Jobs for locals plea from council trio

LOCAL people should be at the front of the queue for jobs when an £8 million retail centre is built on the fringe of Warrington town centre.
This is the view of Poplars and Hulme councillors John Kerr-Brown, Steve Roberts and Brian Maher
They are calling for a guarantee that when works starts on the new development, on the site of the former Fordton Leisure Centre, off Winwick Road, job opportunities should be offered first to people living in the ward.
The development will consist of a supermarket, pub/restaurant, drive-through coffee shop and three small shops.
About 60 construction jobs will be created and up to 100 positions when the scheme is complete.
Cllr Kerr-Brown said: “The new development at the former Fordton site brings welcome investment into the Poplars and Hulme ward and provides our local economy with the opportunity for growth.
“However, as councillors, we are committed to ensuring that as many of the jobs that are created as a result of this scheme go to local residents.
“Residents of Poplars and Hulme should be at the front of the queue when it comes to filling these vacancies. This would provide a much-needed boost to the ward that we represent and help to keep our economy moving in these difficult times.
“That is why we are calling for a guarantee from the businesses that are set to take over units on the site that they will employ local people.”
Cllr Maher and Cllr Roberts echoed his comments.
Cllr Roberts said: “The construction phase offers the opportunity for 60 jobs to be made available. We hope that the developer will use local firms, in keeping with the ‘Put Warrington First’ policy that Labour has championed in this part of the town.
“Poplars and Hulme councillors look forward to hearing from the developer, and the respective companies, as these plans progress. We hope that they will adopt the policy of putting Poplars and Hulme first.”
Picture: an artist’s impression of the new retail centre.