Lib Dem-Tory alliance
slashes bus charges
by Lesley Wilkinson
THE new Lib Dem-Tory group controlling Warrington Borough Council has drastically scaled down the cost of proposed bus passes following a barrage of protests.
Over 16s at local schools and colleges will still be asked to contribute towards their travel costs ? but the charges will start at just ?50 in the next academic year, rising to ?190 from 2007-8.
Previous, charges of up to ?480 a year were suggested.
It is estimated the charges and reduced costs of passes, will save the council about ?500,000 a year by 2008.
A ?50 administrative charge will only apply to students starting a new course in September. Students with Special Educational Needs will be exempt from the charges.
The new Lib Dem-Tory alliance has responded to a consultation exercise carried out by the former Labour administration which drew strong objections.
Interim operational director of education Tim Warren said: “The consultation produced strong opinions on the scale of the charges. We also took into account that young people had already made their decisions on next year’s study without knowing of the costs.
“We have therefore responded to these views, with much lower charges and just a nominal ?50 administrative charge for new students in September.?
He said the council had negotiated an improved deal with Warrington Borough Transport helping to reduce the current ?640 average costs of student passes. The charges will eventually affect about 1,500 young people who live more than three miles from their place of education.
The current free bus pass scheme was inherited from Cheshire County Council when Warrington became a unitary authority in 1998. But since then Cheshire has imposed a charge of ?250 while neighbouring Halton has withdrawn its subsidy entirely.
Executive member Coun Sheila Woodyatt, Cons, (pictured above) said: “The introduction of charging has been a very difficult decision. The previous administration put forward the much higher level of charges. We have listened carefully to the views put forward during the consultation and have responded positively to those views and to the financial challenges facing the council.”
Festival of Football
ready for kick-off
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON?S eagerly awaited ?Festival of Football? kicks off this Saturday (May 27) with a day of fun-packed events throughout the town – and the support of an England World Cup winning hero to boot. Roger Hunt, a member of the famous 1966 England team, still lives in Warrington, and believes the Festival of Football will be such a success that he is backing the campaign. Football fever will sweep across the town centre every Saturday for five weeks throughout the World Cup. Eventsand performances will be taking place at various locations every weekend. Organised by the Warrington Town Centre Partnership, the Festival of Football intends to bring the people of Warrington together in support of the England team. For the launch this Saturday, the Nike Freestylers will be performing at the Golden Square shopping centre, along with an inflatable football game, stilt-walking footballers and a craft workshop. Also performing live at the shopping centre will be rising star and winner of BBC Radio 5 Live’s ?Busk Idol? competition last year, Krystyna Myles. Krystyna, 22, who performs with fellow Salford University graduate Ben Williams on the guitar, is recording a duet with Chris De Burgh at Abbey Road this month for his new album. Entertainment at the town’s Market Gate includes live music throughout the day – with an appearance from the English Lion Mascot – while a football caricaturist and face-painter will be at Warrington Market. Other events to look out for throughout the festival include a primary schools’ World Cup football competition (with each school taking on a country from the competition), large-screen showings of all World Cup games at the town’s Great Sankey, Fordton and Birchwood leisure centres and alcohol-free screenings of all the England games at the town’s Pyramid Centre. Roger Hunt said: “As an ex-player with some fantastic World Cup memories, I feel proud the town where I live is staging such an exciting event. It’s something the whole area can feel part of, and I just hope it can inspire the lads out in Germany!” Michael Hancock, chairman of the Warrington Town Centre Partnership, added: “The Festival of Football will be fantastic for Warrington, creating a real carnival atmosphere in the town over the next few weeks. “We are all looking forward to a successful World Cup for England – and the people of Warrington will be right behind them!” Giant posters and billboards will feature Warrington’s very own World Cup squad of England namesakes – unveiled 10 days ago. For more information about the Festival of Football please contact Golden Square shopping centre marketing manager Ian Cox on 01925 655 053, or visit www.goldensquareshopping.co.uk
Prisoner designs
drugs poster
by staff reporter
A PRISONER concerned about drug-taking among inmates and the risk of overdoses – has designed a leaflet to warn about the dangers.
The inmate, from Risley Prison, near Warrington, aims to warn visitors and their families about the dangers of drug use. The message focuses on the risk of bringing drugs on visits and the potential of overdoses.
Warrington’s Drug Action Team has funded the leaflet, which is being sent out to all prison visitors with their visiting orders. Posters will also be displayed around the prison and in the visitors’ area.
Katie Roberts, Warrington Primary Care Trust’s health improvement specialist for prisons said: “Obviously it is a criminal offence to bring drugs to a visit and to be taking drugs, but there are also health consequences too. When someone has been in prison, their tolerance to drugs will have dropped; this makes overdose even easier.
“The leaflet is trying to make people think about the potential consequence of their actions by warning people about the danger of taking drugs on visits. Overdose in prison is real and we want to try and prevent it from happening.?
Council bid to name
“missing” leaders
by David Skentelbery
THE annual meeting of Warrington Borough Council will resume tonight (Thursday) ? with Liberal Democrat and Conservative members hoping to name two ?missing? members of the executive board.
Only eight names had been put forward when the meeting was adjourned on Monday ? because the new Lib Dem-Tory alliance had hoped to reduce the size of the executive from 10 to eight.
But after the shock discovery that the change could only be made with the approval of two thirds of the council ? and Labour?s decision to oppose it ? the council had to agree to retain a 10-strong executive.
Eight names were approved ? with two positions being left vacant.
The eight are Coun Ian Marks (Lib Dem) leader, Coun Keith Bland (Cons) deputy leader, councillors Brian Axcell, David Earl, Roy Smith, Peter Walker, Graham Welborn, (Lib Dem) and Coun Sheila Woodyatt (Cons).
Coun Marks said: ?The priorities of the council will be to give people high quality, value-for-money services, to put people first and to generate a pride in Warrington, with cleaner and greener communities.?
He said priority areas would be improved road maintenance, reducing traffic congestion and providing more affordable housing.
The leader and deputy leader will share responsibilities for liaising with other organisations and partners in the town and, said Cllr Marks, ?for ensuring the needs of the citizens of Warrington are at the heart of everything the council does?.
The Council also agreed that the position of Mayor will be shared between the parties in future. This year?s Mayor is Coun Linda Dirir, Labour, while Deputy Mayor is Coun Celia Jordan, Liberal Democr
at. It is intended that a Conservative should follow Coun Jordan.
There will also be a review of the scrutiny function within the authority.
Coun Marks said: ?There is widespread agreement that the process is not working properly and has not got a proper champion among members. We support fewer reviews but carried out in more depth by task groups.
?We want to get away from the old-style committee system and make more use of outside witnesses, as well as working closely with officers to make scrutiny and policy development more effective.?
He said the introduction of an Overview and Scrutiny Committee for Health would be an immediate priority.
Police launch drive to
recruit support officers
by Lesley Wilkinson
POLICE are looking for Warrington people to train as Police Community Support Officers as part of a new recruitment campaign.
CSOs face a variety of challenges during their day including dealing with anti-social behaviour, confiscating alcohol from young people and dealing with nuisance parking.
One of the Warrington CSOs, Michelle Nisbet, 26, (pictured) originally trained to be a sports scientist having completed a three-year Sport and Exercise Science degree at Leeds University.
She decided to work in a role serving the community rather than pursuing her intended career. She now works in the Orford area, as part of the Warrington Central Community Action Team.
“I decided that rather than spend my working life helping athletes to shave a few seconds off their personal best I would help communities resolve serious issues,” she said.
“Just recently I have been tackling the problem of off road motorcycles being ridden in public places. We’ve confiscated six bikes over the last two months alone and issued more than a dozen seizure notices to warn riders to stop or face losing their bikes.?
CSOs undergo an intensive four-week training course learning about the law and the criminal justice system, and issues they will deal with such as road safety and the confiscation of alcohol and tobacco. They then spend five weeks shadowing experienced officers.
They work a variety of shifts, up to 10 hours, depending on operational requirements. Shifts also include weekends and evenings. Regular training days are also organised.
Michelle said: “Residents have noticed the efforts we have made to tackle crime and disorder in this part of Warrington and I have received a number of letters of appreciation.
“Because I have been patrolling here for two years people have begun to recognise me and are pleased to see that I am still the dedicated CSO for the area. It means that I have built up knowledge of the area, who the local offenders are and where the hot spot locations are. If I need to find an offender I know where to look,” she added.
Anyone interested in becoming a CSO should visit: www.policecouldyou.co.uk, or contact: 0845 600 0925.
Make-up students stage
stage charity fashion show
by John Hendon
PHOTOGRAPHIC make-up students at Warrington Collegiate are organising a charity fashion show on June 8.
There will be a fashion show, local acts and demonstrations showcasing the work make-up and hair students. The event takes place at Brannigans and will be supported by Latchford?s Zeplin Hair Studio.
The show will raise funds on behalf of the charity ?Look Good Feel Better? ? an organisation that helps terminally ill female cancer patients come to terms with their illness.
Across the county, the charity organises make-up workshops to help female cancer sufferers.
More than 40 hospitals are now running free workshops based on the simple formula that women who look good feel better.
The charity has the support of leading cosmetic companies and health professional who firmly believe in the ?feel good factor.?
Anyone wishing to support the Collegiate students? event should contact Shelley on 07708730289 or Bernadette on 07710984282.
Post Office to stay put
for another 12 months
by David Skentelbery
LYMM Post Office is to continue operating from its present premises for about 12 months ? and could even stay there permanently.
A pledge has been given by Post Office chiefs following a meeting with Lymm Parish Council The Bridgewater Street premises has been sold to a private buyer ? and it was originally announced that it would close around June.
Also due to close was the adjoining sorting office which employers 18 Royal Mail staff.
But now, Chris Roberts, rural transfer advisor for the Post Office, has assured the council there will continue to be a Post Office service from the current location for about 12 months.
A temporary postmaster has been appointed with effect from May 26 and the Post Office is looking for alternative accommodation for post office in the centre of Lymm.
The Post Office could also remain at its current location if a new postmaster is found.
Anyone interested in taking over as postmaster in Lymm should contact the Post Office Agent Recruitment Centre on 0845 6016260.
Meeting future
energy needs
by Terry Johnson
BUSINESS leaders, energy specialists, scientists and environmentalists are taking a hard look at Cheshire’s future energy needs – and how they can be met.
The visionaries are studying all options, which include wind turbines, hydro-generators, bio-electricity, solar panels, power from waste incineration and nuclear plants buried in the Cheshire landscape powering local business.
Julian Carter, of Renewables North West, funded by the North West Development Agency, said Cheshire’s industry and business was looking for energy it could afford and rely on.
“The problem over the last two years is that these are the very things business has not been able to do.
“Now business is looking towards energy efficiency for a major part of the answer. Business is also starting to take part seriously in the renewable energy debate in the form of wind turbines, hydro-generators, bio-electricity and power generated from waste.” Northwich’s Kingsmead School had been designed with its own eco-systems, solar panels, energy and water efficiency.
This was an example to Cheshire businesses that need to take ownership of their own power supply.
“While use of renewable energy may not be the whole answer, it will help keep energy costs down and assist conserve other supplies. It is simply too good an opportunity to miss”, stated Mr Carter.
Paul Harding, managing director of Urenco Capenhurst, involved in uranium enrichment, felt the answer may be in pioneering work carried out in South Africa.
The SA Government proposed small, 100-megawatt reactors alongside townships to provide electricity via the local grid.
In the UK, even smaller reactors could eventually fuel local industry.
But the clock was on countdown for a decision on meeting energy needs in five to 10 years’ time.
