Power station is still
town’s biggest polluter
by David Skentelbery
THE giant Fiddler?s Ferry Power Station is Warrington?s major polluter ? despite it burning 330,000 tonnes of carbon neutral biomass a year.
The Cuerdley plant emits 8.7 million tonnes of CO2 a year while the borough as a whole emits 2.4 million, excluding Fiddler?s Ferry.
An average house emits 11 tonnes of CO2 a year and Warrington Borough Council itself produces 37,483. Of this, almost 50 per cent is caused by energy use in buildings ? particularly schools.
These statistics were revealed in a draft climate change strategy document prepared for the council by consults and presented to members of the executive board.
Climate change threatens Warrington with increased flooding, more unpredictable and violent weather, an average temperature increase of two degrees centigrade by 2050 and drier summers and wetter winters.
The borough council wants to reduce greenhouse gases by 10 per cent by 2012 to put them on target for a 20 per cent reduction by 2020.
Globally it is estimated that CO2 levels need to but reduced by 25 per cent within 10-20 years to stabilise the climate.
Warrington already has contingency plans to issue fans and water to vulnerable groups. But the aim of the strategy is to build new buildings which will stay cool without using much energy.
Air quality must also be safeguarded.
Forty per cent of Warrington?s Co2 emissions are emitted by the business sector ? indicating a number of big producers – and 37 per cent by road transport, although this includes motorway traffic passing through the area. The domestic sector emits 23 per cent.
The borough council has already embarked on a number of pollution cutting schemes. Street lighting, for instance, has cut CO2 emissions by 11 per cent since 2002.
A travel plan for council staff has been launched and although it has not yet made much progress, there are plans to boost it. Currently, 76 per cent of council staff travel to work by car and 11 per cent by public transport. The council is considering more home working, more use of ?pool? cycles for short journeys and park and ride schemes.
In 2009 a major programme of refurbishing and rebuilding schools will start, including low carbon technology.
Other proposals include microgeneration schemes for people?s homes, setting up a ?Invest to Safe? fund to providing funding for climate change schemes and seeking funding from the Carbon Trust and the North West Development Agency.
The council is already signed up the Nottingham Declaration, a commitment by numerous local authorities, to take action to reduce the size of their ?carbon footprints?.
Celena to entertain
at Rugby Test
by John Hendon
FANS at the third Test between Great Britain and New Zealand will be lucky, lucky, lucky, when Warrington born singer Celena Wright performs her Kylie Minogue tribute.
Celena, who usually performs under the stage name Amiria, has been performing her Kylie tribute for the past eight years on numerous cruise liners.
The game is set to be a family affair as Celena will team up with her mum Makuini, who is singing the New Zealand Maori anthem, to provide the pre match entertainment.
New Zealand born Makuini teaches students at a dance school in Woolston, as well as students from Norway, South Africa and Japan.
The third Test takes place on Saturday, November 10 at the JJB Stadium in Wigan.
10,000 jobs promised
by ?1 billion strategy
by James Parr
AROUND 10,000 new jobs are to be created in Warrington and Cheshire under new plans outlined in a ?1 billion economic development action plan.
Cheshire and Warrington Economic Alliance and its partners have produced the plan ? which can be see at www.cwea.org.uk – to cover the three years up to 2011.
Other key policies outlined in the plan aim to kick-start Warrington Borough Council?s ?2 billion ?Vision for Warrington? ? unveiled earlier this year – create 1,900 new businesses and reduce the number of people with no academic qualifications.
Three of the priorities outlined in the plan – including one in Warrington – build on existing places that are recognised by the Regional Economic Strategy as established economic drivers for the region.
The action plan has now been submitted to the North West Development agency for approval.
Chief executive of Cheshire and Warrington Economic Alliance Martin Lee said: “We would like to thank all our partners who have worked tirelessly with us to produce this action plan, which will help to make our economy grow and prosper.
?The refreshing and updating of the action plan is an ongoing process and we are looking forward to the announcement of funding so that we can start to see some really exciting projects move forward.”
A fully detailed copy of the plans is available from www.cwea.org.uk
Vandals torch car after
crashing into phone box
by staff reporter
VANDALS set fire to a car in Longshaw Street, Warrington after apparently deliberately crashing it into a phone box.
The blaze completely wrecked the car after the two occupants had fled the scene.
Witnesses reported seeing the vehicle career along the road, reverse and turn around and then drive into the phone box.
The driver appeared to be trapped in the driving seat and had to be released by the other occupant. But neither appeared to be hurt as they fled the scene.
A Fire Service spokesman said the car was a write-off and the phone box was also seriously damaged.
Police are investigating.
A chance for young
snappers to click
by James Parr
YOUNGSTERS from Warrington are being offered the chance to sign up for a special photography course to be held at the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Peace Centre.
Young snappers aged between 13 and 19 will be able to learn all aspects of photography and create an exhibition about what young people in the town are really like.
Starting in December, the programme will run for 12 weeks every Monday night between 6.30pm and 8pm.
Warrington Youth Club and the Peace Centre are giving this chance to the town’s teens as part of a joint initiative.
To register for a place on the course call Janis at the Warrington Youth Club on 01925 518 227 or at [email protected]
Clean Team targets
more litter hot spots
by James Parr
THE Warrington Clean Team is to take to the road again, targeting the town’s litter hot spots.
Following a successful litter clear up at the Gatewarth Recycling Centre last time out, the Clean Team is now hoping for similar success in the Tim Parry Park in Great Sankey.
The Clean Team is always on the look out for areas of Warrington where their work will be most affective and the next site could be by the “Pink Eye” buiding on Liverpool Road.
All Clean Team members get the opportunity to suggest parts of the borough they feel are in need of their clean up qualities the most.
Organiser Coun Trudi Wood said: “I must say I have thought there are some area’s of Warrington that are beginning to look much cleaner, but there is still a lot of work to do. Some areas are depressing, the amount of litter accumulates and never seems to get collected. Our last pick around Gatewarth Recycling centre was a great success with over 20 bags of rubbish and our first computer! I even scraped up what seemed to be the remains of a burnt out car.”
The rubbish clean up around the Wroxham Road park will take place on November 18 between 2pm and 4pm.
Gun club aims to
raise school funds
by staff reporter
MEMBERS of a gun club in Warrington will be hoping to fire up funds for a local
primary school as they take part in a clay pigeon shooting event.
Statham Primary School will be the benefactors of all profits raised by the event organised by the Star Gun Club, so they can carry out essential maintenance to the school’s adventure play ground.
Children and staff from the school will be able to join an estimated 100 members taking part in the event.
Tuition from an expert will be given to help the children learn to shoot and understand the sport of clay pigeon shooting.
Beginners have the chance to fire at 25 clay pigeons for only ?7, which will include gun hire, cartridges and tuition.
Members from other gun clubs across the North West are believed to be joining in the fun at Statham.
Flat fire
by staff reporter
A CHIP pan fire at a flat in Warrington left the male occupier needing ambulance treatment.
Two crews responded to the flat in Broadbent Avenue, Latchford, where they found the chip pan to have been already been put out.
Smoke alarms alerted the occupier, and fire crews carried out a full safety check before leaving the premises.
