AS we enter a new year there is plenty to be positive about in Warrington with the Bridge Street regeneration on schedule which will provide a welcome boost to the town centre.
The Omega development continues to boom creating new jobs in the town and Warrington is also set to benefit for £1.2 billion worth of rail improvements.
When I reflect on various events I have attended there is always lots of great community activity going on, most recently the Lymm Dickensian Festival, the town centre lantern parade and the Santa Dash at Birchwood to name but a few.
During my travels there has been one continuous shining example of community spirit – our town Mayor Geoff Settle (pictured right).
Warrington has had many good Mayors over the years but Geoff and his Mayoress wife Jean have been outstanding.
Not only have they visited numerous events and businesses, often supporting charitable causes, they have gone the extra mile as the town’s first Digital Mayor, promoting their activities on social media.
I would like to take this opportunity of personally thanking Geoff and Jean for all their endeavors since taking office and look forward to working with them in the new year.
Of course it is sadly not all good news in Warrington, with the council having to find another £22 million of cuts to balance the books. This is on top of the £94 of efficiency savings which have been made since 2010.
One wonders how £112 million can disappear from the council coffers in the space of five years without having some major impact on front line services – unless there was a lot of flesh on the bone?
My final thought goes to my good friend Adrian Derbyshire who had to say farewell to his beautiful daughter Julia, (pictured right) aged just 16.
In the new year Adrian will be summoning up the strength to continue his fantastic anti-hate and anti-bullying work in the community, linking it to the memory of his daughter.
As a community we all need to unite with Adrian to help prevent other teenage tragedies.
RIP Julia
