?16 million facelift for
1,100 council houses
by Lesley Wilkinson
A FURTHER 1,100 council properties will be improved in Warrington at a cost of ?16 million.
Golden Gates Housing (GGH)- the borough council?s housing arm – has been given the go-ahead for the spending.
The news comes at the end of a year in which improvements costing ?20 million have already been made to 2,200 properties.
GGH chairman Doreen Moors said: “This is fantastic news. The funding will enable us to continue to improve houses on our estates.”
Work carried out so far includes new kitchens and measures to improve energy efficiency including more efficient boilers and loft insulation – typically reducing gas bills by ?100 a year.
The measures are expected to save more than ?1,500,000 in fuel bills and cut down CO2 emissions by more than 20,000 tons.
Specially approved contractors, Connaught and Bramalls, appointed following a rigorous selection process including tenant consultation, have carried out the work. Surveys show 97 per cent of customers were satisfied with the work.
The partnership has been recognised as an example of good practice, and has enabled the company to gain additional funding.
Tenants are consulted at all stages during the renovation work, and can choose from a range of fixtures and fittings. During the upheaval of kitchen work, temporary arrangements are made for making drinks and snacks, and doing laundry.
One tenant said: “I am really pleased with the central heating and the new kitchen. The improvements have made a real difference to my life.”
The work is part of the government’s Decent Homes initiative to ensure that all council houses have modern facilities by 2010. GGH, started improvements in 2003 and aims to complete the work by 2008, two years ahead of schedule.
For the renovation work, GGH has made a commitment to buy products from local businesses and set targets for partners to employ Warrington people. Nine local people were funded to train as plasterers and 15 apprentices are working towards becoming joiners, bricklayers, plumbers and electricians.
Exhibition remembers one
of town’s forgotten heroes
by David Skentelbery
ONE of Warrington?s forgotten heroes is being remembered in a special exhibition at the town?s museum.
Jockey Steve Donaghue won 14 British classics and was champion jockey 10 years running from 1914-23.
It was the 60th anniversary of his death last month ? but now most people in Warrington have never even heard of him.
But the exhibition ?Warrington People? aims to change all this and highlight not just the once-famous jockey but other local people who have shaped the town?s history or made their name on the national or international stage.
Artists and authors, sports legends, local and national celebrities, musicians and entertainers will all feature in this showcase exhibition.
Featured in the display is an oil painting of Steve Donaghue by John A A Berrie and a photograph of him sitting on the racehorse The Tetrarch.
This horse was known as ?The Rocking Horse? or ?The Spotted Wonder? and was possibly the fastest racehorse on British racecourses of the 20th century.
Steve said of the horse: “To be on him was like riding a creature that combined the power of an elephant with the speed of a greyhound”.
A silk scarf, on special loan from the National Horseracing Museum, Newmarket, commemorates Steve’s 1922 Derby win on Captain Cuttle. Donoghue won four official Derby’s and two substitute Derby events during World War One.
The affection once shown to him by the local community is also illustrated by a plaque from a bed commemorating him at the old Warrington Infirmary.
The Warrington People exhibition is on until July.
Teenagers arrest on
car theft charges
by staff reporter
THREE teenagers are to appear before Warrington Youth Court tomorrow (Thursday).
The three, aged 13, 15 and 17 are all from Howley and are charged with a total of seven offences of vehicle theft.
Police say they were arrested in the early hours of April 9 by targeted patrol team officers following the theft of two vehicles.
Investigations by officers from the Warrington Central Neighbourhood Policing Unit (NPU) led to the 13-year-old and 15-year-old each being charged with two offences of unlawful taking of a motor vehicle. The 17-year- old was charged with one offence of unlawful taking of a motor vehicle.
The 13 and 17-year-olds have also had a further two offences of vehicle theft taken into account.
All three teenagers are currently on police bail with curfews.
Bird flu: public urged
to be “vigilant but calm”
by John Hendon
WARRINGTON Borough Council is urging residents to be ?vigilant? following the death of a swan suffering from bird flu in Scotland.
But people should remain calm, the council says.
Phil Woods, the council?s environmental health and protection manager, said: “If residents find any dead swans, wild fowl (ducks and geese) more than three dead birds of the same species or more than five dead birds of different species in the same location, they should contact the Department of the Environment Farming and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) helpline on 08459 335577.
?We do have a contingency plan in case there is an outbreak in Warrington and are working closely with DEFRA and other partners across the local authority area.
“DEFRA has introduced legislation that requires all keepers of poultry with more than 50 birds kept for commercial purposes to register their flocks with them.
?It would also be useful for anyone that keeps fewer than 50 birds to also let Defra know. You can notify them on 0800 634 1112.”
Environmental Health staff at Warrington are acting in support of government advice on the recent case of Avian Influenza in Scotland.
There is no need to call Defra about a single dead garden or wild bird. It should not be handled with bare hands but should be disposed of inside two plastic bags.
Wild birds can carry several diseases that are infectious to people and some simple hygiene precautions should minimise the risk of infection. It is extremely rare for people to catch avian influenza from birds and the following simple steps are also effective against avian influenza.
The gloves should be removed by turning them inside out and then disposed of in the second plastic bag, which can be placed in a normal domestic bin.
If a member of the public or poultry keeper wishes to discuss any issues with the council, ring 01925 442599 Mon-Fri 9-5 or 01925 444400 out of office hours (if urgent).
A chance to shape
footpath network
by David Skentelbery
HIKERS and cyclists are being given a chance to help shape the future of Warrington?s network of footpath and cycle tracks.
The borough council is seeking views from the public as it works on a Rights of Way improvement plan to cover the period up to 2011.
Work started 18 months ago and the aim is to local Rights of Way such as footpaths, bridleways and cycle tracks, suit the publics’ needs and are also maintained both for today and in the future. The production of the ROWIP is a statutory requirement.
An assessment of use and demand and surveys, measuring the accessibility of the network, have been undertaken as part of this work.
The council has now produced a draft Rights of Way improvement plan for Consultation which can be seen either on the council’s website www.warrington.gov.uk where there is also an online questionnaire, or at their local library.
A summary containing a freepost questionnaire can be obtained from libraries and other council buildings.
Offers to make the
summer sun shine
by staff reporter
A PACKAGE of offers aimed at helping Warrington people to enjoy
the summer, has been unveiled.
There are more than 40 great value deals including reduced rates at the De Vere Daresbury Park Hotel and reductions at Warrington Museum Shop, Gulliver’s World and The Amazing Maize Maze.
The Chester and Cheshire Family Fun program has been devised by Visit Chester and Cheshire and has a series of deals for destinations throughout the area.
The full selection of discount vouchers, together with further details of these great opportunities, can be downloaded at www.visitchester.com/familyfun.
A Family Fun booklet including the vouchers and details of events and places in the area is available from local libraries.
