Council unveils its
vision for the future
by David Skentelbery
WARRINGTON has unveiled its vision for the future with six pledges to make the town healthier, wealthier, safer and offering opportunities for all.
An audience of representatives of key community partners at the Town Hall heard council leader Ian Marks and chief executive Diana Terris outline details of Vision 2010 together with a refreshed corporate plan.
They also revealed the borough council?s first-ever vision statement: ?To make Warrington an outstanding town in the North West, with opportunities for all.?
After the presentation, some of the initiatives which are already making a difference in the town were put on show on the Town Hall lawn.
Coun Marks said the council had already made good progress since it produced its three-year corporate plan last year.
He said the health of local people was improving, there had been a significant increase in the number of older people able to stay in their own homes, leisure centres had undergone a makeover, Golden Square shopping centre had expanded and the new bus interchange had won a prestigious award.
The ?Stronger Together? initiative was making an impact in some of the most deprived areas and neighbourhood wardens were doing excellent work. There had been a boost to recycling.
Chapelford Urban Village, Omega, the newly approved Modus scheme off Winwick Street, the Orford Park initiative and many other plans were putting the town well and truly on the map.
But he stressed there was more to do ? including reviving the Mersey waterfront as a source of pride and tourism and breathing new life into Bridge Street and the area around Warrington Market.
Mrs Terris said the council was also taking action to raise Warrington?s profile across the North West. It was accepted that in the past the town had not ?punched its weight? in the region.
The council has listed six main goals for the next three years:
Improving health and well-being and promoting independence
Making our communities safer, stronger and more sustainable
Improving the local environment and economy and regenerating our deprived areas
Improving transport availability, infrastructure and choice
Ensuring all children and young people have the opportunity to reach their full potential
Transforming the council’s organisation to deliver the outcomes.
Coun Marks stressed, however, that the council could not do everything.
?We can achieve all we want to only if we all work together,? he told the audience.
Former Mayor urges
developers to
back theatre plan
by Gary Skentelbery
DEVELOPERS of a major new shopping, leisure and office development including a multi-screen town centre cinema in Warrington, have been urged to include a theatre facility as part of the multi-milliuon pound project.
Former Mayor of Warrington Coun Lindi Dirir, who has recently been appointed chairman of the Theatre4Warrington (T4W) campaign, believes the 10 screen cinema would make an ideal venue for a town centre theatre facility.
The new development has been given go-ahead on a cleared site off Winwick Street, opposite Central Station – and it is hoped work can start this year.
Coun Dirir said: “I am really pleased this development has been given the go ahead because this part of town is in urgent need of regeneration.
“But I would like to urge the developers to consider setting aside some space in the cinema for a theatre, which is badly needed in Warrington.”
Campaigners are pressing ahead with their campaign despite a bitter blow when their plans to transform the Mr Smiths nightclub fell flat, following a recent announcement that there are plans to re-open it as a club.
The campaign for a theatre has been backed by celebrities, including Warrington born actor Pete Postlethwaite and weatherman Fred Talbot. A number of mystery benefactors have also pledged substantial financial backing once a venue can be found.
Coun Dirir added: “We would have no objection in helping with financial support with the development and fundraising is continuing.”
Members of the Centenary Operatic group, who have been forced out of town due to lack of a local facility, are backing the campaign.
The Winwick Street development has been drawn up by The Winwick Partnership, a consortium involving Manchester-based Modus Developments and Merseyside-based Iliad.
It is the second time Modus has put in proposals for the sprawling area of cleared land. In 1999 they put forward a similar ?25 million scheme. But it fell through after disagreements with the council.
The new scheme involves about 600 apartments, a hotel, the cinema and a number of restaurants and offices as well as some retailing.
The next Theatre4Warrington fund-raising event takes place tomorrow (Friday) at Grappenhall Sports club involving a quiz night and buffet for just ?5 per head. Tickets are available by emailing [email protected]
“Stop talking or
I’ll call the police”
by Lesley Wilkinson
A COUNCIL chairman threatened to call the police when a member of the public wouldn?t stop talking.
Three councillors ? including Mayor of Warrington Coun Celia Jordan ? walked out as Julie Kueres talked on.
Eventually, after issuing several warnings, acting chairman of Stockton Heath Parish Council Maurice Leslie held his mobile phone aloft, said: ?I?m going to phone the police? and started dialling.
Only then did Ms Kueres (pictured) bring her comments to a close ? and only after that did the three missing councillors return to the meeting.
Members of the public are allowed to address the council during the ?public participation? section of the meeting ? subject to a strict limit of three minutes.
Ms Kueres, a regular attender of council meetings, was commenting on the recent controversial decision by Warrington Borough Council to demolish Stockton Heath Primary School to make way for a new school.
She wanted to know if any money arising from the scheme would go into general borough coffers or whether it would be allocated to the Stockton Heath community.
Coun Leslie said it was not an “appropriate” issue for the parish council and her enquiry should be directed to the borough council. As she kept talking, he warned her that he was timing her speech and she had “15 more seconds.”
After the meeting Ms Kueres said: “We are losing our heritage and our last green fields. If we are being ‘sold down the river’ shouldn’t we be entitled to know for how much and where the money is going??
Police warning over
“violent” offender
by John Hendon
Police in Warrington are appealing for the public’s assistance in tracing a man who is wanted for breaching the conditions of his license.
Craig Dodd, 35, was sentenced to two years jail in August last year for possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and was recently released on license.
Dodd, who is known to visit the Orford and Great Sankey areas of Warrington, is six feet tall, with dark brown hair – which is shaven – and blue eyes. He has numerous tattoos on each arm and when last seen was clean shaven.
He has a history of violence and any member of the public who sees him should contact the police immediately on 0845 458 0000 or 999.
A police spokesman said: ?Under no circumstances should any member of the public seek to approach or challenge Dodd.?
Community projects win
grants totalling ?91,000
by David Skentelbery
FOUR projects in the Warrington area have won grants totalling more than ?91,000 from the Landfill Communities Funds of Waste Recycling Group, administered by environmental body WREN.
All the projects look to improve community life by enhancing existing facilities or providing new facilities ? and it is hoped work can start on them soon
.
The money is generated by Waste Recycling Group?s andfill operations at the Arpley Landfill Site in Warrington and all the funding generated in the county is spent on local schemes.
Projects applying for grants from WREN are assessed by an individual panel of locally based experts for their suitability, sustainability and community benefit.
Project manager Richard Smith said: “WREN are still seeking applications from community groups for projects in Cheshire. Since 1999 we have awarded funding to almost 200 projects, totalling more than ?5 million in Halton and Warrington. Our next deadline for applications is the July 20 and we can help with all aspects of the application process.?
Peter Cox, managing director of WREN explained: “The projects that we’ve funded will all provide real benefits to local communities and environments and we would encourage any organisations looking for funding to contact WREN and find out more about how the Landfill Communities Fund can help.”
The four projects are: Lymm Dam Easy Access Trail, ?27,695 – final phase of works to create a circular easy access walk around Lymm Dam.
Rixton Clay Pits Phase 2, ?11,625 – creation of interpretation boards to highlight areas of interest around Rixton Clay Pits to compliment the newly completed visitor centre.
St Thomas Church Hall, Stockton Heath, ?40,000 – vital underpinning works to secure the future of the church hall.
Whitley Village Play Area, ?12,000 – creation of a children’s play area adjacent to Whitley Village Hall.
Organisations and community groups requiring funding for beneficial projects should visit www.wren.org.uk> or contact WREN on 01953 717165.
Final arrangements for
village walking day
by Lesley Wilkinson
FINAL arrangements for viewing Stockton Heath Walking Day on Saturday have been made by members of the Parish Council.
Members will view the annual procession from the forecourt of Pizza Express in Victoria Square. They will be joined by The Mayor of Warrington, Coun Celia Jordan, who is also a parish councillor, and Warrington South MP Helen Southworth.
Walkers will gather at Alexandra Park and the procession will leave the venue at 2.25pm.
Members heard that village pubs will close between 5pm and 7pm to allow time for drinkers to be dispersed.
Public meeting over
village arts festival
by staff reporter
ANYONE interested in helping organise an Arts Festival for Stockton Heath is invited to attend a public meeting on Tuesday July 24.
The event will be held at The Saracen’s Head pub, Wilderspool Causeway, from 7.30pm.
Stockton Heath parish councillor Tudor Pole instigated the idea of an arts festival. He said it is likely to be a long weekend initially, and maybe progress to a week-long event as it develops.
“We are encouraging members of the public to be on the committee and help get the show on the road,” he said.
Anyone interested in attending should contact Coun Pole on 267042 for further details.
