Residents win battle
over mobile phone mast
by David Skentelbery
RESIDENTS have won a battle to stop a mobile phone mast being erected near their homes at Cinnamon Brow, Warrington.
The borough council’s development control committee has thrown out an application by Vodafone for a 12m high telecommunications mast, with antenna and ground level equipment cabinet on the east side of Blackbrook Avenue.
A total of 111 objections were received from local residents and there was also an objection from Poulton-with-Fearnhead Parish Council and local borough councillors.
Coun John Kerr Brown told the committee the mast would damage residential amenity, would have a harmful visual impact and could pose a health risk. An earlier proposal in 2001 was refused and the new scheme was even near to houses – only 30 metres from some properties.
Coun Brian Maher compared mobile phone masts to asbestos. Twenty years ago award-winning houses had been built nearby which had subsequently been demolished because they contained dangerous asbestos. It was still not clear whether mobile phone masts posed a health risk.
Coun Mick Curran said the impact of the mast would be unacceptable because no-one would buy houses in the area. More suitable sites were available and Vodafone should consult with local councillors to find out where they were.
Resident Peter Hancock said: “My houses is less than 30 metres from the site – who is going to buy it with that monstrosity looking down on it?” Vodafone spokesman Nigel Harrington said the company was legally obliged to provide coverage to a certain per centage of the population. They fully understood it was a residential area – but people who used mobile phones lived in the area and there were gaps in coverage.
The Government’s advice was that health was not an issue that could be considered.
Coun Albert Clemow said the application was premature as talks between the council and the phone operators had not yet taken place. He was concerned that St Bridget’s Primary School was only 300 metres away.
The committee voted to refuse the application.
Super-cooks taste success
TWELVE Warrington Council “super-cooks” tasted success in an education initiative.
The primary school catering supervisors took the Group Learners’ Award in Warrington Collegiate’s support of Adult Learners’ Week.
The winning cooks pioneered the Collegiate’s craft skills academy – the first in the country.
The Collegiate-trained cooks grasped the chance of learning new skills to prepare healthy, nutritious meals for the town’s schoolchildren.
Catering officer Pat Lyons, said: “The cooks had to overcome a number of challenges. Many are mothers who had to arrange child-care. All had to give up a week’s leave to take part in the academy.”
She added: “The pilot scheme has been a great success. We now plan to run it again in the summer”.
Town strengthens its
employment record
by Terry Johnson
WARRINGTON’S regional lead as a powerful ‘work-magnet’ is strengthening.
Latest labour market figures show the town’s jobless rate has slipped from l.8 per cent to 1.3 pc – putting the town at the very forefront of growth.
“Buoyant Warrington continues to outperform the regional and national economy in terms of employment, output and growth”, states the economic survey.
The town’s jobless claimants have fallen from 2,214 to 1,624.
Male unemployment slipped from 2.7 pc to 2.00pc and the jobless rate for women, from 0.9pc to 0.7 pc.
“The claimant rate in Warrington Borough is lower than rates in Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Tameside, Bolton, Trafford and Bury”, notes the report.
Some 6.5pc of Warrington claimants were long-term, having been out of work more than a year.
This compares with 12.2pc for the North West and 13.9pc across Great Britain.
Pub can advertise –
but only special offers
by David Skentelbery
LYMM’S Golden Fleece has won planning permission to display poster adverts on the front of the pub – provided they are only used to promote special offers and events.
A planning inspector has ruled that the posters should not be used for general advertising or brand promotion.
The pub had appealed against Warrington Borough Council’s decision to refuse planning consent for the posters on the grounds they were “out of keeping” with the building and surrounding conservation area.
But the inspector says the posters are modest in size and at ground floor level and do not look out of place, given existing signage and the use of the building.
A spokesman for Warrington’s planning department said: “This is a somewhat disappointing decision, given the prominent location of this public house. There is a considerable amount of signage on this building and it may be appropriate to consider if existing banners displayed across the building should be removed.
“The condition suggests by the inspector relating to the nature of the advertising is unusual and raises some question over definition and enforceability.”
Creative music making
for young people
by staff reporter
MUSICIANS working with young people in Warrington are invited to hone their skills at a professional development day on June 11.
The creative music-making event will be at Chester College’s Gladstone Centre. It is also open to musicians across Cheshire and Halton.
The project is organised by Amplifier – the youth music partnership venture for Cheshire – and is aimed to help 13 to 18-year-olds to take part in a range of musical opportunities.
To book a place, ring 01925-442287 or write to Amplifier at The Pyramid, Palmyra Square South, Warrington.
Town Hall
changes
by staff reporter
THE election of Coun Linda Dirir as Deputy Mayor of Warrington has resulted in a number of changes on the borough council’s executive board and committees.
Coun Dirir has stepped down from the executive board and Coun Jeff Richards – formerly chairman of the development control committee – has taken over her role as portfolio holder for Sustainable Environment.
Former deputy chairman of development control, the veteran councillor Terry Whelan, has become chairman and Coun Eric Bromley has become his deputy.
Child protection policy
wins national attention
by Terry Johnson
WARRINGTON’S bid to protect its schoolchildren has broken new ground nationally.
Town Hall chiefs have produced pace-setting training and guidance packs which have attracted UK-wide interest.
The first contains vital training materials for schools staff. The second pack outlines methods of teaching children about ‘self protection’.
Launched at a special seminar, the packs are in response to a big shake-up of the UK’s child protection system.
Children’s Services spokesman, Coun Colin Froggatt, said: “Schools play a hugely significant part in safeguarding children. We are committed to ensuring our measures are the very best”.
He added: “These packs are receiving national recognition and praise. It is a great achievement for the Borough Council – recognition of the hard work that has gone into this national first”.
