Town’s future up
for public debate
by Gary Skentelbery
MEMBERS of the public are being given a chance to have a voice on the future of Warrington as part of a unique consultation exercise. It will enable people to discuss various issues, including the ?6.8 million plan to bring the town’s 109-year-old Parr Hall up to present day standards has now been expanded as an open forum to discuss issues affecting the whole town.
The event will take place at the historic hall on Tuesday November, 21 when people will have a chance to have a say on the future of the venue.
A spokesperson from Warrington Borough Council said: “The Council is inviting residents to come along and join in the discussions with Council representatives to express your views on where the Council’s priorities should lie.”
In recent years, the hall has suffered as a result of its out-dated facilities. Some big name artists have stayed away from Warrington rather then appear there and some local amateur groups – including the award-winning Centenary Theatre Company – have moved out of town to stage their shows at Runcorn’s Brindley Theatre.
A feasibility study has identified a need for improved seating, new changing rooms, staging and lighting, technical and electrical facilities. It has also put forward ideas for a new two-storey entrance hall and a separate bar and catering area.
The BBC’s political editor in the North West, Jim Hancock will host the evening.
Refreshments will be served in the Parr Hall from 6.30pm for a 7.00pm start. The evening is scheduled to end at 9pm.
The event is now fully booked.
Strongman Paul muscles
in on Mr Universe title
by staff reporter
BODYBUILDING champ Paul Sutton has added the Mr Universe crown to his World and Commonwealth titles.
The 42-year-old Warrington Collegiate sports tutor from Fearnhead, Warrington, competed against more than 200 contestants from all over the world in the championships.
“The moment I won I just felt so overwhelmed, everything that I had worked for my whole life had finally paid off,” said Paul, who began bodybuilding aged five.
“There was no male influence in my life and so I felt I needed to do something macho and masculine. At 5ft 4 inches I was very stocky at school, I was 10.7 stone when I first started bodybuilding, I loved the fact that I was stronger than everyone else,” he added.
To keep in tip-top shape Paul’s daily food intake includes 15 egg whites, four meals and seven protein drinks. He trains two to three hours each day and 15 weeks before a competition is on a strict diet to refine his muscle shape, which plummets his weight from 16 stone down to 14.7 stone.
Paul first began competing professionally in 1983. He first entered his first Mr Universe competition in 1993 but it’s taken him 13 years of dedication to win the crown.
As well as delivering personal training sessions to students at the Collegiate Paul is also studying a one-year course in nutrition.
“Since I won Mr Universe I have become very well known in the field, all the students come up to me and ask how they can get a body like mine.”
Paul now intends to take a year off professional competitions in order to build on half a stone more of muscle.
Pain for profit – as
hairy chests waxed!
by Mark Hemmings
IT was a case of pain for profit – as five men from Manchester Airport squirmed and screamed in the hands of staff at Culcheth beauty salon, The Classy Studio.
Raising money for Cancer Research by waxing male hairy chests, Alison Berry and her team carried out the treatment to the tune of ?1000 in sponsorships!
By hosting a fundraising day, 50 per cent of the profit from each manicure, pedicure and facial went straight to charity. Along with a raffle the salon is hoping to raise a minimum of ?1500.
Alison said: “A number of our clients have either suffered with, or lost a loved one to cancer.
“We decided that Cancer Research would be the best ones to receive our money.”
Alison concluded: “Thanks to all of our customers and sponsors for supporting us. We had a wonderful day.”
Councillor’s
online blog
by staff reporter
IN what is believed to be a first in Warrington, a borough councillor has launched an online blog.
Coun Paul Kenny?s web log can be found at www.paulkenny.blogspot.com
He said: “As technology improves and more and more people use the internet, then it made sense to engage with people online. For many people, particularly the under 35s, the world wide web is often their first port of call for news, sport, shopping and entertainment.
“My blog will keep people updated on my work as a local councillor but I will from time to time give my views on the issues of the day from the world of politics to events in other areas of life also.
“I want the blog to be a two way process and the opportunity for people to post comments is welcomed.?
School no
longer failing
by Terry Johnson
STAFF and parents of pupils at Birchwood CE Primary are celebrating after the Warrington school was judged to be no longer failing following an Ofsted inspection.
The education watchdog placed the school in ‘special measures’ in September, 2005. But it has achieved an amazing turnaround in just over a year.
The latest Ofsted report says the school is now performing ‘satisfactorily’, with several good features.
The school is commended for raising attendance and punctuality. “Initiatives are paying dividends…parents respond more positively to the school’s higher expectations”, states the report.
The downward trend of 2005 had been halted, with many children making good or better progress in lessons.
Teaching was also continuing to improve.
The new deputy-head and development of the middle management team had helped the head teacher to achieve improved progress.
But the report still identified room for improvement – in the quality and consistency of teaching, raising standards further in core subjects English, maths and science and in evaluation methods.
Elizabeth Williams, head of the school, said: “We are extremely proud of what we have accomplished. The Inspectors recognised that staff morale and teamwork are strong features of the school”.
MEP lashes out
by Terry Johnson
Warrington’s Euro-MP, Brian Simpson, has fired a broadside at political opponents – accusing them of abandoning sustainable rural development in the North West, in favour of rich farmers in the south of England.
The MEP was reacting angrily to a vote in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, when his attempt to obtain 4.4bn Euros for UK rural development was scuppered by acoalition of right-wing parties and French farmers.
Mr Simpson blasted: “We had an opportunity to reform the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and to ensure money was put not into subsidy production, but into real sustainable rural development taking us up to 2013.
“Now, because of an unholy alliance of continental farmers and certain MEP’s, this reform is in doubt.”
After the vote, the UK Govt indicated that unless the system of voluntary modulation is adopted, the UK will be unable to finalise its rural development strategy and may have to close down rural development schemes, including the Environmental Stewardship to new applicants.
“People talk a lot about CAP reform, but when we have an opportunity to push forward essential reform, political opponents fail to act,” stated Mr Simpson. Sustainable rural development is essential in our region – particularly to those farmers living on subsistence or farming in difficult conditions”.
He added: “This is a vote to protect rich southern and continental farmers – at the expense of the North West and sustainable rural development”.
University ho
sts
Racial Equality Council
by staff reporter
The establishment of the new Equality and Human Rights Commission and its potential effects were discussed at the Annual General Meeting of Cheshire Halton and Warrington Race Equality Council (CHAWREC) at the University of Chester.
The event was attended by more than 50 people from a range of voluntary, community and statutory agencies. Its keynote speaker was Dr Vinodh Jaichand, Deputy Director of the Irish Centre for Human Rights, who looked at the history of race equality and human rights and discussed the potential impact of the new Equality and Human Rights Commission.
Shantele Janes, CHAWREC Director, said: ?Dr Jaichand?s talk was extremely interesting and thought provoking. He asked why it had taken so long for the UK to establish a human rights commission and believed the reason was our constitutional history which prevented government from enacting a Bill of Rights.
?Dr Jaichand said that the Commission appears to be a consolidation of the three previous equality bodies – the Commission for Racial Equality, the Disability Rights Committee and the Equal Opportunities Commission. He believes that it represents a step in the right direction, with a few caveats, and encouraged institutions such as CHAWREC to keep a watchful eye on its progress.
?Indeed, the development of the new Commission is bound to have a massive impact on the way in which we and fellow RECs operate in the future and this is a key challenge for us as we move into 2006/07.?
CHAWREC is a voluntary organisation funded by the Commission for Racial Equality and local authorities. Its objective is to work towards the elimination of racial discrimination and to promote equality of opportunity and good relations between persons of differing racial groups.
Shantele added: ?We use our AGM as a chance to bring together agencies and individuals to look at key issues affecting race equality in our area. The University of Chester provided an ideal West Cheshire venue for this year?s AGM. Each year, we choose a different venue in Cheshire, Halton or Warrington in order to spread the travelling load.?
