Parking offenders face
fines “within months”
by Lesley Wilkinson
MOTORISTS who park on yellow lines in Warrington could find themselves being “booked” within a matter of months.
Police Community Support Officers are to be given powers to issue parking tickets.
All 88 CSOs in Cheshire will complete a three-day training course and should start issuing tickets within the next few months.
CSO Peter Crellin told the parish council at Stockton Heath: “We are all getting traffic powers in the next few month, like traffic wardens. All 88 CSOs in Cheshire will complete a three-day training course.”
He said the training would be phased in, to ensure all officers are qualified.
The number of CSOs was also to be increased, with an expectation that there would be 400 CSOs in the county by 2007.
CSO Crellin added: “They do not want us to become dedicated traffic wardens. This will be something that gets done as we carry on with our other duties.”
Motorists in Warrington have been able to park almost with impunity for several years because there was only one traffic warden in the borough.
He recently became a CSO – which meant there were no traffic wardens.
The borough council has announced plans to take over responsibility for parking enforcement, employing a team of around a dozen wardens issuing about 16,600 tickets a year. Motorists will face penalties of up to ?60.
But this is unlikely to come into force for several years.
Clare sets the style
in throw-away clothes
by staff reporter
COLLEGE student Clare Hardman had bags of fun creating a dress made entirely from supermarket plastic carriers.
Environmentally friendly Clare, 19, said: “I wanted to make the dress from something most people think they have no use for and the carrier bags were perfect.”
Clare of Vulcan Close, Padgate collected the bags every time her mum did the family’s weekly shop.
She said: “Whenever my mum came back from shopping I’d grab the carrier bags from her – my family must have thought I was mad!” Clare, who studies Foundation Art and Design at Warrington Collegiate, created the dress as part of a major project for the course. She got to model the dress at a fashion show held at the Collegiate.
Hundreds of carrier bags were used in the dress, which took just over six weeks to make.
The resourceful student also produced a matching handbag made from crisp packets, coke cans and melted plastic bags. “My main priority was always making the dress, but I thought the bag went with it perfectly …it’s all about accessories,” joked Clare.
Council pledges support
for inner area revival
by David Skentelbery
COUNCIL chiefs at Warrington have pledged support for the regeneration of the town’s inner urban areas in the light of rising house prices in the borough.
The move – supported by all three main political parties – grew out of an initiative by the Liberal Democrat opposition group calling for action to encourage the building of affordable homes.
They say high house prices are put properties in the town out of the reach of many people.
Liberal Democrat leader Coun Ian Marks said: “In the last four years average house prices in Warrington have gone up from ?91,000 to ?154,000.
“National planning guidelines force developers to build properties or apartments with several storeys. These attract a different kind of buyer and do little for local people.
“This helps break up local communities and does nothing for social inclusion. We need low-rise homes that are suitable for young families – not high-rise apartments.”
Coun Marks said the government could help by changing the rules on planning and by freeing up finance to fund genuinely affordable housing. The council should exert pressure on developers to provide affordable housing as part of new developments.
Coun Alan Litton said many new apartments were for rent and cost too much for people on modest incomes.
“Some of these new apartment blocks look more like Colditz Castle and are not in keeping with the surroundings,” he said.
Council leader John Joyce said there was a huge gap between the most deprived, inner wards of Warrington and the richer areas. The council had to make a commitment to the inner areas.
Conservative leader Keith Bland said the problem of affordable housing was also acute in the outer areas, which also needed help.
Coun Sheila Woodyatt said there had been controversy in Lymm over 107 so-called affordable homes, the cheapest of which was ?150,000.
“There is such a thing as rural poverty,” she said.
Action plan to
safeguard wildlife
by John Hendon
AN ACTION plan has been published to help safeguard Warrington’s natural wildlife and environments for future generations.
The plan, “Nature Matters, a Biodiversity Action Plan for Warrington” has been compiled by the borough council in partnership with the Warrington Nature Conservation Forum.
Made up of members of the local community, the forum has prepared the plan to drive forward community based action.
The plan identifies what wildlife and environments warrant special protection, what the threats are and what actions are needed to safeguard the community’s natural inheritance.
Coun Terry O’Neill, the council’s executive member for Sustainable Regeneration, said: “There are wildlife and natural landscapes in the borough, which contribute to our environment and their conservation is very important.
“This plan is linked with creating sustainable communities and green environments and its creation by the forum reflects the fact that members of the community want to get involved in the conservation of their environment.”
Forum chairman Rick Rogers said: “Nature Matters is a crucial document for nature conservation in Warrington. Warrington Nature Conservation Forum, in partnership with the council, has identified the priority issues and actions, which will assist in delivery of sustainable development within the borough.”
For more information about the forum and to view the plan click here
M-way advertising
signs removed
by staff reporter
MORE than 40 advertising signs alongside motorways in Warrington have now been removed – thanks to an initiative by the borough council’s planning department.
The move has proved so successful that other councils across the country are seeking Warrington’s advice on how best to get the signs removed.
Usually displayed on trailers parked in fields, the signs were located along the M62, M6 and M56 – in many cases in sensitive areas of open countryside and in the Green Belt.
John Groves, head of development control at the council said: “The Highways Agency raised concerns with us over the number of signs in Warrington and the potential highway safety problems, particularly because the signs are so close to high speed motorways and roads.
“Cheshire Police also has similar concerns and gave us a great deal of help with identifying sites and enabling council officers to take action to secure removal. Almost without exception, landowners co-operated when we told them of the breach of planning controls and they have removed the signs.”
The council will continue to monitor sites along the motorway network to ensure the signs do not reappear.
Chris tries two
weeks of work
by staff reporter
A 15-year-old pupil from Birchwood High School, Warrington spent two weeks working at Priestley College as part of a pre-16 work experience scheme.
Chris Potts was the third pupil in recent years to spend time on campus following in the footsteps of Bruce McKinnon from Sir Thomas Boteler High and fellow Birchwood pupil Deon Stevenson.
The teenager was able to take part in a range of jobs and activities associated with the business support side of the college’s operation.
They included lookin
g at the ways and means of updating the college’s website, how press and media activities were completed, the nature of work in the learning resource centre and how the campus IT network was maintained.
Chris said: “I found my time at college inspirational and particularly enjoyed learning about all matters IT, from websites to the helpdesk it was all very informative.”
Priestley marketing officer and webmaster Nat Ashurst said “It was a great delight to spend an afternoon with Chris. He was very responsive to the challenges set and loaned a key pair of hands at a time when we are compiling our brand new prospects.”
