Labour blamed for
walking day “chaos”
by David Skentelbery
THE new Lib Dem-Tory alliance running Warrington Borough Council has placed the blame for the chaos surrounding walking day and festivals this summer fairly and squarely on their Labour predecessors.
Council leader Ian Marks says the council is getting a ?bad press? on the issue ? and deserves it.
But he says the former Labour administration is to blame ? and pledges action to rectify the situation.
Already an extra ?10,000 has been made available to help pay for road closures, etc. But he accepts this is too late for some events which have already been cancelled or curtailed.
Coun Marks said that on several occasions last year, the Lib Dems ? then in opposition ? raised it concerns about the future of walking days, etc., following the decision by Cheshire Police to withdraw from police road closures and diversions without extra funding.
He said: ?We asked for some clarity about what was happening with respect to policing and road closures so that organisers knew what was going on.
?We received an assurance that the main Walking Day was secure but we never got a satisfactory answer from the Labour administration about other events.
?We put an additional sum of money in to our alternative budget to help cover the cost of road closures, but unfortunately this was not taken up by Labour. Because of their unwillingness to make decisions, we have inherited a chaotic situation from Labour.
?We are right in the middle of the season and still there is uncertainty about what is happening. No wonder the Council is getting a bad press on this subject – we deserve it.
?On behalf of the Council I apologise to all event organisers for the confusion we have caused. We said it before and I’ll say it again – walking days and other events on the highway are an integral part of community life in Warrington and the new administration certainly recognises their importance.
?We fully realise the position is complicated because of the police involvement and their change of policy. There is also an enhanced perception of the potential safety hazards of walking on highways.?
Coun Marks said there might have to be compromises in the future ? but the council would have clear guidelines in place by autumn so that event organisers would have time to plan.
Grappenhall Walking Day had to be severely curtailed because of the cost of road closures, Stretton Walking Day has been forced “off the road” and Glazebury Gala has cancelled its procession.
Ashley gets a taste
of college life
by staff reporter
ASHLEY Shaw, a 15-year-old pupil from Warrington?s Sir Thomas Boteler High School spent a two-week period of work experience at Priestley College as part of the pre-16 work experience scheme.
He was the fourth pupil in recent years to spend time on campus following in the footsteps of Bruce McKinnon, also Sir Thomas Boteler, and Birchwood High students Chris Potts and Deon Stevenson.
During an action packed two-week stay the astute teenager was able to take part in a range of jobs and activities, which are more commonly associated with the business support side of the college’s operation.
They included looking at the ways in which the college produces media and video materials as well as how Priestley completes its reprographics function and in-house posters.
Ashley said: “I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Priestley working within a range of departments. All the staff were friendly and welcoming and it gave me an insight into what it would be like to study at the college.”
Priestley’s marketing officer and webmaster Nat Ashurst added: “It was a real pleasure to work with Ashley who was interested in all aspects of the college’s business support function and we are looking forward to seeing him again in the near future as a student.”
“If it isn’t broke, don’t
fix it” says Labour
by staff reporter
THE new leader of the Labour group on Warrington Borough Council has warned the Lib Dem-Tory coalition to take time to reflect before amending the council?s constitution.
Coun Terry O?Neill had a simple message for the new controlling alliance: ?If it isn?t broke, don?t fix it.?
The Labour Leader was seeking details of the roles and responsibilities of the Lib Dem and Conservative portfolio holders and the role of the leader and deputy leader of the council.
He said: “The current arrangements have worked well for Warrington and followed an extensive period of consultation with key stakeholders across the town. We listened to what these groups wanted and implemented proposals which had their support.
“We believe that this was the right approach to delivering good working partnerships with business, the voluntary sector, community groups and the local community.
“That’s why Labour is concerned that the Lib Dem and Tory coalition have chosen to implement changes to the key decision making roles in the council without any consultation.
“My message is simple, ‘If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it’. They have simply cobbled together a plan without discussion across the town.
?If this is the Lib Dem-Tory way of doing business then Warrington will suffer as a result. We are determined to be an effective opposition to ensure that this doesn’t happen.”
The Lib Dem-Tory partnership ran into problems with the existing constitution of the council almost immediately when they attempted to reduce the size of the executive board from 10 to eight ? and then found the constitution would not allow them to do so without the support of two thirds of the council.
School strikes gold
in creative arts
by Terry Johnson
CHILDREN and staff of Lymm’s Ravenbank Primary have struck gold in creative arts.
They worked with artist Philip Cox on a mermaid sculpture which has helped the village school – together with its commitment to dance, drama, music and art – to win an impressive Artsmark Gold award.
Ravenbank’s arts manager, Joanne Buteux, said: “We are excited and proud of our arts achievements. Ofsted school inspectors graded us ‘outstanding’, due in part to our commitment to the arts.
“We have been given funding to research the impact of creativity on literacy skills, as a member of The Da Vinci arts network.”
She added: “Gaining Artsmark Gold is national recognition of our high levels of commitment and provision for the arts”.
The school recently put its work on display at Warrington’s Pyramid Arts Centre. The mermaid sculpture will feature in the Lymm Festival – then be exhibited at Warrington Museum and Art Gallery until Christmas.
Masked men in
terror raid on shop
by David Skentelbery
TWO masked men ? one brandishing a hammer ? carried out a terrifying raid on a Co-op Late Shop at Warrington.
They burst into the store in Knutsford Road, Grappenhall, threatened three women members of staff and escaped with the till.
Police are hunting the pair, who both spoke with local accents and ran off in the direction of Georges Crescent.
The drama began when the two men, wearing scarves over the lower part of their faces, entered the shop. One threatened staff with the hammer while the other leapt the counter and ripped the safe from its mountings.
They then ran off carrying the safe.
The man with the hammer was about 6ft tall, slim and was wearing black trousers and jackets. He had short, shaven fair hair and was wearing a black woollen hat and gloves.
His accomplice was about 5ft 9 inches tall, stocky and was wearing a beige jacket, gloves and black woollen hat.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or who has any information should contact police on 01244 613730.
Young “scientists” carry
out their own investigations
by staff reporter
YOUNGSTERS from primary schools across Warrington are carrying out their own scie
ntific investigations as part of a national initiative.
During the summer and autumn, schools are taking part in Primary Science Enhancement Programme (PSEP) – a project to enable pupils aged 7-13 to investigate an area of science based in an industrial context.
Some sessions are in the classroom where children will learn about and investigate industrial problems.
These are followed up by a visit to a linked industrial partner so pupils can put what they have learned into context and experience what sort of work is carried out for themselves.
Schools involved are Newchurch Primary, Woolston County Primary, Sankey Valley Primary, Statham Primary, Cinnamon Brow Primary, Padgate High School, St Bridget’s Primary School and Ravenbank Primary School.
Industrial and commercial organisations taking part include Warrington Hospital, Unilever, Warrington Wolves, Risley Moss, Fiddlers Ferry Power Station and Celanese
Coun Sheila Woodyatt, the borough council’s executive member for Children’s Services, said: “This is a excellent project, which will certainly help encourage our young pupils to get involved in science – and who knows some of them may become the scientists of the future! It is also a good example of how we can work with other sectors in the community to help provide innovative and exciting ways to encourage learning.”
Man attacked by youth
who wanted cigarettes
by John Hendon
A 64-year-old Warrington man was attacked by a youth who had demanded a cigarette from him.
The victim suffered cuts and bruises to his face in the assault in Richmond Avenue, Latchford.
Police said the man was walking along the road when the youth, aged about 15, approached him and demanded a cigarette.
He then punched him in the face before running off.
Police said the attacker was about 5ft 8 inches tall, with short, cropped blonde hair. He was stripped to the waist.
Anyone who witnessed the attack or who has any information is asked to call police on 01244 612630.
Pop festival
to go ahead
by staff reporter
THE Creamfields pop festival is to go ahead at Daresbury over the August Bank Holiday weekend ? despite opposition from hundreds of nearby residents and Warrington Borough Council.
After a three hour meeting, Halton Council licensing chiefs decided the festival could go ahead on farm land owned by Lord Daresbury.
It is expected the event ? previously held in Liverpool ? will attract up to 45,000 people. Organisers hope that the festival will pass of peacefully and that Daresbury can become its permanent home.
Objectors claimed the festival would lead to unacceptable levels of noise and also raised fears about crime and anti-social behaviour.
They also fear areas of Warrington will suffer serious traffic problems as thousands of fans arrive for the August 26-27 event.
