Council accepts ?1.3m
tender for road scheme
by David Skentelbery
TOWN Hall chiefs at Warrington have accepted a ?1.3 million tender for the dualling of a major access route to the Birchwood area of the borough.
But because of a funding shortfall of ?165,000 the scheme has been cut back ? mainly by omitting the resurfacing of the existing carriageway over the section to be dualled.
The contract has been awarded to Dowhigh Ltd, one of five firms to bid for the work, in the sum of ?1, 319, 374.
Birchwood Park Estates are contributing ?1 million, MEPC Birchwood Park ?200,000 and Williams Tarr ?40,000.
The contributions relate to an agreement over the development of land at Birchwood Park Business Park concluded in 2003.
When the funding shortfall was identified, Birchwood Park Estates were approached but were unable to offer further additional funding to make up the difference.
Resurfacing of the existing carriageway was originally included in the scheme to remove irregularities in the vertical profile of the road.
Had additional funding been available, officers believed it would have been sensible to carry out this work as part of the overall contract.
Coun Brian Axcell, the borough council?s executive member for environment services, stressed that the omission of the resurfacing work did not pose safety implications.
He said: ?The road is not unsafe at present. I have not noticed any problems.?
Luke’s marathon effort
in memory of his uncle
by David Skentelbery
A 20-year-old leisure centre manager is to run the London Marathon in memory of his uncle, a Warrington barrister, who died last year after a brave battle with cancer.
Luke Lloyd will be raising money for Warrington?s St Rocco?s Hospice and for Cancer Research in memory of Paul Marshall, of Appleton.
He said: ?My uncle was a really top bloke and a good friend. He passed away after a hard battle with cancer and throughout his illness I felt so frustrated that there wasn’t more I could do to help him.
?After he died I saw an advertisement for the London Marathon and thought ?Why not go for it!?
?I got my place through the draw, meaning that I could raise money for a charity of my choice. Cancer Research was an obvious charity to choose but in addition I decided I could help raise money for St Rocco?s as they did so much to help, support and care for my uncle right up until the end. I really wanted to thank them.?
Luke is currently living in Reading and is running 20 miles a week, swimming and kick boxing to prepare for the marathon.
He has always been keen on sport ? he has a degree in Sport and Exercise Sciences ? and keeps himself pretty fit.
?I’m also into music, be it playing, listening or going to gigs. I play the guitar and it was my uncle who bought me my first acoustic. I am a massive Oasis fan and it was my uncle who first introduced me to them too.?
Paul Marshall was a top barrister in Manchester. A larger-than-life character, the first thing he did when discovering he had terminal cancer was to arrange to marry his long-time fianc?, Janet. They had been engaged for 10 years!
He drove to his wedding in his 1970 endurance racing ?Gulf? Porsche, resplendent in racing gear and later drove his new bridge to the reception in the car.
High school movie
could be a world first
by David Skentelbery
A MOVIE made by high school pupils and staff has attracted the interest of a major film studio, the BBC and Channel 4.
The 90-minute feature film “Days” has been made with a ?7,000 budget by Penketh High School, Warrington – and could be given a commercial release by Warner Brothers.
Graeme Baxter, the school’s media consultant, who wrote the script, said: “We believe this is the first time a UK high school has made a full-length feature film. In fact it could be the first in the world.
“We wanted to show what Penketh High School can achieve and that a school can compete with the commercial producers and from that point of view it’s already been a success. We are quietly confident it will be an entertaining film that people will enjoy.” “Days” has been filmed over a period of eight months with a 40-strong cast and crew made up of pupils, teachers and members of the local community.
It tells the story of Kate, a 16-year-old girl whose father goes to prison – and her trials and tribulations as she moves with her mother and younger sister to start life in a new school in a new town.
Kate is played by Year 13 pupil Faye Bellass and her rival, Liz, by fellow pupil Harriet Campbell. Other parts are played by Chris Sutherland, Sam Beech, Martin Young and Hannah Smith. TV presenter Gordon Burns makes a guest appearance.
Filming ended last month (Feb) with a football cup final, shot at Warrington Town’s Cantilever Park ground. The premiere – which will receive BBC television coverage – will be at The Foundry Church, Widnes on June 7.
The picture has been shot on two high definition cameras at the school and on location around the North West, including Halton Castle at Runcorn, Stockton Heath and in Worsley, Manchester. Media technicians John Kay and Rick Bridge have handled the cameras and sound.
If the project makes a profit, the money will be ploughed into making a mini-series based on the Honiton Square shopping centre in Penketh for broadcast on the Internet.
Mr Baxter said: “‘Days’ marks an important landmark in educational practice as a demonstration of how schools can impact at the highest level of cultural and artistic endeavour.
“Penketh High School is proud of its Specialist Schools Media and Visual Arts status and decided to produce a quality product which would bring together a large number of pupils, staff and community members with a common purpose.
“Our aim is to show how seriously we believe the skills and talents within a school can and should be taken. The learning and enjoyment in its making will last with those involved for a life-time and will, hopefully, inspire many to become more fully and ably involved in the processes of media production.”
Footpath wrangle
ends in agreement
by John Hendon
A WRANGLE over the provision of a footpath on an industrial estate at Appleton has ended in agreement.
Developers have withdrawn an appeal against a requirement that they provide the path between Lyncastle Way and Appleton Thorn village as part of a warehouse development in Langford Way.
The company originally won planning consent for the warehousing subject to a condition that they provide the footpath.
But building work started without the path being provided and the borough council served a breach of condition notice on the developer.
The developers argued that the path was not needed but failed in a bid to have the condition removed and lodged an appeal. But negotiations continued and the appeal has now been withdrawn.
Under the agreement, the developer has agreed to provide the path within 12 months and should they fail to do so, the council will be able to use monies held at a surety to construct the path itself.
Junior soccer team
seeks new players
by staff reporter
PIRANHAS Junior Football Club Under 10s ? one of the most successful junior sports teams in Warrington ? is seeking new players as they move up to Under lls next winter.
In the three years since they were formed they have been champions of the Warrington Junior League?s third division and second division and are currently in the top three of the first division.
They have won 41 games, drawn eight and lost just four in the three years. They also won the Deans tournament in Salford.
Although based in Lymm, players are from throughout the area with members from Winwick, Worsley, Great Sankey and Lymm.
Anyone interested should contact Danny Fitzgibbon on 07769 885157 or by email at [email protected]
