Council set to “give away”
sheltered housing unit
by David Skentelbery
A SHELTERED housing unit for the elderly at Warrington, which fails to meet ?decent homes? standards, is to be handed over to a housing association by the borough council.
Town Hall chiefs say it would cost almost ?1 million to bring the property up to present day standards ? and the council does not have the money.
There are 19 bedsits at Raven Court, in Pepper Street, Lymm although only seven are currently occupied.
Members of the council?s executive board will be asked to approve the transfer ? at a nil valuation ? to Warrington Housing Association at their meeting on Monday, August 13.
The deal is subject to approval by the Secretary of State.
Raven Court dates from 1974. None of the 19 bedsits meet the decent homes standard and there is no lift other than a stairlift. A detailed survey has shown that it would cost ?982,874 to improve the scheme and remodel the bedsits into flats.
The seven current tenants have been consulted and invited to vote in a ballot. All those who voted were in favour of a transfer to Warrington Housing Association.
Improvements proposed by WHA include redesigning the bedsits to create larger apartments with a separate bedroom and living room and, in some cases, two bedrooms.
There would also be a new lift, kitchen, bathroom, low access showers, level access entrance, improved communal areas, new laundry, central heating, digital TV system, smoke detectors, rewiring of the building and charging points for motorised scooters.
If the council borrowed the money, it would incur a revenue cost of ?90,000 a year for the next 30 years ? which it could not afford.
Officers believe the transfer will provide a modern facility which will contribute to the needs of an ageing population in Warrington.
Ralph returns
to his roots!
by Gary Skentelbery
FORMER Warringtonian Ralph Spilsbury returned to his roots after more than half a century after being re-united with friends from his past on Warrington-Worldwide’s Readers’ Forum.
Ralph,aged 75, who now has homes in Cornwall and Spain was born in Grappenhall but left town in 1949 to join the Royal Navy, returning in 1951 when he was stationed at HMS Blackcap at Stretton..
He has been keeping in touch with “home” via the Warrington-Worldwide website and “met up” with fellow reader Harry Heyes on the discussion forum. They worked together at Crosfields in 1948-49.
Ralph, who has a pilot’s licence and still flies a light aircraft when he is in Spain, is now looking to meet up with former old friends.
He visited the Warrington-Worldewide offices armed with old photographs and treasured memories, including a picture of himself taking part in Warrington Walking Day in 1938 with Warrington Working Men’s Mission Sunday School.
While attempting to track down former friends via the website forum Ralph also “bumped into” the daughter of a former girlfriend who was researching her family history.
He has now travelled back to Warrington twice for the first time in 50 years and is planning more trips down memory lane. “I can’t believe the transformation in the town,” said Ralph.
“So much has changed. I can remember when a big day out was a trip to Lymm Dam while holidays at home took place in Bank Park.” Any one who remembers Ralph can contact him on 07788 681 607.
Meanwhile anyone looking to find old friends or make new ones can visit the discussion forum by clicking here DISCUSSION FORUM.
Family firm is voted
business of the year
A FAMILY business established 70 years ago is celebrating after scooping a top award at Warrington Business Awards.
Bents Garden and Home, the Glazebury based garden centre, was voted Business of the Year beating off strong competition from businesses throughout the area.
The centre was also presented with the Customer Care Award and was highly commended in the Visitor’s Choice category.
Matthew Bent, managing director at Bents, said: “2007 is such an important year for us as, not only is it 70 years since my grandparents established the Bents’ business but we are also celebrating one of our biggest achievements to date; the launch of the UK’s first Open Skies glass house.
“However, everything we do at Bents is focussed on the customer. We can launch as many new developments as we like, but without the loyalty of our customers we would be nothing.”
The family run garden centre was established in 1937 by Alfred and Margaret Bent who started selling roses from their front garden just 100 yards away from the centre’s current location. Now in its third generation, Bents employs nearly 300 people and is visited by over 1 million customers every year.
Rare victory over the
mobile phone giants
by David Skentelbery
RESIDENTS and planners have won a battle to stop a mobile ?phone mast being erected on a footpath at Grappenhall, near Warrington.
A planning inspector has ruled that the 40ft high mast at the junction of Higher Knutsford Road and Old Knutsford Road would result in unacceptable harm to the character and appearance of the area.
The nearness of adjoining houses would also result in an unacceptable impact on the living conditions of occupiers.
A borough council spokesman described the result as ?a rare decision.?
He said: ?The prominent location of the mast and the particular characteristics of that location are clearly of significance and permit contrast with other masts, similarly located on main arterial routes.
?The increasing expectation for operators to demonstrate fullest possible assessment of alternative locations is reinforced.?
Council cleared of
maladministration
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON Borough Council has been cleared of an allegation of maladministration over the granting of planning consent for a two-storey extension to a house in Grantson Close, Callands.
A neighbour had complained that the council had granted permission retrospectively which was inconsistent with an earlier decision to grant permission for an extension.
The eventual development resulted in a loss of amenity, he claimed.
But the Local Government Ombudsman said neighbours were able to make comments on modified plans and their objections were considered by the development control committee.
There was no maladministration in any part of this process.
When the council was made aware about concern over the way in which the extension was being built, enforcement officers took action. It was acceptable that the applicant was asked to submit a retrospective application to deal with the breach of planning control. Neighbours were notified and had the opportunity to comment. A second report to the committee outlined concerns and weighed the issues raised against guidelines and policy. The council followed correct procedure.
The initial proposals were not refused but modified to make them more acceptable. The original might have been approved even if the modifications were not made.
The Ombudsman concluded officers had acted properly in the way the application was considered, the way that objections were considered and the enforcement action when the permission was breached.
A council spokesman said: ?This case ably illustrates the problems created by the ill-informed actions of those carrying out domestic extensions.?
News in brief
Station shelter
PLANS for a new passenger waiting shelter at Sankey railway station, Warrington have been submitted to the borough council’s development control department.
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 1, 8, 14 and 15. There was one winner who picked up the ?836 jackpot prize and a consolation prize of ?25 was awarded.
Stand up comedy
COMED
IAN Lenny Henry is to star in a new stand-up comedy show at Warrington’s Parr Hall on Sunday, September 2.
Treasure hunt
AN Alice in Wonderland themed treasure hunt is to take place at Warrington’s Walton Gardens on Sunday, August 19, in aid of the British Red Cross Society..
