Councillors urged to have
criminal records check
by David Skentelbery
MEMBERS of Warrington Borough Council are to be urged to agree to volunteer for a Criminal Records Bureau check ? to enhance public confidence in the integrity of councillors.
A motion is to be put to next week?s council meeting by Labour leader Coun Terry O?Neill, seconded by his deputy Coun Mike Hannon.
The motion will read: ?That this council encourages all members of the council to volunteer for a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check.
?The role of a modern councillor is wide and varied and may involve contact with children and vulnerable adults. The CRB check will enhance public confidence in the integrity of council members.?
Coun Hannon said: ?This is something we have debated in our group for quite a while.
?You hear of so many happenings up and down the country and we feel that people in public office should take a lead and volunteer for a check.
?It is not something we would enforce but we would hope that all councillors would agreed.
?We have already put our names forward and we would hope there would be 100 per cent agreement across the council.
?It is something of a good will gesture really. But councillors do, in the course of their work, go into homes, schools and nurseries and we feel that if we had all volunteered for a CRB check it would enhance public confidence.?
Artist to exhibit
at city gallery
WARRINGTON-based artist Paul Brotherton is to put on an exhibition of his paintings at Manchester?s Blyth Gallery next month.
The exhibition ?Colourist Journeys? will run from Tuesday October 31 to Saturday November 25.
Born in Sale in 1953, Paul Brotherton now has his studio at Birchwood.
A full-time professional artist since 1999, he is a qualified art tutor and lectures and work in adult education initiatives and arts projects throughout the North West.
The exhibition consists of abstract and semi-abstract landscape paintings in various media.
Brotherton works from observation, sketches, photography and imagination. The total qualities of the work determine his choice of media and working method and the complexity depends on his feelings towards the subject.
He may paint loosely with washes and shapes, but he often underpins and strengthens the composition with structured drawings. He says his quest as an artist is to ?always learn, develop and experiment within my current creative boundaries; to recognise, interpret and communicate positive beauty, while endeavouring to enhance the viewer?s perception.
. Brotherton?s work is in collections throughout England, Wales, France, Italy and Zimbabwe and has features in various magazines.
His first solo exhibition was in Manchester in 2001 and attracted considerable attention from the media, collectors, art lovers and professionals.
Study of economic
impact of Rugby League
by John Hendon
A MAJOR new study into the economic impact of Rugby League has been announced by the Warrington-based North West Regional Development Agency.
Research will focus primarily on the elite clubs to understand the financial benefits they bring to the local and regional economy.
In addition, the initiative will look at the specific benefits that hosting the engage Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford has delivered, assessing the economic impact of this type of event.
Business advisors, Deloitte, have been appointed to undertake the research with support from the RFL, rugby league’s governing body. The initiative reflects the growing importance of sport as a business, in particular the inward investment opportunities provided by sport and sports related industries.
NWDA chief executive Steven Broomhead ? who is also vice chairman of Warrington Wolves RLFC – said: “The sport sector makes a valuable contribution to the region, employing over 50,000 people and generating ?3 billion in annual turnover.
?This study will provide a unique insight into the diverse range of businesses involved in Rugby League helping us to better understand the inward investment opportunities generated by sport and sports related industries.”
Richard Lewis, RFL executive chairman, said: “Rugby League has seen growth in attendances over the last few years, plus sell out crowds at Old Trafford for the engage Super League Grand Final. We also know from research that supporters spend significant amounts on merchandise and on game day refreshments and entertainment. This, coupled with the financial size of some of our bigger clubs, must have a huge benefit to the local economy. It is important to capture what this impact might be and this significant piece of research is to be welcomed.”
Heather Hancock, Partner in charge of economic development services at Deloitte, said: “The business impact of sport – and the interest in this from various stakeholders – is increasing. We look forward to bringing our firm’s eminence in both sports business and economic development together, delivering a study that will help both the NWDA and RFL understand fully what Rugby League has to offer.”
?There 13 Rugby League clubs in the North West playing in either the engage Super League or LHF National leagues. The study will involve discussions with clubs on how they engage with local suppliers and workforce, a broader analysis of the business landscape, plus input from the RFL. It is anticipated that the research will be completed by December with the findings published in January.
Former pupils – and one
ex-teacher – at reunion
by staff reporter
MORE than 30 former pupils of the former Culcheth Secondary School ? now the High School ? in the 1960s attended a reunion at Culcheth Royal British Legion club.
Just one ex-teacher attended ? John Isherwood, religious studies teacher at the school in the l960s.
Now living in retirement on the Wirral, he led grace before the buffet arranged by the Legion was served.
MC and organist was John Inman and the event, the second in two years, was organised by Gordon |Brown, a pupil at the school from January l948 to December l95l.
Many ex-pupils and Bents Nursery, Glazebury, donated raffle prizes.
It is intended to have another reunion next year when it is hoped more people will take the opportunity of meeting old friends and looking at old school photographs, which many people brought along to this year’s gathering.
Marathon men!
THREE Warrington marathon men took part in the North West Triathlon at Northwich, raising more than ?1,000 for Cystic Fibrosis research.
They were Andy March, Mark Lee and Ian Kelly.
During the event they had to swim 20 lengths, took part in a 20 k bike ride, finishing with a 5k run.
Six figure bread
and butter deal
by business staff
WARRINGTON-based sandwich suppliers Openchoice Foods Ltd has been sold to rival sandwich maker Tasties of Chester Ltd for a six figure sum.
David Openshaw, who has been in the food industry for more than 20 years, set up the Warrington-based firm 10 years ago to supply sandwiches to the public and private sector.
Today, Openchoice employs around 45 staff at its premises at Winwick Quay and supplies more than 90,000 sandwiches a week to the catering, hospitality and retail sectors from Cumbria down to the Midlands.
Tasties, which employs 65 staff at its purpose-built plant on the outskirts of Chester, was founded in 1992 and has established itself as a leading independent sandwich manufacturer.
The deal was brokered by Pierce. Corporate finance chief David Sharpe said: ?After more than 20-years in the food industry, David and Merete Openshaw asked Pierce to help them sell their business so they could concentrate on other challenges.
?We marketed the business and sourced potential buyers and eventually held their hands through the due diligence and sale p
rocess and also negotiated on the deal, which went through very smoothly.?
?Openchoice Foods is a well established and successful company and David and Merete Openshaw have created a sound base for Tasties to take over and grow the business.?
Clean Team volunteers
fill 13 bags of rubbish
by John Hendon
THE Warrington Clean Team collected 13 sacks of rubbish in a two hour blitz on litter in the Long Lane area of Warrington.
Set up by borough councillor Trudi Wood, the Clean Team has now been operating for almost 12 months and is hoping to emulate the Middlewich Team which has now almost eradicated litter and graffiti in their area and is now turning to other work such as providing bins, planters, spring bulbs, benches, etc.
Coun Wood said: ?Everyone has an opinion on who should collect litter; I believe that it is not someone else?s problem, it is a problem that belongs to us all. Every single person who walks past a piece of litter is just as responsible for it being there after they have passed by than the person who originally threw it.
?I am keenly aware that Warrington is a much bigger area to cover than Middlewich but we also have nearly 200,000 citizens as opposed to their 11,000 – if they can do it, so can we.? Fundraising is proving a problem for the team and so far they are self funded, using equipment loaned to them by Warrington Borough Council.
Coun Wood is full of praise for the members of her team of volunteers.
She said: ?It is a testament to their commitment that they will give up their time for what is often a very dirty job, digging into their own pockets to support what we do. I am extremely proud of them all and hope that what we are doing will instil in people, young and old, a real sense of pride for Warrington?.
The Clean Team always needs new members and anyone wishing to join should mail [email protected] or call on 01925 790712.
