Council chief hits back
as bins row hots up
by David Skentelbery
THE row over Warrington Borough Council?s proposal to collect domestic waste fortnightly has hotted up with new claims that Labour critics are guilty of hypocrisy.
Coun Brian Axcell the council?s executive member for the environment, has produced what he says is hard evidence that the plan was first approved by Labour councillors nearly 18 months ago.
He says minutes of the executive meeting of March 7, 2005, show that the then Labour-controlled board, chaired by then leader of the council John Joyce, approved a recommendation that alternate weekly collections of domestic waste, with recyclable refuse taken one week and residual waste the next.
Every member of the Labour executive board was present at the meeting, says Coun Axcell.
Labour councillors ? including deputy leader Mike Hannon ? have criticised the new proposals.
Coun Hannon said: “If they cannot empty a bin on a weekly basis how do they expect a fortnightly collection to improve the situation??
Warrington North MP Helen Jones has also criticised the Lib Dem-Conservative controlled council.
She said: “This latest announcement adds to the mounting chaos surrounding refuse collection services. Already bins are being left unemptied and rats have been sighted in a number of areas due to the build up of uncollected rubbish. Maggots have even been reported in some bins. The environmental and health implications are obvious.
“Lib Dem councillors say that they are not to blame but frankly the bins were collected without any of the current problems before they took control.
“Instead of admitting that the policy is not working the new council leadership is talking about reducing the service to fortnightly collections. The rats and maggots must be rejoicing at this madness.”
Coun Axcell said the system now being examined was, in fact, better than the one approved by Labour last year as it would involve three collections every fortnight, rather than two.
One week, recyclable waste such as paper, cardboard, plastic, glass and aluminium cans would be collected, using the blue bin. The next week, residual materials, such as food waste, would be taken, using the original bin. Garden waste would be collected separately, as at present, using the green bin.
?It will mean paper is collected every fortnight, rather than every five weeks as at present,? he said.
Coun Axcell stressed there would be widespread consultation and a careful study of how best to organise collections. The council would be able to learn from the mistakes of other authorities which have already introduced similar collections.
He also emphasised that changes were necessary to improving recycling rates to meet government targets.
?We may have to ask householders to put their residual waste in plastic bags to prevent smells and a health risk in the warmer weather. Paper may also have to go in bags.
?The matter will be looked at very carefully before anything is introduced.?
Police promise tight
security at pop festival
by John Hendon
SECURITY will be tight at the Creamfields pop music festival at Daresbury, near Warrington, police warned today.
It is a ticket only event for people aged 18 or over and anyone without a ticket will be turned away, warned officer in command, Acting Insp Andy Chandler.
He said: “If you don’t have a ticket, don’t embarrass yourself by trying to gain access to the site. You will be turned away.”
A number of measures have been put in place by police to prevent any incidents of crime and disorder while the festival is in progress on Saturday and Sunday, August 26-27.
Officers will be patrolling within the site itself. Also around the perimeters in conjunction with the organiser’s security staff to deter and prevent anyone without a ticket from trying to gain access elsewhere.
Police dogs trained to detect drugs will be at the site entrances and if a dog indicates the presence of drugs to its handler, a police officer will search the individual in question. Random searches will also be carried out by police officers at the site entrances.
Hand held detectors, recently purchased by Cheshire Police, will be used by police officers at the site entrances to detect and stop anyone attempting to carry a bladed item into the event.
Chief Insp Chandler said: “We will be enforcing the law and taking positive action where necessary so that festival goers can enjoy this event in safety and to protect local residents living near to the site, as well as their property.”
The policing operation for Creamfields will be overseen and managed from Warrington Police Station and from a forward staging point located near to the site where officers will be briefed before taking up their posts.
While 500 extra officers will be busy policing Creamfields throughout the Bank Holiday, nearby villages and town centres will continue to be patrolled by their local Community Action Team (CAT) officers.
A Level results “better
than ever” – again
YET again, students across Warrington have been celebrating results which education chiefs describe as “higher than ever.”
Around 1,800 students aged 17-19 received their A and AS Level and other advanced vocational examination results.
Early returns from schools and colleges suggest performances this year is higher than ever, according to the borough council.
About 65 per cent of A Level students have been awarded grades A to C and failure rates were very low.
More than 99 per cent of results were at levels A-E.
Increasing numbers of pupils are choosing to study the new Vocational A Level and GNVQ subjects, which offer a wider choice of subjects to pupils. Around 16 per cent of papers taken this year were the new vocational subjects.
Coun Sheila Woodyatt, the borough council’s executive member for Children’s Services, said: “I would like to congratulate all our students, and staff, for all their hard work and dedication in achieving these results. They should feel very proud of their achievements.
“A greater range of A Level subjects are available now and this does seem to be encouraging more pupils to stay on in full time education at age 16.”
The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) produces Performance Tables for Advanced Level results in mid-November. These can be obtained from the DfES by phoning 0800 24 23 22 or direct from their website www.dfes.gov.uk/performancetables
Priestley College announced an overall pass rate of 99.3 per cent which broke all records for the Loushers Lane college with 34 out of 38 subjects landing a pass rate of 100 per cent overall.
As always there were superb performances from a string of individuals including James Sanders who landed five A grades in Physics – one of the five highest achieving candidates nationally.
Meanwhile art students Annice Callery and Hannah Slater were also in the top five students nationally for their particular courses.
As well as excellent results at both A-Level and AS-Level the College was also delighted with the performance of students on vocational courses where seven pathways also notched impressive 100 per cent records.
Principal Michael Southworth said: ?It was fabulous to see the look on the faces of our students as they were finally able to open their prized envelopes.
?We are delighted with the pass rate which once again goes to reinforce the excellence in teaching and support available at Priestley. The students are to be thoroughly praised for their two years of hard work.?
Police warning
after sneak raids
by David Skentelbery
POLICE have issued a warning after men posing as water board workers carried out distraction burglaries in the Warrington area.
In the first incident, a man called at a house in K
ildonan Road, Grappenhall and told the elderly woman occupant her water was going to be turned off.
He went into the kitchen and also went upstairs before leaving the property. Police are not yet sure if anything was stolen.
The offender was aged about 40, slim and had dark hair.
In the second incident, two men called at a house in Moss Lane, High Legh, again saying they were from the water board and entering the property. They apparently searched the house before leaving. Again, police are not yet sure if anything was stolen.
Corrie star backs
charity’s campaign
by staff reporter
CORONATION Street star Helen Flanagan ? better known to viewers as Rosie Webster ? has lent her support to Warrington-based charity The Relation Centre?s campaign to reduce the number of children who run away from home.
Helen hasn?t gone ?missing from home? ? but her character, Rosie, has been and caused her parents considerable worry in the ITV soap.
Her problems are just the sort the Relationship Centre?s Talk?Don?t Walk initiative can help with.
The actress said: ? have a great relationship with my mum and can talk to her about most things, but I know I am really lucky.
?My character, Rosie doesn’t have such a relationship and it is great that the Talk..Don’t Walk project doesn’t just help the runaway but works with the whole family to try to help them sort out their problems.
?If you or you know someone who is thinking about running away and they don’t have anyone to talk to, they should call Talk..Don’t Walk’s helpline or visit their website. There are lots of things that can go wrong if you run away from home.”
Alison McCausland, project manager for Talk..Don’t Walk said: ?We want to encourage children and young people to share their concerns and problems before they run and to make them aware of the dangers they are putting themselves in.
?We are grateful that Helen is on board as I’m sure many can identify with her character as well.?
Cheshire Police say the Talk…Don’t Walk campaign has saved them ?1 million over the last two years.
News in brief
Road death
A 79-year-old Warrington woman has died following a collision between two cars at the junction of Lythgoes Lane and Orford Lane, Warrington on August 13. Police are appealing for witnesses who should call 01244 613813.
Japanese art
AN exhibition of Japanese art by Kanemi Yokoyama entitled ?Diary of Inspirations? is currently running at Woolston Library, near Warrington. Details are available on 01925 816146.
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 1, 7, 15 and 16. There were no takers for the jackpot which will be rolled over to next week when it will be worth ?300. The ?25 consolation prize went to J Jones.
Bank’s birthday
STAFF at the Natwest Bank in Sankey Street, Warrington, held a party to celebrate the 175th birthday of the bank in Warrington. The branch opened in 1831.
[ 21.08.2006, 09:46: Message edited by: DS ]
