Village school looks
set for demolition
by David Skentelbery
TOWN Hall chiefs at Warrington are being urged to press on with a ?3.9 million scheme to demolish a popular primary school and replace it with a new one.
A report to the borough council’s executive board, to be considered on Monday (Sept 12) recommends that demolition of Stockton Heath Primary School go ahead, despite strong opposition from parents and nearby residents.
The report states: “Whilst there is a significant desire in the community not to lose the old Victorian building, it is outweighed by both the practical advantages and general community opinion which favour the new build option.”
Proposals for a new school at Stockton Heath have been under consideration since last December, when the Government announced the award of a capital grant of ?3.1 million subject to Warrington Borough Council making the sum up to ?3.9 million.
But parents and residents were strongly opposed to demolition of the old school and persuaded the council to investigate another option – refurbishment and extension of the existing school.
Council officers say the new build option would meet all the needs of staff, governors and parents, could be built with the available funding and would be completed by the summer of 2007.
Refurbishment would meet the majority, but not all, of the requirements, would exceed available resources by about ?500,000 and would not be ready until 12 months later.
Officers also claim that at the last of a series of consultation meetings, two thirds of those attending favoured the new build option.
However, opponents of demolition claim this meeting was called at an inconvenient time which meant many objectors were not able to attend.
Coun Patrick Mullee, a member of Stockton Heath Parish Council, said: “The meeting was a farce. We are having our heritage taken from us by people who have no roots in Stockton Heath and who have no interest in local feelings.”
Three cheers
for play area
by Gary Skentelbery
A THREE year project to provide a much needed children’s play area at Culcheth Sports Club has been completed.
The new addition to the clubs facilities is designed for use of children from 2 – 15 years.
The project involved the re-location of the existing croquet lawn to make room for the play equipment and construction of a new patio area.
Both of these tasks were funded by the club, but the provision of the play equipment and safety surfacing was only made possible by obtaining a grant of ?16,500.
This was provided by Biffaward under the landfill tax credit scheme, and Cheshire Building Society who generously agreed to act as third party contributor.
Secretary, Eric Hart said ‘This play area is a huge asset to the club. We want to encourage families to make more use of our facilities, and view the club in a social as well as a sporting context.’
The play area has already proved a huge hit with younger visitors to the club, and is especially popular at weekends.
Residents invited
to “Dip into Japan”
by Gary Skentelbery
WARRINGTON residents have the chance to gain a fascinating insight into Japan is being on Sunday September 18 at Lymm Village Hall.
The event “Dip into Japan” by the Japan Society North West takes place from 1pm to 5pm and as its name suggests, visitors will be able to see and try many aspects of the country.
Organiser, David Woolf, is the Chairman of the Japan Society North West. He has lived in Japan and set up and ran for Warrington-based company BNFL its subsidiary company in Japan, BNFL Japan KK. On returning to High Legh, near Warrington, he immediately became involved with the Japan Society and was the organiser of a major photographic exhibition in Manchester as part of the Japan 2001 Festival.
A wide variety of displays on show at the event include:
Iaido: a display of the martial art of swordsmanship
Sushi: see an expert make sushi and then try for yourself
Ningyo: a wonderful collection of Japanese Dolls amassed by a Warrington collector
Bonsai: the art of cultivating miniature trees
Origami: an expert will help you create remarkable objects just by folding paper
Go: the easiest of rules but the most strategically complex board game in the world
Shodo: try your hand at calligraphy and write your name in Japanese
Ikebana: demonstrations of minimalist flower arranging
Japanese textiles and artifacts for sale
Haiku: Japanese short poems
The event is being sponsored by Japan Airlines, a longstanding corporate member of the Society, who will be present and can tell visitors how easy and now much cheaper now it is to visit Japan.
There is a free raffle for all who attend, with Japanese items as prizes and Green Tea for all!
The event is also supported by the Embassy of Japan and is an official event of the 2005 EU-Japan Year of People-to-People Exchanges.
Admission is just ?1 for adults and 50p for children.
Japan Society North West with strong links in Warrington, has a long association with Japan, being a major contributor to the modernisation of Japan after the Meiji Restoration in the late 19th Century. Now there are many famous name Japanese Companies in the north west, for example Toyota, Sharp and YKK.
The Society meets about every six weeks for members to share the widest possible experience of Japan and Japanese culture.
This particular event has been organised by the Japan Society North West to bring to the attention of the people of Warrington and Lymm the many attractions of Japan and the many Japanese-related activities locally in which they can participate, not just through the Japan Society North West but through many other Groups and Societies.
Further information on the society can be found at the website www.jsnw.org.uk
Indian dance company’s
classical stories
by staff reporter
Breaking new ground in rhythm and movement, Indian dance company Sankalpam bring their production PSYCHE – the modern self, to The Pyramid, Warrington on October 6 as part of a UK-wide autumn tour.
Inspired by the traditional South Indian storytelling technique of “Harikatha” the dancers sing, chant and dance, wrapping the audience in the vibrant dance language of Bharata Natyam.
Two Indian classical stories will be re-told with five dancers and two musicians who will chart an emotional and artistic progression through the evening.
Daring to play with tradition and transgression, the sacred and the profane, the production is a heady celebration of the multiple facets of the modern self.
Vidya Thirunarayan, Mira Balchandran Gokul and Stella Uppal-Subbiah are Sankalpam?s three artistic directors. All three trained at the Kalakshetra College of Fine Arts in Madras, where they had the opportunity to work with the pioneering choreographer, Rukmini Devi Arundale.
Performing with Mira and Stella will be guest dancers Liz Lea, Shijith Namblar and Mavin Khoo alongside musicians Karaikkudi Krishnamurthy (percussion)and vocalist Sampath Kumar. The production is a collaboration with Professor Prameela Gurumurthy, head of the music department, University of Chennai, Lee Curan of the ICA and Ashley Slater, who will arrange the music.
Choreography is by Stella Uppal-Subbiah.
Mira said: “PSYCHE – the modern self marks two important milestones for the company: the first decade of our existence as a national touring dance company and the centenary of the birth of Rukmini Devi Arundale, our mentor and the guiding spirit behind our work. She has given us both the tradition by which we are sustained and the inspiration to move that tradition forward.”
Poets can reveal their
visions for the town
by John Hendon
BUDDING poets should put pen to paper for Warrington Central Library and M
useum’s poetry event as they could be in with a chance of reciting their work in public.
Poets can take their inspiration from the theme for the event, “What are your dreams for Warrington in the future”, there is no word limit and entries should be submitted to the library by Friday September 30.
There will then be a chance for poets to read their work in public as staff have organised an open mic session for National Poetry Day on Thursday October 6 in the Golden Square Shopping Centre, which will be compered by Manchester poet Mike Garry.
Poets can showcase their own work or read out their favourites and fans who just enjoy listening are also welcome to come along.
Original poems could also be published on the library’s website and could find themselves on poetry displays in libraries throughout Warrington.
Entries can be submitted to Wendy Molyneux at the Warrington Central Library and Museum, Museum Street, Warrington.
Flats plan for
tennis courts
by David Skentelbery
A CONTROVERSIAL plan to build three-storey apartment blocks on land currently used by a tennis club comes before Warrington’s development control committee tonight (Wednesday).
The scheme involves five courts, a clubhouse and a car park currently used by Grappenhall Village Tennis Club in Bradshaw Lane.
Outline planning consent was given earlier this year, despite opposition from nearby residents.
Now detailed proposals reveal that developers plan four three-storey block, totalling 24 apartments.
The club is backing the scheme as part of a move to Stockton Lane, where it plans to share facilities with Grappenhall Sports Club, which runs soccer and rugby teams.
Nearby residents say the apartments will bring traffic and parking problems, will be out of character with the area and will rob existing houses of privacy.
Coun Ted Lafferty, who represents the area, is asking the committee to visit the site before reaching a decision.
College opens first
part of new campus
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON Collegiate has opened the first phase of its ?27m new build campus on Winwick Road.
The Construction and Engineering Skills Centre will be used by students studying joinery, plumbing, carpentry and electrical engineering and will offer students a state-of-the-art learning environment when they return to college on Monday (September 12).
Already, people from all over the Warrington community have been along to the college to see what the first phase in the redevelopment has to offer.
Several key stakeholders from the took part in a variety of workshops, which left them better informed about the work of the college.
Visitors had the chance to look around the new building and view the brand new state of the art facilities. There were also student workshops, DJ performances and a new build stand showing what the college will be like once the new build is complete next summer.
Chief Executive of the North West Development Agency, Steven Broomhead officially opened the new block – marking a culmination of events celebrating the opening of the new centre. Chairman of the Collegiate Corporation Colin Daniels was also present.
Principal Paul Hafren said: “Our open day really allowed people to get a feel for the new Construction and Engineering Skills Centre and the fantastic facilities it has on offer, before the students return to college on Monday. It gave people a good insight in to the work of Warrington Collegiate.”
