already, 30 million dollars have been raised worldwide and millions of people have been education about the issue.
Beneficiary in the North West will be the Warrington-based charirity, the Relationship Centre, at The Gateway on Sankey Street.
The centre is dedicated to providing a range of advice, information and emotional support to everyone experiencing, or affected by a violent, abusive or unhealthy relationship.
Jacqui Denson said: “I have always been interested in woman’s rights and wanted to heighten awareness of safety for women in the Warrington area. V-Day is a fantastic way of doing this and producing this play is a symbolic way of showing victims of violence that there is help available via The Relationship Centre.”
V-Day Warrington will run for one night only on Monday February 27 at Chicago Rock from 7.30pm. Tickets are available from Jacqui on 078903 64631 or by email from [email protected]
All money will go directly to The Relationship Centre.
Theatre company’s
nine nominations
by Mark Hemmings
WARRINGTON theatre company, Centenary has received nine nominations for this year?s NODA (National Operatic and Dramatic Association) awards for every production staged during 2004.
Company chairman Mark Murphy said: “This is a record year for us. We were nominated for seven awards last year, and that was our best so far but this has beaten every other year.”
The results will be announced at the NODA conference in Blackpool on Sunday April 30.
News in brief
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 4, 5, 6 and 11 – but there was no winner. As a result the jackpot will be “rolled over” until next week when it will stand at ?1,100. The ?25 consolation prize went to “Sarah”.
Road works
STRUCTURAL maintenance work is to be carried out on Cromwell Avenue, Great Sankey, Warrington from its junction with Cavendish Close to its junction with Shackleton Close. As a result there will be temporary closures from Monday, March 6 for about six weeks. An alternative route will be signposted.
No left turns
LEFT turns are to be prohibited for about three weeks from Monday, February 20 from Orford Road, Warrington, into Padgate Lane, while work is carried out on water mains under the carriageway. Local diversions will be signposted.
Footpath closure
A TEMPORARY footpath closure will come into force in Knutsford Road, Latchford, Warrington on Monday February 20 while maintenance work is carried out on Black Bear Bridge. Pedestrians will be asked to use the footpath on the other side of the road while work is going on for a period of about 20 weeks.
Flats plan
PLANS for a block of four and five storey flats on the site of the former Christadelphian Hall, in Museum Street, Warrington have been approved. The development will provide 20 apartments.
