Council pledge on
Walking Day’s future
by David Skentelbery
NO changes will be made to the traditional format of Warrington Walking Day next year.
This assurance has been given by borough council leader Ian Marks ? along with a pledge to avoid the confusion that existed earlier this year over the other, smaller walking days and festivals across the borough.
Coun Marks was responding to questions from Labour leader Terry O?Neill, who asked whether next year?s Walking Day would go ahead in the light of recent cancellation of firework displays in the town.
Coun O?Neill said he was concerned that this could be ?the thin end of the wedge? and that events such as Warrington Walking Day and local walks at Padgate, Penketh and Woolston would not go ahead.
He said ?draconian cuts? of this nature were impacting on local neighbourhoods and damaging the fabric of community cohesion.
Coun Marks said he was at a loss to know why the question had been asked.
He said: ?There has never been any suggestion that any changes will be made to Warrington Walking Day next year. For the record I will repeat that it will go ahead in the traditional manner.?
Coun Marks said he noted that Coun O?Neill appeared to have undergone a ?conversion? on the smaller walking days since last year when he was a member of the Labour administration which had repeatedly ignored calls to safeguard them.
He told Coun O?Neill: ?It’s a pity you didn’t say this last year and we might have avoided some of the confusion and mess we ran into earlier this season.?
The council leader said Coun Graham Welborn was doing an excellent job in sorting things out for next year. The predominant feature of everything he was doing was safety for the public.
Organisers of events requiring a police presence or road closure had been contacted and negotiations were taking place. It might be sensible for there to be changes to certain routes, but guidelines would be clear by mid-November.
?I am pleased to say the police are taking a positive attitude towards these events,? Coun Marks continued. ?Above all we are determined not to allow a repeat of this year’s confusion and we want all organisers to be crystal clear about what is happening in good time.?
Coun Marks also claimed the decision to scrap firework displays at Birchwood, Padgate and Woolston was taken by the former Labour administration, before control of the council changed.
Countess drops in
on adventure farm
by Lesley Wilkinson
A VERY special visitor, the Countess of Wessex, enjoyed a trip to The Children’s Adventure Farm Trust, near Lymm, as part of a visit to the North West.
Sophie Wessex, wife of Prince Edward, spent an afternoon at the farm and was given a tour and introduced to the children.
The Countess enjoyed spending time in the art room with the some of the children, and she helped select materials for their creative art project.
She also watched the youngsters having fun on the Adventure Playground, where she stopped to chat to children on the wheelchair swing and aerial runway.
The charity’s chief executive, Paul Farrington, then invited the Countess to officially open the BoothBank Gang Trail, a circuit of equipment to encourage agility, dexterity and fun! She formally opened the trail by cutting a ribbon, before taking a walk around the facility.
The charity’s president, Sir Bobby Charlton, was on hand to unveil a commemorative plaque. He was then surprised with a birthday cake, complete with football-shaped candles, and a chorus of “Happy Birthday,” which the Countess joined in.
A special tea party was then held for the children, complete with party hats, goodie bags and cake.
Fundraiser Helen Crowther, said: “The Countess genuinely seemed to enjoy her visit, and was fantastic with the children. It was difficult to drag her away from them. They all thoroughly enjoyed meeting her and being part of this once in a lifetime experience.”
The centre provides holidays, respite care, day trips and Christmas parties for disabled, ill and disadvantaged children from all over the North West at its converted farmhouse. Activities including sports, arts and crafts and music therapy, are on offer at the centre.
MP strikes a
blow for carers
by Mark Hemmings
WARRINGTON North MP Helen Jones has struck a blow for carers who lose out on allowances because they are working or studying.
She raised the issue of the ?gainfully employed? rule for carers on the floor of the House of Commons.
In an Adjournment Debate she pointed out that currently if carers earn more than ?84 per week or study for more than 21 hours per week they lose all their carer?s allowance.
She called for a review of the system which would abolish these rules and allow carers to work or study and receive full carer?s allowance.
At present 80 per cent of carers are of working age and they make up 12 per cent of the workforce. The present system means many do not receive the support they need or it becomes financially unviable for them to work.
It is estimated that one in three carers who are currently not in paid employment would like to be if they had the opportunity.
Ms Jones said: “It costs on average ?377 per week to keep someone in a local council home and ?1,000 per week to keep someone in an acute hospital ward.
“Carers take that cost from the state and save our economy around ?57 billion a year. In return we give them very little. We have to do better.
“The economic argument for scrapping the ?gainfully employed? rule is strong but it is also a matter of justice. One in five carers have had to cut back on food, one in three find it difficult to pay utility bills and four out of ten find that trying to pay for support services causes financial hardship.
Works and Pensions Minister Anne McGuire said she had asked officials to examine issues raised by Ms Jones and that a working group, including Carers UK, was being established which would also examine many of the points raised in the debate.
Ms Jones said: “It was important to raise these issues and I am pleased that consideration is to be given to the concerns I raised. We must wait to see what comes out of the working group but in the meantime I will continue to press for a change in the law with regard to the gainfully employed rule.”
Clampdown on illegal
sales of fireworks
by Lesley Wilkinson
PEOPLE in Warrington are being urged to help in a clampdown on illegal firework sales during the run up to Bonfire Night.
Warrington Borough Council’s Trading Standards officers are asking people to contact them if they have evidence of unlicensed traders or sales to anyone under the age of 18.
Volunteers are currently working with officers on undercover test purchases to catch illegal retailers, who will be subject to formal action with possible ?5,000 fines.
People are being asked to look out for traders who sell to youngsters who look under 18, when proof of identification should be requested. They should also look out for anyone selling fireworks illegally in public places, like a pub or on a street, who would not have a licence for sales.
A spokesman said: “Don’t cut corners for the sake of saving a few pounds – sub-standard fireworks could be very dangerous so always buy from a reputable trader.”
Officers said all fireworks should meet British safety standards, and advise people to check the safety standard BS 7114 is printed on the box.
Coun Roy Smith, the borough council?s executive member for community services, said: “It is important that residents of Warrington play a part in keeping their community safe by reporting these traders who aim to profit from sales of fireworks that are clearly illegal and dangerous.
“I urge everyone to support Trading Standards in their work, and keep bonfire night this year safe as well as fun.”
Anyone who suspects that a
local trader is selling fireworks illegally should contact Trading Standards on 01925 442678.
Warning after thief
tries to dupe pensioner
by John Hendon
POLICE at Warrington have issued a warning after a cruel thief tried to dupe an elderly woman out of ?500.
The man called at the woman’s home in Greystone Road, Penketh near Warrington and said he was there to kill weeds in the garden and on the woman’s drive. He demanded ?500.
When the woman went upstairs to her bedroom to look for some money, the man entered the house and was still present in the kitchen when the woman came downstairs again.
However, he left empty-handed when the woman said she did not have any money.
Police say the man was well built, aged 40-50 and was wearing a baseball cap and green, sleeveless anorak.
Girls with an eye
on construction
by staff reporter
GIRL students from Appleton College, Warrington were among those attending a conference aimed at getting more women into the construction industry.
The A and AS level students attended the Change the Face of Construction Conference held at the Alicia Hotel in Liverpool, held as part of National Construction Week.
Figures show there are just one per cent of women working in crafts and nine per cent working in the professional and management areas of the construction industry.
The event was held in a bid to attract more women into the industry by highlighting the range of diverse careers available.
It included workshops, guest speakers from the industry and information on a range of careers including civil and structural engineering, design, estate management, town planning, quantity surveying and architecture.
