Victory in battle
to save school?
by David Skentelbery
PARENTS, teachers and school governors seem likely to win a fight to save a Warrington primary school from closure.
A plan to close Longbarn Primary School, Fearnhead, has been dropped from recommendations to be considered by the borough council’s executive board next week.
Originally, closure of the school, to save 183 places, was one of a number of options being considered to take account of dwindling numbers of primary school pupils across the board.
But a major campaign was mounted by the school and, after considering the objections, education chiefs decided to drop the option. They also revealed that closing the school would require about ?250,000 to be spent on mobile classrooms at Padgate CE Primary School.
Instead, officers will simply recommend reductions of 105 places at Padgate CE Primary and Cinnamon Brow CE Primary. They believe this will provide flexibility to allow parental preference to be exercised and to allow for more than expected numbers of pupils coming from the new Anson and Blenheim developers.
Other recommendations, expected to be approved, include new buildings to replace the existing Stockton Heath Primary School, increase the size of Oughtrington Primary, and build a new primary school to serve the new Chapelford Urban Village.
Alderman Bolton Primary at Latchford is recommended for a 105 place reduction and an investigation will be recommended into the relocation of St Elphin’s CE Primary to St Elphin’s park.
Other proposals include reducing Padgate CE – now known as Christ Church CE Primary – and Cinnamon Brown CE by 105 places each.
More than 16,000 consultations have been carried out before the recommendations were finalised.
Phone box used by
drug dealers – MP
by John Hendon
A TELEPHONE box allegedly being used as a contact point by drug dealers should be monitored by CCTV cameras, according to Warrington North MP Helen Jones.
Ms Jones is calling for installation of a security camera covered the phone box in O’Leary Street, Warrington – opposite Beamont Junior School.
The MP has discussed the problem with concerned residents in the area and with Beamont Junior head Ivor Morgan who is worried about such activities taking place so close to his school.
Ms Jones said: “Ivor Morgan, head at Beamont Junior School, and the residents in the area are right to be concerned about drug dealing in and around this phone box. Drugs destroy communities, wreck lives and create crime and no community should have to deal with the fall out from this evil trade.
“We must take action and crackdown on drug dealers and drug dens and those who sell to teenagers or close to schools as in this case.
“Some people have suggested removing the phone box but this would deprive decent people of a valuable facility. I believe that CCTV can be installed to monitor the goings-on at the phone box and that this would go a long way in combating the problem. Such measures have proven to have worked in other areas in the country and I am delighted that Mr Morgan has agreed to join me in this campaign.
“I will be delivering a petition to the school this week which I hope parents will sign as well as calling on people in that area, over the coming few weeks, asking them to sign the petition and seeking their support for action to be taken.”
Property developer
can extend garden
by staff reporter
A PROPERTY developer has won planning permission to extend the boundaries of his garden at Thelwall, near Warrington, to take surrounding green belt land.
Warrington’s development control committee has imposed a condition, however, to prevent developer Brian Foden from erecting any buildings on the land at Barondale Grange, Stockport Road, Thelwall.
Grappenhall and Thelwall Parish Council had opposed the move on the grounds the land formed part of the proposed green belt and extending the garden would detract from the attractive built environment in Stockport Road.
More than three years ago, Mr Foden won planning permission to erect a two metre high fence around the site.
The committee agreed to the application after hearing from officers that the land was surrounded by residential gardens to the east, west and south with existing substantial dwellings on either site.
In visual terms, when viewed from Stockport Road, there would be no change to existing views.
No additional trees or natural features would be lost as a result of the change of use of the land and no development was intended for the land.
Facelift for town
centre”green” space
by John Hendon
THE Twiggeries – an area of open land at Howley, Warrington – is set for a facelift following the borough council’s announcement of environmental improvements to allow better access for pedestrians and cyclists.
Fairfield and Howley councillor Yvonne Fovargue has welcome the scheme, which is due to be completed by March.
The Twiggeries is bounded by Farrell Street, Kingsway South and Manchester Road and Manchester Road and has for years been a largely unkempt area.
Coun Fovargue said, “The improvement comprises the upgrading of the existing stone surface, which is in poor condition, to a wide tarmac path. This will allow safe access for pedestrians and cyclists to use this greenway in inner Warrington.”
The council is working in partnership with Groundwork Mersey Valley on the development of a Greenways network in the town. The work commencing on the Twiggeries will compliment improvements to Black Bear Linear Park and will help complete an important link from Stockton Heath to the A57 Manchester Rd.
Coun Fovargue added: “The green network in Warrington is really beginning to take shape. These routes not only link areas of open space, but also provide off-road routes linking to schools, shops and leisure facilities.”
Work on site will be designed to ensure that the path remains open throughout the period of construction unless the safety of the public is compromised. The contractor will access the site from Farrell Street, minimising the impact of the works on residents in Peacock Avenue.
“It is pleasing to note that once underway the works should have little impact on local residents. However, I will keep a watching brief on the situation to ensure that this remains the case,” Coun Fovargue concluded.
“Government must do more
to help developing world”
by staff reporter
THE Government should do more to meet the United Nations target of spending 0.7 per cent of our national income on aid to poor countries, according to Liberal Democrats at Warrington.
Coun Ian Marks, the Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Warrington South has added his voice to those calling on the government to do more for the people in the world’s poorest countries.
He said: “The disaster in South East Asia has highlighted the plight of people in developing countries. People in Warrington have been extraordinary generous in giving money to the tsunami appeal but it is vital that this whole subject remains a priority for us once the horrifying scenes have moved off the front pages of our newspapers.
“Our Government has committed itself to reaching the UN target by 2013 but Liberal Democrats are more ambitious and would meet it two years earlier. But there must also be reforms in how the aid is delivered otherwise the extra money will not deliver on its promise.
“There must be more consultation with the recipient countries about the best form of support and we must stop imposing conditions like the privatisation of public services which may be wholly inappropriate. We must not rob Peter to pay Paul by cutting back on valuable aid projects across the world to pay for reconstruction in South East Asia.
“I welcome the Chancellor’s proposals on debt write-off . But it is vital that d
ebt cancellation doesn’t just replace aid. Financial assistance must ensure development takes place that leads to a sustainable exit from debt in the long-term. I hope this country will take a lead in securing international efforts to cancel unpayable debt repayments by the world’s poorest countries without the imposition of unreasonable conditions by institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.”
School closed by
ceiling collapse
by staff reporter
PUPILS of St Lewis’ RC Primary School, Croft, near Warrington were due to return to school today (Tuesday) after an unexpected day off.
The school was closed yesterday due to part of the school hall ceiling collapsing. It is understood heavy rain and high winds over the weekend may have been responsible.
Contractors worked flat out to repair the damage and the school should be able to re-open as usual today.
