Town’s leisure buildings
slammed by inspectors
by David Skentelbery
WARRINGTON?S leisure buildings have been slammed by inspectors from the Audit Commission.
Inspectors from the watchdog body have expressed concern over the condition and quality of certain buildings ? notably the leisure centres, the Parr Hall and some outdoor facilities such as playgrounds.
They say the borough council needs to make key decisions in these areas to allow progress to be made.
The inspectors visited Warrington last summer to inspect cultural services, which includes leisure centres, sports and leisure development, tourism, arts and cultural services, libraries, museums and archives, parks and gardens and outdoor recreational facilities.
Warrington was judged as having a fair service with ?uncertain prospects? ? a one star service.
But under new harder test criteria, a previously good service can be judged as only fair if no improvements have been noted.
The inspectors identified a number of issues within the service as highly positive.
They praised the service for its value for money and the quality of initiatives on the ground.
Particular mention was made of the quality and dedication of staff and of good practice in libraries, arts and culture, parks and green spaces and outdoor recreational facilities.
However, there are concerns about performance management, which is described as ?patchy? and ?inconsistent? with areas of good practice and areas of concern.
There are also inconsistencies on the issue of accessibility to cultural services. The areas of ICT, consultation with users and marketing were highlighted needed attention.
While user satisfaction is above average nationally, the inspectors say Cultural Services are not reaching as many users as they potentially could. ICT, marketing and user consultation were highlighted as the reasons for this.
The council says a new corporate strategy has been developed since the inspection visit which is beginning to ?bed down?. In the longer term, it proposed to develop a cultural improvement play to address the issues raised by the Audit Commission.
Children forge
new friendships
NEWCHURCH Community Primary School in Culcheth, Warrington, has celebrated Friendship Week.
The week was designed to encourage the children to play together and to forge new friendships with children from a different age range to themselves.
Children worked together in small groups in the classroom to create pictures made by hand prints, which are displayed around school. Money raised during the week, from a ?1 donation given by everyone at school will be used to buy more playground equipment.
The week’s events closed with a giant hand holding session in the playground, which was intended to symbolise how the school children look after one another and are part of one school.
Girl attacked
by man on bike
by John Hendon
A 17-year-old girl was subjected to a terrifying sex attack as she walked home after a night out in Stockton Heath, near Warrington.
The attack took place just after she had walked over the London Road swing bridge over the Manchester Ship Canal.
Police are appealing for witnesses of the assault.
The girl was walking ahead of a group of relatives and would have appeared to be alone.
A man appeared, riding a bicycle across the swing bridge. The machine had a red flashing light fixed to it.
As he reached the girl he grabbed her around the waist and made an indecent remark. The girl attempted to remove his hands but in the struggle which followed fell, with the man falling on top of her.
He made an indecent remark before running off back across the bridge towards Warrington.
The girl was not seriously hurt but was badly shaken.
Police say the offence was aged 19-21, about 5ft 10 inches tall and of medium build. He had short, wavy dirty blonde hair and a strong, square jaw. He was wearing a hooded cream or white jacket and dark trousers.
Anyone who can help is asked to call PC Helen Williams at Stockton Heath Police Station on 01244 612633.
BNFL sells nuclear
clean-up company
by business staff
WARRINGTON-based British Nuclear Fuels plc (BNFL) has announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its US nuclear clean-up company BNG America to EnergySolutions.
The sale also includes BNG America’s wholly-owned subsidiaries Manufacturing Sciences Corporation and BNG Fuel Solutions.
EnergySolutions is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah and is owned by a private investor group led by Lindsay Goldberg and Bessemer (LGB), a New York-based investment partnership that invests primarily in privately held businesses.
The purchase of BNG America by EnergySolutions is part of a larger transaction involving the combination of three leading US nuclear waste management companies – BNG America, Envirocare of Utah, and Scientech D and D. The BNG America sale is expected to be finalised in the next few weeks.
BNFL’s chief executive Mike Parker said: “I am delighted that we have been able to conclude a deal with EnergySolutions for the sale of BNG America. This sale is consistent with our ongoing strategy, adopted after the 2003 strategy review, of concentrating primarily on UK clean-up through the specialist company British Nuclear Group. I would like to thank all those involved with BNG America for their dedication and commitment over the years.”
Pupils’ concert celebrated
learning and childcare
by Mark Hemmings
MORE than 150 pupils from primary schools in Bewsey, Dallam and Whitecross came together on stage at Warrington?s Parr Hall for a unique concert.
It celebrated the start of the town’s commitment to providing extended services such as health support, family learning and childcare to children, young people and their families using school buildings and local resources.
The concert was the first of its kind in the North West, and brought together children’s creativity and talents with a means of consulting with parents as to what they would like to see offered to pupils in local schools and community, alongside the traditional forms of education.
Parents and carers gave ideas and suggestions on the types of future services they would like offered through their schools and suggestions varied from asthma clinics and police surgeries to the use of the schools sporting facilities out of hours.
Deputy Mayor Coun Linda Dirir and Norma Cadwallader, interim strategic director of Children’s Services, were among the guests.
Coun Colin Froggatt, executive member for Children’s Services, said: “The children’s performances were excellent and a clear reflection of the hard work of the schools involved in this extended services cluster.
“This innovative method of consultation meant that parents could offer their views whilst being entertained. Extended services is about using available facilities to their full potential to ensure that every child in Warrington gets the best possible start in life”.
Cancer consultation
– at the library
by Mark Hemmings
CANCER sufferers can get information on the disease ? and even a consultation with a professional from Macmillan Nurses ? by visiting the library.
A pilot scheme has been launched at Penketh Library, Warrington offering support to people with cancer.
Instead of going to hospital or a doctor, people will be able to attend drop-in sessions every Thursday from 10am to 1pm.
Tracie Keats, cancer care facilitator for Warrington and Halton Primary Care Trusts, said: “There is a lack of information available for patients with cancer and their carers in easily accessible places outside hospitals or doctors’ surgeries. Many patients and carers have told us they would feel more comfortable going to a library for information than a medical setting. This new service
will also give patients more choice about where to access information from.”
Macmillan cancer patient information and support manager Bev Collins, who has a specialist qualification in palliative care, will provide the service. As well as giving advice, Bev will be able to direct people to other sources of help and information. There is a room available should people want to talk in private.
The pilot is supported by the Merseyside and Cheshire Cancer Network, and funded through a donation from Dr Tony Bates and partners at Holes Lane Surgery, Woolston, Warrington. It will be assessed before being rolled out across the town.
For more information people can contact Tracie Keats on 01925 811058 or email [email protected]
News in brief
Spring dance
A SPRING dance is being held at St Thomas? CE Primary School, Stockton Heath, Warrington on Friday, March 3.
There will be live music from BuzzWord, a hot pot supper ? with a vegetarian option available ? bar, raffle, and dancing. Tickets are available from the school office on 01925 268722 at ?12.50. All proceeds are for school funds.
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 6, 13, 14 and 15. There was no winner so the jackpot will be rolled over to the next week when it will be ?800. The ?25 consolation prize was won by J Berry.
Town Hall tours
PUPILS from Our Lady?s RC Primary School, Warrington will be given a tour of theTown Hall on Tuesday while children from Park Road Primary School will go on a similar tour on Thursday. Both groups will be greeted by the Mayor and Mayoress, Coun Hans Mundry and Coun Karen Mundry.
