Pensioners put forward
plan to run the Parr Hall
EXCLUSIVE by Gary Skentelbery and Mark Hemmings
WARRINGTON pensioners have joined forces and submitted proposals to run the town?s loss making Parr Hall, which has been earmarked for a ?6.8 million revamp.
Members of the town?s Older People?s Forum (OPF) and North West Pensioners Association believe they can turn the council owned building around by slashing the running costs from ?250,000 a year to just ?100,000.
They presented their proposals to Warrington Council leader Ian Marks and his deputy Keith Bland who have been involved in drawing up proposals to revamp the building as a state of the art theatre, linking up with the nearby award winning Pyramid arts facility in the town?s cultural quarter.
But inspired by government initiatives and a similar project at St Sampson?s, a church in York, the OPF and Warrington pensioners believe that with an annual financial commitment from the council in the region of ?100,000 they would be able to manage and run the Parr Hall themselves, without the need of such massive investment.
Older People’s Forum spokesman Alf Clemo said: ?A grant from the council could be used against running costs for the venue and the employment of a manager. By sustaining the Parr Hall as a concert venue and community centre, the Cavaille-Colle Organ could remain and be functional with our support, still enabling Warrington?s Male Voice Choir to perform there.
?Community groups would have a centrally located meeting place and of course the Mayor?s Civic events could still be held there. By running the Parr Hall through a registered charity, the expensive business rates paid by the council each month would be wavered. Let?s face it our proposal could save the council ?150,000 a year, surely that stands for something??
Despite the issues surrounding the 90-year-old Parr Hall?s need for refurbishment in some areas, the volunteer pensioner groups feel confident that they would be able to obtain charitable donations to give the Parr Hall some basic improvements.
Now after delivering the proposals to Coun Marks and Coun Bland in person, a meeting has been arranged with members of the OPF and Warrington pensioners to discuss their ideas in full.
Coun Marks said: ?As leader of the council I welcome the opportunity to have an open discussion on this subject.
?It is encouraging to see the older people getting involved and it would be great to harness their enthusiasm and energy. It has been heartening to see these older peoples groups working together and by talking to their representatives we can decide on a sensible way forward.?
Council set to purchase
?68,000 “mini” bin wagon
by David Skentelbery
COUNCIL bosses are to be urged to spend ?68,000 on a ?mini? refuse collection vehicle to service hard-to-reach properties across Warrington which present problems for normal bin wagons.
The recommendation comes from the borough council?s waste management working group following a study of difficult-to-reach addresses.
It represents a complete U-turn from proposals originally put forward in February last year which would have involved making an extra charge for emptying wheeled bins at farms and other hard-to-reach properties.
That plan was dropped after it was exclusively revealed by Warrington-Worldwide on February 17 ? and after a number of farmers threatened legal action and a demonstration outside the Town Hall.
Since then, the waste management working group has been considering other options ? and has come up with the idea of a non-HGV refuse-collection vehicle.
The council says there are about 420 hard-to-reach properties in Warrington.
Councillors went to study some of them in Fletchers Lane, Rectory Close and Yield Brow, Lymm and at Australia Lane, Grappenhall.
Among the advantages of using the ?mini? refuse collection vehicle are that it can also be used for recycling purposes and emptying litter bins in the streets, and will not require an HGV driver.
The new vehicle will be purchased using a Defra funded waste performance and efficiency grant targeted at improving recycling so can be delivered within the existing budget.
Theatre group celebrating
anniversary at the double
by Mark Hemmings
CODYS, Warrington’s leading and long established youth theatre group is celebrating its 10th anniversary by launching a second group.
CODYS ‘Singing Aloud’ will provide the young people of Warrington with the opportunity to perform as part of a young and dynamic choir.
It is anticipated that the choir will represent Warrington in both national and international competitions as well as undertaking numerous engagements within the Warrington area.
Nick Cupit, CODYS chairman, said: “Warrington has a fantastic reputation when it comes to choirs. Warrington Male Voice Choir and Cheshire Chord, two award-winning choirs come from the town. However, Warrington is lacking a choir targeted specifically at the younger generation, to represent the town.
“CODYS have, for a number of years, considered launching such a group, however, we have been extremely lucky to receive a grant to the value of ?7,000 from the Cheshire County Council Local Network Fund, which has provided us with the cash to turn our plans into reality. We feel extremely proud to have reached our 10th anniversary, however, our ability to launch CODYS ‘Singing Aloud’ puts the icing on the cake for our anniversary celebrations.”
Irene McGee, CODYS president said: “Following the success of our summer production, “Stage to Screen”, in 2006, we were invited to perform alongside the Northern Chamber Orchestra at the Proms in the Park at Haydock in August. The organisers received such a positive response from their patrons that we have been invited to perform at this year’s event.
“We have also received requests to stage concerts for a number of churches and local organisations and are currently in the process of developing a full programme of events to take CODYS ‘Singing Aloud’ through 2007 and beyond.”
CODYS will be holding a recruitment day in early February and will be inviting young people between the ages of 11 and 25 to come along and participate in an audition workshop. CODYS anticipate a large response and would therefore ask all interested parties to register their interest preferably by e-mail to [email protected] providing name, address, date of birth and contact number or by telephone on 01925 638215.
Application expected for
second music festival
by Lesley Wilkinson
AN application is expected to be made early in February for a licence to hold a second Creamfields music festival at Daresbury, near Warrington.
But if there is significant opposition to the proposal from local residents, Appleton Parish Council may call a special meeting to consider the issues.
Residents opposed last year?s festival, as did local parish councils and Warrington Borough Council. But they failed to persuade Halton Council to refuse permission for the event.
Subsequently there were numerous complaints from Appleton residents about noise and traffic problems while the festival was in progress.
Coun Brian Axcell said Appleton Parish Council should put pressure on Warrington Council to again oppose the festival.
Coun John Price said last year?s event disrupted the lives of many residents and damaged the environment. It also meant the closure of public footpaths over a Bank Holiday weekend.
The parish council agreed to discuss the event at a subsequent meeting, or if necessary, call an extra meeting to enable residents to make their views known.
Centenary celebrate
five more nominations
by Gary Skentelbery
STARTING the year in style, Warrington-based and award winning theatre company, Centenary have been nominated for another five NODA (National Operatic and Dramatic Associati
on) awards.
Following on from last years nine nominations, the local theatre company continues to build on their previous successes.
The nominations for 2007 are in five of the most sought after categories.
“Brassed Off”, which was staged in January last year has been nominated for best play and best director. Mike Hall, for his role as Danny, the band leader in “Brassed Off” – a part which Warrington-born actor Pete Postlethwaite made famous in the film – has been nominated for the best actor in a drama award.
Judianne Fisher, for her role as Rita in Willy Russell’s play, “Educating Rita” has been nominated for the best actress in a drama award, and Clare Asprey for her role as the fiery matchmaker, Dolly Levi in Jerry Herman’s musical, “Hello, Dolly!” has been nominated for the best actress in a musical award.
A spokesman for the company said: “We won’t know if we are winners until the awards dinner in Blackpool in May but it’s certainly a great achievement to even be nominated for these awards and credit to the nominees and the company as a whole.”
Landowner’s assurance
on house plan
by Lesley Wilkinson
LANDOWNER John Bryan has given assurances that his plans for a house on land at Park Lane/Firs Lane, Appleton will be ?sensitive? and cause no noise or smell problems.
The house plan will replace existing proposals for a free range hen unit and other agricultural buildings, including one to be used as a temporary home for an agricultural worker.
Mr Bryan and planning consultant Stephen Goodwin attended a meeting of Appleton Parish Council to explain the proposals which had caused concern among local residents.
Plans for two barns on the site were approved in September 2005 and these have already been built.
Subsequently, plans for three agricultural buildings were approved on appeal.
Mr Goodwin said the new proposal for a house would replace the scheme approved on appeal.
The house would be sited between but to the south of the two barns and would have landscaped surroundings. The dwelling would be “sensitively designed?, would be smaller and would have impact on the area.
Members agreed to take these comments into account when considering the application.
