New bid to demolish
historic primary school
by David Skentelbery
TOWN Hall bosses at Warrington are being urged to make a second bid to win planning consent for the demolition of Stockton Heath Primary School to make way for a completely new building.
A report by Tim Warren, interim strategic director of children?s services, recommending that a fresh planning application be submitted will be presented to members of the borough council?s executive board next Monday, August 14.
Mr Warren claims the alternative option, of refurbishing the existing school, would cost at least ?800,000 more and would result in an inferior building.
As the Government ? which has already allocated funding of ?3.2 million for the project ? would make no further money available, the council would have to find the extra itself.
The report has angered campaigners at Stockton Heath who want the 100-year-old school preserved. They have vowed to fight on.
Spokesman Patrick Mullee (pictured)said: ?We are not convinced by the arguments put forward by Mr Warren.?
In March this year, the council?s development control committee rejected an earlier bid to demolish the old school following massive opposition from local residents.
Mr Warren, in his new report, admits that a majority of residents still favour refurbishment of the old school.
But he says the school?s governing body, the staff and a majority of parents with children at the school and pre-school, favour the new build option.
An independent evaluation of the council?s feasibility studies into both options has concluded that even with the lowest level of specification considered acceptable, resulting in a risk of failing to address poor environmental conditions in the existing school, the refurbishment option would still be significantly more expensive.
Only the new build option would be ?affordable? the report adds.
Even if the executive board decided to press ahead with the new build option, it still requires the development control committee to grant approval.
Police hunt youths
after barn blaze
by staff reporter
POLICE are hunting two boys seen running away from a blazing barn in Green Lane, Appleton Thorn near Warrington.
The youngsters, both aged 14-16, were seen running across Green Lane towards Stretton as the fire caught hold. One had cropped, sandy hair and was of stocky build while the other was slim with dark hair.
One was wearing a white tee shirt with red markings on the front and shoulders. The second was wearing a dark blue tee shirt with orange markings.
Extensive damage was caused to the barn and fire crews were at the scene for some time.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or who recognised the youngsters is asked to contact PC Graham Waring on 0845 458 6372.
Police hope to be able to issue an E-fit picture of one of the offenders later this week.
New town centre
taxi rank planned
by staff reporter
A NEW town centre taxi rank is planned for Warrington – right outside the new multi million ? bus station.
The rank, at the junction of Winwick Street and Scotland Road, would provide space for three Hackney carriage vehicles to wait outside the bus station.
It would complete the concept of a public transport interchange, given the proximity of Central railway station.
Objections to the proposal should be sent to John Homes at the borough council?s legal services section at the corporate services department, Quattro Building, New Town House, Buttermarket Street by August 17 ? specifying the grounds on which the objections are made.
Hotels can have a
worldwide audience
by Terry Johnson
WARRINGTON hotels can tap into a worldwide audience with launch of their own website.
The facility is offered to hotels with up to 50 rooms by Visit Chester and Cheshire, which is managed by Cheshire and Warrington Tourism Board.
In its first two years, the board assisted 489 tourism businesses.
Participating hotels will be included on the www.visitchester.com and also benefit from worldwide exposure by being included on the www.visitbritain.com and www.enjoyengland.com websites.
Visit Chester and Cheshire director of operations Barrie Kelly said: ?More tha 50 per cent of travellers are making their travel and accommodation arrangements on line. Businesses that don?t have this facility are clearly at risk of losing significant revenue, particularly as this figure is set to rise dramatically in the coming months.?
Police briefing
on pop festival
by John Hendon
POLICE will be outlining arrangements for the policing of the Creamfields pop festival at Daresbury, near Warrington at a meeting of the local parish council this week.
Insp David Price, who is leading the police planning team, will be at a meeting of Daresbury Parish Council on Thursday at 7.30pm.
Local residents are invited to attend.
Police are also to attend a meeting at Appleton Parish Hall on August 17 at approximately 8.45pm. following a local police community action meeting.
Numerous residents of villages on the south of Warrington, including Daresbury, Appleton, have expressed concern about noise problems, traffic congestions, drug taking and other issues arising from the concern on Saturday August 26 ? the Bank Holiday weekend.
Groups appearing at the festival include Goldfrapp, The Zutons, The Prodigy and Gnarls Barkley.
Anything up to 50,000 fans could attend the event which is expected to go on until 6am on the Sunday.
Plans approved – after
22-year wrangle
by Terry Johnson
AFTER a protracted wrangle with neighbours over a spate of building blueprints, an Appleton home-owner has won….something of a ?minnow victory?.
Plans for four detached homes on the site of Comberton House, Cann Lane North – put in 22 years ago and approved by local planners – were reduced to just one detached property, refused in 1988.
Then a two-storey extension to Comberton House, was refused last year and a proposed two-storey rear kitchen and bedroom was withdrawn in February.
The latest single-storey rear extension drew objections from Appleton Parish Council and neighbours at Caxton House and Mentmore Gardens.
But planners say the new plans, with a smaller building footprint, do not cause unreasonable harm to neighbours’ living conditions/amenity. They are, therefore, acceptable.
