Council pledge on
future of housing
by David Skentelbery
TOWN Hall chiefs at Warrington are to carry out a detailed financial analysis of four possible options for the future management of council homes in the borough.
But whatever decision is finally reached, it will be taken in the best interests of tenants, council leaders have pledged.
Members of the council?s executive board have called for more details on each of four options for the future of Golden Gates Housing (GGH) ? the arms length housing management organisation set up two years ago.
These are:
To carry on as at present, with GGH agreeing annual funding with the council.
Taking housing management back ?in house? or exploring the possibility of transferring stock to a housing association.
Expanding the range of services provided by GGH for the council, such as managing physical and social regeneration initiatives.
Carrying on with GGH but enabling it to offer its services to other landlords, etc.
Coun Roy Smith, executive member for community services, said GGH?s future would come for review in February 2009, but the process was starting now. The council would be looking at which options offered the most benefits for tenants, consulting widely with tenants and listening carefully to the experts.
Two other options have been rejected already. These would have involved joint working or mergers between GGH and other organisations, or a consortium, of changing ownership arrangements of GGH.
Leader of the council Ian Marks said: ?The option we will go for will be the one that is in the best interests of the tenants.?
Town remembers fallen
of two world wars
by staff reporter
AN estimated 800 people gathered at Warrington?s Cenotaph at Bridge Foot for the annual Service of Remembrance for the fallen of two World Wars and other conflicts.
The Mayor, Coun Linda Dirir, who was accompanied by her consort, husband Allin, laid a wreath at the War Memorial.
A Salvation Army bugler sounded the Last Post after which the Two Minutes Silence was observed and hymms sung.
There were contingents from the Royal British Legion, Army, RAF and Royal Navy cadets and other organisations.
Representatives of the borough council, including leader of the council Ian Marks, were also present.
Warrington’s two MPs Helen Southworth and Helen Jones and former Warrington MP Lord Hoyle were among those present.
Other Services of Remembrance were held at churches and war memorials across the borough.
Some were held on Saturday ? which was actually Remembrance Day. At Lymm, representatives of the Royal British Legion and the Parish Council observed two minutes silence at Lymm Cross at a brief ceremony at 11am, attended by several hundred local people.
College’s Kenya project
gets backing from Rotary
A ?BUILDING African bridges? appeal by Priestley College, Warrington, has gained support from Newton and District Jubilee Rotary Club.
The college helping-hand project for schoolchildren in Kenya is the building of a school in Runo as a key step in creating an education infrastructure.
Rotary members Adrian Packwood and Joe McDonough have pledged to assist the Runo School Appeal and have already donated ?200.
Said Adrian: “This is the kind of project which we are keen to support.”
Joe added: “The Priestley students visiting Kenya next year are about to have their lives changed is a way they hadn’t expected. The Runo Appeal is a very special one”.
Veterans of forgotten
wars to be recognised
by Terry Johnson
CAMPAIGNING Warrington councillor Paul Kenny has welcomed recognition of veterans who served in conflicts which tend to be fading from memory.
The HM Armed Forces Veterans Badge and UK Merchant Seafarers Veterans Badge are now being extended to those who served at any time up to December 31, 1969.
Coun Kenny, (pictured) who has arranged for a number of local veterans to receive their awards, said: “Today there are 10 million veterans living, working and contributing across every walk of life in the UK. The HM Armed Forces Veteran’s Badge and UK Merchant Seafarers Veteran’s Badge are marks of our respect and gratitude.
?I am delighted that the government is extending eligibility to a new group of deserving veterans.”
?These men and women served in small wars and counter-insurgencies – conflicts that saw bloody fighting, from the jungles of Malaya, Borneo and Sarawak to the dusty plains and city of Aden, at the tip of the Arabian Peninsula.
“The HM Armed Forces Veteran’s Badge has been awarded to over 328,000 veterans – more than 100 here in Fairfield and Howley wards of Warrington” said Coun Kenny.
“This latest extension will reach out to yet more.”
Conflicts now eligible are Aden (1964-67) and Malaysia(1964-66), as well as the start of troubles in Northern Ireland (1969).
High school toasts
achievements bonanza
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON?S Penketh High School is toasting a sparkling achievements bonanza.
Best-ever sixth-form exam results, four national awards for media work, unprecedented sports success and an ‘excellent’ reputation as a caring school – these are some of the accolades of one of the country’s most outstanding media and visual arts schools.
Barry Cooke, a head teacher from the Specialist School’s Trust, said: “Penketh High is an uplifting school to be in”.
The school’s successes are the more striking in view of its socio-economic background assessment of below the Warrington average.
“Penketh High works hard for all our children, irrespective of background”, said Director of Enterprise Siobhan Glynn. “We are a school of integrity and are looking forward to another bumper year. This is an exciting place to be…our students are inspired”.
School scoops top
national awards
by Terry Johnson
TEACHERS and pupils at William Beamont School, Warrington, are celebrating after scooping two national prizes in the BskyB Living for Sport awards.
Olympic athlete, Dame Kelly Holmes, presented the Orford high school with the ?Sustainability of Project bronze award for its development of the sport programme.
And pupil Martyn Corcoran triumphed as ?Best team Player?, taking the gold award, ?75 of JJB Sports vouchers and ?1,000 of PGL vouchers for his school.
Head teacher Maggie Williams said: “We are delighted with our schools’ achievement. They are testament to hard work and dedication of staff and pupils”.
Living for Sport aids pupils’ learning and development – raising expectation and achievement and ‘re-engaging’ them in school.
Brain injuries charity
launches in town
by staff reporter
BRAIN injuries support charity, Headway Warrington, invites local people to its launch on Sunday, November 19, at Paddington House Hotel, Manchester Road.
Headway is a UK-wide charity which offers help and services to brain injured people, their families and carers through a network of local branches.
Mayor Coun Linda Dirir and Lord Hoyle of Warrington will attend the local launch and ?Brainy Bear? will meet the children. Details: Kathy Guest, 01925-820998.
