Bigger and better
website for college
by Gary Skentelbery
WARRINGTON based Carpe Diem, a new media and internet provider, has helped launch a bigger and better website for Warrington Collegiate.
Carpe Diem was commissioned to provide the new website by Warrington Collegiate last September following the launch of their four new colleges; Go For It (the young people’s vocational college; Advance (the adult vocational college); The Warrington Business School, and The Community College.
The new website is attractive and easy to use and has many features to allow access by those with disabilities.
The site has been design and developed with the physically challenged in mind, it has a text only version available for the visually impaired and has been coded to allow for speaking computers to navigate the site easily.
The site search engine is sympathetic to incorrect spelling of words and will suggest a similar sounding word to the user when a search fails to find what has been requested.
There are more than 250 pages of up to the minute information compared with approximately 60 pages currently available to users of the collegiate website.
Bill Carr, of Carpe Diem – Website Design and Development, said; “The collegiate asked us to design and build a website that would provide their many users with up-to-date information that is easy to get at, interesting and appealing. The Content Management System that runs the site has been developed by our in-house team to allow collegiate staff, with little or no technical ability, to make changes quickly and easily, whenever they like.”
Principal and chief executive of the Collegiate, Paul Hafren, said; “We wanted our website to provide electronic access to accurate and current information to all our “customers” and that is exactly what we believe this new website will do. The site contains facts sheets about courses available to current and potential students with the ability to allow them to apply online, search for a course or request further information by email and a lot more.”
The website address is: www.warrington.ac.uk You can find more information about Carpe Diem by visiting www.cd-inc.co.uk
Flats plan approved
despite protests
by David Skentelbery
PLANNERS at Warrington have given the go-ahead for a major town centre housing development, despite objections from residents of nearby, century-old cottages who claim their homes will be overshadowed.
Peel Holdings have won outline permission to build 49 dwellings on land at the western end of Greenalls Avenue on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal close to the old Warrington Dock entrance.
Originally, the applicants had sought permission for 63 apartments up to five storeys high.
But the scheme was reduced in scale to 49 dwellings of up to four storeys.
The original proposal attracted objections from 31 residents and two petitions signed by a total of 100 people. The second scheme drew objections from 30 residents but was supported by four residents.
The site is currently partly disused and parting occupied by an industrial cement bathing plant. It contains a number of buildings including a large, 22 metre high conveyor tower.
Objectors claimed the site would be over-developed, would add to traffic congestion on Wilderspool Causeway and Causeway Avenue and would be out of character with existing properties.
The century-old cottages in Greenalls Avenue – which are Grade 2 listed buildings – would be dwarfed by the new properties and existing residents would suffer a loss of privacy.
Planning officers argued that although the site’s current industrial use was low key there was nothing to stop it becoming more intensive. They said the scheme offered an opportunity to physically improve the local environment.
They said the proposed two, three and four storey buildings would be of traditional design and would relate better to the adjoining Greenalls Brewery conservation area.
Peel Holdings have agreed to fund a package of improvements to the Trans Pennine Trail, which runs across the existing access point to the site.
Students put rock bands
“in the picture”
by Gary Skentelbery
TWO Warrington based students are putting unsigned rock bands in the picture after setting up their own video production company.
Dawn Cundy aged 20 and Bryan Lomax, aged 24, both 2nd year BA TV Production students at University College Chester’s Warrington Campus, have launched Cundy/Lomax Productions. They decided to set up their own company in preference to carrying out work experience.
After promoting their business on the internet they were deluged with interest from more than 80 bands in just two days!
Dawn explained: “As part of our course work we could have gone out working for other production companies but we decided to form our own production company instead.
“We wanted to be involved in all aspects of production and believe the best way of gaining experience is by working with unsigned bands.
“We are not charging the bands for our work while we are still at college but hopefully we will gain valuable experience and have our own successful company up and running by the time we leave college.”
Dawn and Bryan have previously gained work experience working on a college production for the Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme as well as filming with the YMCA.
One band they have been working with are “City of God” led by Lymm based guitarist Mark Mynett, who has previously experienced success at a professional level with Thrash Metal Band “Kill to this.”
They have also been working with Leigh based “The Randoms.”
Bryan added: “Although we have had plenty of interest we would be happy to hear from any other unsigned bands who would be interested in having a professional demo tape produced. They can be contacted at [email protected]
Enjoying ‘the
great outdoors’
by staff reporter
STUDENTS from Warrington’s Priestley College Business Department got a taste of “the great outdoors” when they embarked on a team-building day at Rock and River Activity Centre in Ormskirk.
Although enjoyment was central to the trip, the outing also had a serious point with second year AVCE students organising the day as part of their administrative operations course work.
The group of students took full control and responsibility for marketing, finances, excursion forms and liaising with college and Rock and River personnel.
The trip was an enlightening experience all round for many students who are hopeful of pursuing such a career in a business related field.
Among the activities the students were able to complete were a raft building exercise as well as an opportunity to tackle a tricky trapeze.
Julie McDonald from the College’s Business Department who accompanied the students on their outing said: “The day was a complete success with all students thoroughly enjoying the range of activities.
“The students’ hard work really paid off in that through their efforts they were able to give their fellow students a memorable day and the opportunity to participate in new experiences.
Lib Dems name
council team
by staff reporter
THE Liberal Democrat opposition group on Warrington Borough Council have named the “shadow” spokespersons who will lead their team.
Coun Celia Jordan will speak on children’s services – a wide-ranging portfolio which includes education – Coun Brian Axcell will be the spokesman on environment services, Coun Roy Smith will take responsibility for community services and Coun Peter Walker will speak on corporate service.
Leade
r of the group will continue to be Coun Ian Marks.
Barn conversion
led to collapse
by John Hendon
CONVERSION of a barn in Risley hit a snag when part of the building collapsed, planning chiefs in Warrington heard.
Yet despite the fact that the owners would face “financial” problems, planning officers recommended that their amended plans – which amounted to a complete re-build – be refused, as the new building would be out of character with the area.
But the committee took pity on the owners and approved their amended plans for proposed conversion of a former barn at Rowe Farm, Warrington Road, Risley.
Proposals involve retaining what remains of the structure and re-building previous walls and roof, and a garage extension.
Prior permission had been approved to convert two barns for residential use at the site, and it was believed the structure was sound. Members heard that work had weakened part of one building, and a section had collapsed.
A planning department spokesman said: “The revised proposal now involved what is considered to be a large amount of rebuilding effectively representing substantial reconstruction. This is inappropriate development within the Green Belt.”
News in brief
Motor cycle fire
YOUTHS are believed to have dumped a stolen motor cycle at Brickfield Park, off Orford Lane, Warrington during the night and then set it on fire. The machine was wrecked by the time fire crews reached the scene.
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in this week’s lottery organised by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital are 6, 9, 12 and 13. The ?405 jackpot went unclaimed which means next week’s top prize will be about ?600. The ?25 consolation prize was won by Julie Berry.
Desperate Dan
VETERAN comic book character Desperate Dan will be meeting shoppers at Warrington’s Golden Square shopping centre today (Friday).
School canopy
LYMM High School has been granted planning consent to erect steel and plastic canopies over a waiting area at the school in Oughtrington Lane.
Pub post office
THE way has been cleared for a new post office to be introduced at the Grey Horse public house, Glazebury, with the granting of planning permission.
