School demolition plan
gets the go-ahead
by David Skentelbery
PLANNING chiefs at Warrington have given the go-ahead to the controversial plan to demolish historic Stockton Heath Primary School and build a new school on the same site.
The borough council?s development control committee voted 8-2 in favour of the scheme after a two-hour debate.
Scores of residents turned out for the Town Hall meeting ? objectors and supporters.
Afterwards, Stephen Taylor, spokesman for the Stockton Heath Alternative Residents? Council ? an action group which wanted to see the old school refurbished ? said the fight would go on.
He indicated that a complaint would be made to the Local Government Ombudsman, that action might be taken in the High Court and that the matter could even be referred to the European Court.
Mr Taylor indicated that his group already had a substantial fighting fund and would be seeking to raise more money to carry on the site.
The meeting heard lengthy arguments for and against the scheme.
Mr Taylor, an environmental scientist, argued that the application was little more than an appeal against an earlier decision by the committee last March when members had voted 7-1 to refuse the scheme.
The council had used its privileged position as both applicant and planning authority in a way that a private applicant would have been unable to do.
Other objectors said no evidence had been given that children would receive a better education in a new building. The existing building was in sound condition and, despite claims by supporters of the scheme, was not damp nor crumbling.
They claimed there was no need for a school for 420 pupils because the school currently had only 330.
The only way the number could be increased would be by taking pupils from other areas, entailing up to 200 extra car journeys a day on local roads.
There were also claims that the new school would resemble an industrial building and would be out of keeping with the local area. English Heritage had said demolition would result in a loss of a building of significant character.
Objectors also accused the council of having an ?ulterior plan? ? to sell off part of the site for housing.
But Tim Warren, the council?s education chief, said he believed the council would lose the ?3.1 million grant the government had promised for the new school if they opted to refurbish the old school instead. The council?s capital budget for school building was only ?2 million a year which would mean any money spent at Stockton Heath would be at the expense of other schools.
The choice for the council was to build the new school, with the Government grant, or struggle on in outdated, overcrowded buildings.
The Rev Steve Parish, chairman of Warrington?s Schools Organisation Committee said the education advantages of the new school far outweighed the loss of the old buildings.
Coun George Warburton, one of the two committee members who voted against the scheme, said approval was ?questionable in law.? There was such a thing as natural justice and, in view of the earlier decision of the committee, it seemed objectors were being deprived on natural justice.
He had heard nothing which suggested the old school could not be refurbished nor that children would get a better education in the new school.
Joshua puts his
best foot forward
by Gary Skentelbery
A WARRINGTON schoolboy has collected more than 150 pairs of old shoes – to help orphans in Africa.
Culcheth Primary School Year 6 pupil Joshua Smith single handedly collected the shoes for the Blue Peter “Shoe Biz appeal” from children and families at school and his own family.
He was inspired after seeing pictures of needy orphans on the TV screen while watching his favourite programme.
Proud mum Lesley said: “He initially set out to collect 50 pairs and ask permission at school. He has been overwhelmed with the response.”
Joshua has special needs himself with a cleft lip and palate, for which he has undergone painful surgery.
His Head Teacher Craig Richardson said: “We do a lot of fundraising so the children already have that awareness of helping those less fortunate than themselves.
“Joshua has taken things one step further and we are extremely proud of him. He is a very happy child who never lets anything get him down.”
The Shoe Biz Appeal will help thousands of poor children in Malawi, many of whom are orphans. Blue Peter is raising money by recycling old shoes.
College stages a
Bollywood festival
by Lesley Wilkinson
INDIAN culture comes to the town with the staging of a Bollywood festival at Warrington Collegiate.
Staff and students have been practicing the traditional moves of Indian dance at the collegiate during its celebration of Diversity Week, which aims to raise awareness of the college’s mix of cultures and interests.
The festival will include demonstrations, cultural awareness seminars, discussion and workshops. And there was a competition for students to create a piece of art, photography or dance which best demonstrates diversity and equal opportunities, with cash prizes.
Jan Pritchard, equal opportunities co-ordinator and organiser of the week, said: “Diversity Week is all about actively engaging the students and staff in learning about different cultures and religions and understanding the full extent of what is meant by diversity.”
Picture shows Lorraine Rawlinson, deputy head of creative and performing arts, enjoying a Bollywood dance session with students Kirsty Dodd, 19, of Orford, and Salli Forster, 24, of Bewsey.
Students in bid for
places at Cambridge
by Mark Hemmings
FIVE students from Warrington?s Priestley College are working hard to make the grade to take up places at Cambridge University.
Danny Cheung,the current Student President at Priestley, has an offer to study Architecture at Trinity College, while fellow former Birchwood High School pupils, Cameron Lyons (Oriental Studies) and Talya Underwood (Natural Sciences) have offers from Homerton and Pembroke Colleges.
Kieran Hawkins a former pupil at St Gregory’s High has an offer to study Law at Clare College and Miranda Murphy (formerly of Bridgewater High) is set to tackle Archaeology and Anthropology at Corpus Christi College.
All the offers are based on the students achieving three A grades in their A2 levels this summer. The five already have 20 A grades between them at AS Level which suggests that come September they will be able to enrol on their courses at Cambridge.
The offers give a strong indication that Priestley is heading for another record breaking year with A-Level pass rates already standing at an all time high of 99.3 per cent.
Senior manager Ian Ireland said: “At the start of every academic year we identify individuals who we believe have the ability to get into Oxbridge.
“We then work closely with these students to nurture them through the application process and to have five people who now have offers at Cambridge reflects very positively on the drive and determination they have shown.”
Attack on woman, 84,
angers readers
by David Skentelbery
THE story of an 84-year-old woman who was mugged and robbed of money she had saved to buy a pair a new pair of reading glasses angered Warrington-Worldwide readers – but also touched their hearts.
After reading our story on Wednesday, a number of readers contacted us with offers to contribute to the cost of a new pair of spectacles.
In addition, Warrington optician Robert Shaw offered to provide a new pair of spectacles free of charge.
But the brave victim of the robbery ? who suffered a dislocated shoulder when she was knocked to the ground in Dewhurst Road, Birchwood ? declined the offers of help with thanks.
When police contacted her to tell her of the offers, she asked them to thank peopl
e for their generous offers but to give the money to St Rocco?s Hospice instead.
Police are still searching for the offenders. They say it was a vicious, unprovoked attack which left the woman badly shaken.
Anyone who witnessed the around noon on Friday, January 26 is asked to contact DC Ian Hampson on 01244 613845.
The offenders, who were seen to run off along an alley at the rear of Lister Close, were both in their early 20s and about 5ft 3 or 5ft 4 inches tall. They wore dark clothing ? and one had some kind of red emblem on his clothing.
Lions raise ?5,500
for local charities
by Lesley Wilkinson
GENEROUS local people helped Warrington Lions raise more than ?5,500 by its Christmas Float.
Santa’s sleigh, organised by Lions volunteers, toured the town for 19 nights in the run up to Christmas and collected donations.
The tour included a visit to a town centre supermarket and two days at Bent?s Garden Centre at Glazebury. In between tours members assisted St Roccos Hospice shop during their Christmas shopping night.
Member Harry Thompson said: “This is a good amount to raise and people in Warrington are generous. The money will go to help local charities during the year.”
