Inquiry set for hospital
waste processing plant
by David Skentelbery
A PUBLIC inquiry looks set to be held into the controversial, multi-million scheme to build a processing plant for hospital waste off Winwick Road, Warrington ? just before Easter.
The borough council and the developers have agreed on a start date of March 27, but this has yet to be confirmed by the Planning Inspectorate.
If built, the plant would handle up to 10,000 tonnes a year of clinical waste from hospitals, clinics, dental surgeries, vets, etc across the North West.
Angry residents have pledged to fight the scheme which, they claim, is only 160 yards from hundreds of houses.
Plans for the larger project have already been approved following a public inquiry two years ago.
But development has never been able to take place because the borough council refused to sell part of the site which is in council ownership.
But the current proposal has been scaled down so it can be accommodated on part of the site which is privately owned.
Borough planners originally refused permission because of potential traffic problems in an area of the town already suffering from severe congestion.
Residents’ objections were based on health fears although the applicants say the plant will involve state-of-the-art, environment friendly technology.
Local environmental campaigner John Mulhall is annoyed that March 27 is being considered for the inquiry which could last for a week or more.
He said: ?This is just before the Easter holiday when a lot of people will be going away.
?It is not a good time to hold a public inquiry ? there will be people who cannot be there. It is almost as if it was done deliberately.?
Fishy goings-on at college
THERE?S fishy goings on at Warrington Collegiate … but it’s all in a good cause.
Catering students have been learning how to handle, prepare and serve fish dishes with a little help from Birchwood-based wholesale fish suppliers M and J Seafood.
Neil Franks from M and J took his latest catch along to give students a demonstration on taking fish from the sea to the table. He is pictured with Tim Blewer, 17, from Appleton and Kayleigh McGlynn, 17 from Howley.
Primary pupils “well
above” national average
by John Hendon
PRIMARY pupils Warrington continue to perform well above the national average, in the latest primary schools? league tables.
The results have been announced by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and show that in Warrington:
In English tests 84 per cent of pupils achieved Level 4 or above compared to 79 per cent nationally.
In mathematics, 81 per cent achieved Level 4 or above compared to 76 per cent nationally.
In science, 90 per cent achieved this Level compared to 87 per cent nationally.
Achievements by the most able pupils continue to improve. The percentage of pupils achieving the higher Level 5 in English has increased from 30 per cent to 36 per cent this year. In maths, 37 per cent achieved this higher level this year. In science, a massive 50 per cent achieved this higher level of performance.
Coun Sheila Woodyatt (pictured) the borough council?s executive member for Children’s Services, said: “These results show that Warrington is not only maintaining its position as a high performing Local Education Authority but continues to improve.
?We are seeing improvements across the ability range, which is extremely gratifying. We are very proud of the success of our primary school children, their teachers and all officers within the LEA who support schools and their pupils.”
The tables are based on the exam results of children who took the Key Stage 2 tests in May and rank schools on the proportion of children achieving the expected ?Level 4? in the core subjects of English, Maths and Science.
In Warrington, 46 schools achieved above the national average and 18 below.
The ?above average? schools were: Grappenhall Heys, St Peter?s RC, Twiss Green, St Elphin?s, Broomfields, Appleton Thorn, Penketh, St Paul of the Cross RC, St Monica?s RC, Croft, Locking Stumps, Stretton St Matthews, St Thomas?s CE, Our Lady?s RC, St Lewis RC, Westbrook, Woolston CE, St Philip Westbrook CE, Grappenhall St Wilfrid?s CE, St Oswalds RC, Callands, Thelwall, Great Sankey, St Joseph?s RC, Evelyn Street, Sacred Heart RC, St Barnabas CE, Woolston, Gorse Covert, Culcheth, Bruche, Christ Church CE, St Vincent?s RC, Barrow Hall, Bewsey Lodge, Glazebury CE, Hollins Green CE, Latchford CE, Stockton Heath, Cinnamon Brow CE, Winwick CE, Penketh South, St Benedict?s RC, St Stephen?s RC, Sycamore Lane, Sankey Valley CE.
Below the national average were Alderman Bolton, Bradshaw, St Ann?s CE, Longbarn, Newchurch, St Alban?s RC, Burtonwood, Park Road, St Margaret?s CE, Birchwood CE, St Bridget?s Catholic, St Andre?s CE, Beamont, Brook Acre, St Augustine?s RC, Oakwood Avenue, Meadowside and Dallam.
MP wants pupils to get
on the “walking bus”
by Lesley Wilkinson
WARRINGTON North MP Helen Jones is helping launch a new ?15 million fund to help get pupils throughout the country walking to school.
She said: “Sometimes the obvious things need to be said – walking to school is good for pupils and we should make it safe for them. That’s why I’m backing a new scheme to set up ‘walking buses’ in primary schools.
“Walking to school gets cars off the road and makes pupils more healthy. Local teachers tell me that kids who walk to school concentrate more and learn better.”
She said “walking buses” are a safe and an easy way to get children to school, and also help parents as they do not have to worry about the school run.
“This time next year I would like to see walking buses snaking across town every morning. I hope Warrington’s education authority will encourage schools to take part and I will be more than happy to help teachers get the money and support they need to make this happen,” she said.
The scheme allows groups of children to walk to school accompanied by staff and volunteers. Research shows that currently less than half of journeys to school are on foot.
The new national fund will provide grants for primary schools for up to three years to encourage walking to school. Money can be used for schemes such as paying a teaching assistant to co-ordinate the project, for high visibility clothing for children or to provide incentives to children to join in.
Funding runs for 12 months from next April and is aimed at demonstrating to schools, parents and local authorities the benefits of encouraging children to walk to school.
Police and council
clamp down on litter
by staff reporter
POLICE and council workers in Warrington have joined forces to clamp down on litter.
They want to stop people dropping litter in the street and help raise awareness about how to help keep the town clean and tidy.
Already, an education day has been held where people could ask for information and advice about what they could do to help. More than 1,000 leaflets were handed out.
Coun Graham Welborn, the borough council?s executive member for Safer and Greener Communities, said: “We don’t have a big issue with say litter or graffiti across the borough but its important that we raise awareness about environmental issues.
“No matter where you live in Warrington, everyone needs to take responsibility and do their bit to help keep our town clean. We must take pride in our town and this can range from big initiatives such as enforcement to simple things like putting your litter in a bin, not dropping it on the floor.
“This is also an encouraging example of how officers from different agencies working professionally in partnership can create a good impact over a short time frame.
“We sent a clear high profile message to the public that Cheshire Police and the council are committed to working together to tackle a
nti-social behaviour.”
The initiative links in to the councils’ aims of helping to maintain and protect the environment in which we all live. The summer saw a very successful graffiti blitz and there are more projects due for next year.
Green light for walking
days and festivals
by staff reporter
COUNCIL chiefs in Warrington have approved a list of walking days, festivals and other events involving processions on the highway for next year.
They are: St Patrick’s Procession, St George’s Day, Padgate and Woolston Walking Day, Lymm Festival, Stockton Heath Walking Day. Lymm Festival, Stockton Heath Walking Day, Orford Walking Day, Bawming of the Thorn, Lymm May Queen, Grappenhall Walking Day, Westy Carnival, Lymm Carols at The Cross. Civic events are Mayor’s Civic Sunday, Warrington Walking Day, Regimental Sunday and Remembrance Sunday.
The organisers of events in Birchwood Carnival and Glazebury Gala did not apply for council support next year.
Since June the council’s Events Safety Group, together with the police, have carried out a review after full consultation on events on the highway for 2007/08 after it became clear in 2006 that there were health and safety, policing and funding questions surrounding continued support for events.
Previous events were considered as part of the review and a new list drawn up. When considering the list, officers took account of a number of factors, including: Could the event be delivered safely? Was the event aimed at bringing communities together? Was the event part of the historical and traditional fabric of the town?
Coun Graham Welborn, executive member for Safer and Greener Communities, said: “These events, and many others that take place across the borough throughout the year without direct financial support from the council have an important part to play in our community – they help give us our identity and bring people together.
“For various reasons, the most important being public safety, we had to review our events on the highway. Now that we have completed the review, I hope that people continue to put the time and effort into their events, which are great for everyone to enjoy and are part of the fabric of Warrington.”
The list will be reviewed every year in terms of health and safety but it is anticipated that another policy review will not take place until 2010. The council will however, continue to work with event organisers and other stakeholders to see if new and safer ways can be found for traditional events.
News in brief
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 2, 3, 4 and 7 – but there were no takers and the jackpot prize went unclaimed. It will be “rolled over” to next week.
Driving ban
A TEMPORARY prohibition of driving will come into force in Bold Street, Barbauld Street and Cairo Street on January 15 while work is carried out on installing a new electricity main to supply the Golden Square shopping development.
Appeal dismissed
AN APPEAL against the refusal of planning consent for two storey and single storey extensions at Wendholme, Firs Lane, Appleton has been dismissed by a planning inspector.
School extension
PLANS for a single story rear extension and various internal alterations at Sacred Heart RC Primary School, Selby Street, Warrington have been approved by borough councillor planning chiefs.
