“However desirable, a
new swimming pool
is just not viable”
by David Skentelbery
IF a new town centre swimming pool was built at Warrington, it would sentence one or more of the four other existing pools in the borough to closure.
The grim warning was given by Coun Colin Froggatt, the borough council’s executive member for sport and leisure, at a meeting of the executive board.
He said: “However desirable a new town centre pool might be, it just is not viable. There is not enough demand for swimming.
“We would be sentencing one or more of our existing centres to closure.”
Coun Froggatt was commenting on a consultants’ report on the long term future of leisure provision in the borough.
They say there is no strategic need for a town centre swimming facility and one could only be provided by closing one of the other facilities to keep within an affordable budget. The Fordton Leisure Centre at Orford was suggested as the one to be replaced.
Coun Froggatt said the consultants believed the deteriorating condition of the existing leisure centres meant the cost of leisure provision in Warrington would “rocket” in the years to come.
They said only one option would provide a long term solution – a private finance initiative partnership with the education service.
This would involve the provision of new or refurbished facilities at appropriately located school sites which would become “community hubs” to provide improved health and education outcomes in line with council priorities, according to the consultants.
Coun Froggatt said the executive board would not be making a decision until September 20 and in the meantime he was open to comments from the opposition political parties and other interested groups – provided the comments were based on the facts.
Finance chief Coun John Morris said campaigners for a new town centre pool had already described the consultants’ report as “gibberish.”
He said: “I don’t think remarks like this are helpful. A lot of investigation and research has gone into the report. Any argument must be based on fact – we want a sensible debate.”
After the meeting, John Lydon of the Warrington Baths Action Group said he did not want to comment until he had studied the consultants’ report in detail.
Warrington’s century old town centre baths closed a year ago after the council decided it could no longer afford the soaring cost of maintaining the crumbling building in Legh Street.
Canal-side flats plan
rejected by councillors
by Lesley Wilkinson
PLANNING chiefs at Warrington have thrown out a builder’s bid to amend proposals for a controversial development of flats and houses overlooking the Manchester Ship Canal – even though the property is partly built.
The borough council’s development control committee refused to approve changes to the scheme on the site of the former Locks Service Station in Thelwall New Road after hearing allegations that the developer had breached regulations.
The development by Robert Foden Estates involves 12 two-bedroom apartments and one house in Thelwall New Road, Grappenhall.
Planner officers recommended it be approved – but the committee would not agree.
Coun Barbara Mawer described the application to amend the scheme after building work had reached an advanced stage as “cynical.”
But Mr Foden (pictured), who attended the meeting, said: “I am not trying to flaunt the system. I am trying to adhere to it as best I can.”
The committee was told the development was considerably higher than the approved plans. It included two, three and three and-a-half storey sections.
An objection from Grappenhall and Thelwall Parish Council stated the building was considerably higher than originally approved, protruding above the nearby railway embankment. The claimed it was detrimental to the area and encroached on the highway.
A statement by the developer’s agent said the approved scheme would not fit on the site because it had been discovered that a strip of land at the base of the railway embankment was subject to a covenant preventing building.
The approved scheme also ignored requirements for the provision of disabled access, provided minimal space for refuse bins and had a roof pitch which made rooms in the third storey virtually uninhabitable.
The building form was deliberately strong, being reminiscent of ships on the canal – two storeys rising to three and-a-half storeys and then falling away to three storeys. The house at the end echoed the vernacular of a canal side lock-keeper’s cottage.
It was denied that the building protruded above the railway embankment which was overgrown with trees, hawthorn and brambles which would provide a well established privacy screen at the rear of the apartments.
School’s summer ball
THE annual Summer Ball at Grappenhall Heys Primary School, near Warrington was held in a marquee in the school grounds – and was blessed with a long, warm summer’s evening.
The dancing went on into the early hours, with local R & B Band Da Capo Dance, who are all local teachers, providing the music. Key 103 DJ Mike Toolan compered an auction raising money from donated prizes including holidays, flights and a signed portrait of Sir Alex Ferguson.
More than #8,000 was raised for the school and will buy equipment for the children in support of the National Curriculum.
Mothers launch website
to help with parenting
by Lesley Wilkinson
A MOTHER mother-of-five and her friends have set up a website to help make the difficult task of parenting easier for people in Warrington. Joanne Thorley, 30, of Ashcroft Road, Lymm, a single parent to Melissa, 12, Olivia, 10, Alysha, nine, Hanna, seven, and Nathan, four, and a group of parents started the site. Now others are helping, including pupils from Lymm High School. She said: “There is lots of information available to parents, but sometimes it is difficult to find it. “We decided to set up an on-line information and research centre with links to all local groups, charities and support organisations such as education and business,” she added. The site, www.childcareinwarrington.com or www.childcareinwarrington.co.uk features a range of information for parents including healthy eating, help with homework, how to deal with head lice and coping with tantrums.
There is also information for parents of children with disabilities or special needs. And there are links to information about schools, other voluntary groups, health services and activities.
Joanne, who designed the websites, says she spends up to 40 hours a week on the work. The team started on the project in March and now has 15 helpers, the service is currently free and unfunded. Members are hoping to eventually attract funding to the project, and maybe register as a charity in the future.
“The site has a message board where people can ask questions, and others can offer advice or tips,” said Joanne. “We hope to be able to cover all the information that parents need.”
Joanne, who previously worked in admin, has taught herself website design and is enjoying learning more as the site develops.
“This is useful information for parents to have at their fingertips,” she said. “I would have appreciated a lot of this information during the year that I’ve been bringing my children up.”
New chief executive
confirmed by council
by staff reporter
THE man who has kept a steady hand on the helm at Warrington Borough Council since it lost its chief executive and his deputy has finally been confirmed as the new chief.
Former Social Services director David Whitehead, interim chief executive for the last nine months, was elected chief executive at a special meeting of the full council.
His appointment was approv
ed unanimously – and council leader John Joyce, Liberal Democrat leader Ian Marks and Conservative leader Keith Bland joined together in congratulating him and wishing him well for the future.
Mr Whitehead (pictured) thanks councillors for their confidence and promised to do his best for the town.
He described the last nine months as “interesting.”
Mr Whitehead was appointed on the basis of a fixed term contract with a minimum duration of two and-a-half years and a maximum of three years.
He became interim chief executive after former chief Steven Broomhead and his deputy, Bernice Law, left in rapid succession to join the North West Development Agency.
[ 02.09.2004, 10:51: Message edited by: DS ]
