Political storm brewing
over post office closures
by David Skentelbery
TWO motions are to be put to next week?s meeting of Warrington Borough Council expressing concern over the proposal to close six post offices across the borough.
One, to be moved by council leader Ian Marks and seconded by fellow Lib Dem councillor Bob Timmis, roundly blames the Government.
The other, to be moved by Labour councillors Paul Kenny and Hitesh Patel, expresses regret that an earlier council report accepted the scope for rationalising some postal services and calls on the council to affirm its opposition to post office closures in the borough.
It is likely the wording of the Labour motion will cause a political row because Lib Dem councillors have already criticised Labour for issuing ?misleading? statements which suggested the council was not opposing the closures.
The Lib Dem motion notes the social importance of Post Offices to the well being of both individuals and communities in Warrington and says the closure programme is unnecessary.
It calls on the Government to end the closure programme, allow the opening up of further business opportunities for the network, stop removing Government business from Post Offices and carry out a review of which additional Government functions could be carried out through Post Offices.
They also want the Government to invest in the Post Office network ? and urged the town?s two MPs to oppose the closures.
The Labour motion recognises the important social and economic role of post offices within the borough and notes the government commitment to invest nationally up to ?1.7 billion in the post office network over the five years.
It welcomes the confirmation by government that there will be a successor to the Post Office Card enabling people to continue getting their pension or benefits from the Post Office in cash should they choose to do so.
It urges the Government assist Post Office Ltd to expand into new areas of business.
Labour also urge the council?s executive board to what extent the council can provide assistance to the threatened post offices in the borough with a view to them remaining as viable businesses serving their local communities.
Mayor launches special
Young Citizen Awards
YOUNG people will have their valuable contribution to society recognised with the introduction of the Warrington Young Citizen Award being launched by the Mayor, Coun Celia Jordan.
Coun Jordan said: “These days, our young people feel frustrated by the negative bad press generated by a small minority. I would like to redress the balance by highlighting the excellent contribution I know our young people are making to society in Warrington.”
The awards will recognise achievement, good citizenship and service to others. For example, you may know a young person who has been helping an elderly neighbour with their shopping, or a young person who has been taking care of a sick relative. You might be a teacher or tutor who has witnessed one of your students going that extra mile to help the people around them, or seizing the initiative to make their local community a better place.
The awards are open to any young person between the ages of seven and 18 and nominations are welcomed from schools, colleges, members of the public, family, friends, youth groups or any other organisations.
The Mayor of Warrington will present awards for the ‘Young Citizen of the Month’ and all monthly winners will be entered into the running for the grand final, Warrington’s ‘Young Citizen of the Year’ award next May. Thanks to sponsorship from local magazine publishers Orbit News the Young Citizen of the Month award will be featured online at www.warrington-worldwide.co.uk and in their local community magazines, Lymm Life, Culcheth Life, Village Life and warrington-worldwide. The winner will be presented with a commemorative trophy by the Mayor during a special visit to the town hall, a meal for four at the Paddington House Hotel and ?50 worth of vouchers. At the end of the Mayoral year the overall winner will be selected with the prize of featuring on the front page of the magazine relevant to their neighbourhood.
Coun Jordan concluded: “I am very grateful to Warrington Worldwide/Orbit News for their generous sponsorship of this award and hope that the opportunity to be recognised by their peers, friends and relatives as a model citizen will encourage as many young people as possible to enter this prestigious award.”
Orbit News MD Gary Skentelbery added: “One of the biggest issues we hear about from our readers is the number of times young people are shown in a bad light. We dedicate many of our pages to the achievements of young people, focusing on the many positive issues across the borough as we believe this has far greater benefits for the local community.”
Elderly woman left
shaken after robbery
by David Skentelbery
AN elderly woman is recovering after being badly shaken when three men forced their way into her home at Warrington and robbed her.
She was not injured in the incident in Clay Lane, Burtonwood but was badly shocked and police have yet to be able to interview her fully.
But she has been able to tell detectives that one of her attackers was about 6ft 3 inches tall, with jet black hair and wearing a white sweater with dark coloured stripes.
The woman answered a knock at her door between 10.30 and 11am on Saturday (December 8). She was confronted by three men who bundled her back into the house and started searching rooms. They eventually left with a quantity of cash and were seen walking in the direction of the village centre.
Police say they are hoping to have descriptions of the other two men involved in the robbery soon.
In the meantime they are appealing for help from anyone who may have seen three men acting suspiciously in Burtonwood or who may know the offenders involved.
Anyone who can help is asked to call DC Adam Bolger or DC Ruth Atherton on 01244 613834 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Rain fails to
dampen spirits
by Gary Skentelbery and James Balme
TORRENTIAL rain failed to dampen the spirits as villagers at Lymm turned back the clock to Dickensian days for the annual Lymm Dickensian Festival.
It was probably the worst weather ever for the annual event, but youngsters from local schools braved the elements as they paraded from the Lymm Hotel through the village centre.
The poor weather affected the watching crowds but hundreds still lined the streets.
Organised jointly by Lymm Rountable and the Rotary Club of Lymm, pupils dressed in festive costumes with dozens of little santas, snowmen and lots of gift wrapped parcels!
There were also plenty or umbrellas on show!
Town Crier Peter Powell started proceedings which were led by Parish Council chairman Bob Barr, who was joined by the Deputy Mayor of Warrington Graham Welbourne.
Cricket club wins
?163,339 grant
by David Skentelbery
APPLETON Cricket Club has won a grant from the Government’s ?9.4 million community club development programme – monies which have been pledged to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for upgrading cricket club facilities.
The club was identified by the ECB as a club deserving support because of the strength of its junior cricket development programme.
A grant of ?163,339 has provided a major contribution towards the cost of the club’s new pavilion and has covered the cost of a three-bay synthetic net practice area.
Club secretary Alan Rogers said: “We were really delighted and excited when we were awarded the grant because an improvement in our facilities was urgently needed.
“In recent times the club membership has grown – including a ladies section – and it was a priority to provide a new pav
ilion with up-graded changing rooms, showers and toilets. These new facilities are now in place and we have had a further increase in participation.
“We have over 120 junior cricketers and the excellent new synthetic pitches provide safe and secure practice facilities which are so important in the development of young players. These facilities have enabled us to extend our structured coaching programme.
“We are grateful to ECB for their most generous grant and we also acknowledge with gratitude the support given to us by the local councils, the Bridgewater High School, the Foundation for Sports and the Arts, the Wren Trust and our members. We regard the grant as an investment in cricket at the club for the future.”
Chief executive of Sport England Jennie Price said: “We are delighted to make this award to Appleton Cricket Club. The facility is key to the local development of cricket.
“The community club development programme represents a new way of working for Sport England whereby national governing bodies are involved in the initial selection of possible projects that should receive funding based on their new strategic plans. This programme is an innovative way of helping to ensure that community clubs- the heart of grass roots sports development in the country – receive the capital investment they need.”
A last chance to
write a local poem
by James Parr
ASPIRING poets in Warrington are being given a final chance to win a ?1,000 prize in a national competition.
United Press are running a competition called “Local Poem”, where applicants have to send in a poem that described there local town or city.
All poems must be no longer than 20 lines and 160 words, with final date for entries being December 31.
A spokesperson for United Press said: “It can be about something or someone from the poet’s home area.
“We find that poems written from personal observation and experience are the most heartfelt and expressive, so we’re expecting some great entries from Warrington.”
For more details visit www.unitedpress.co.uk
[ 12.12.2007, 08:52: Message edited by: James P ]
