Town hall chiefs answer
YOUR questions on TV!
by Gary Skentelbery
WARRINGTON Borough Council?s leadership team, leader Ian Marks and his deputy Keith Bland have been put under the spotlight by www.warrington.tv the town?s online TV channel.
Warrington-Worldwide readers were given an exclusive opportunity to pose questions to the council following this year?s town hall budget. I asked a wide variety of questions and these, together with the Town Hall chiefs’ answers, are being broadcast on a daily basis.
Questions asked included:
Given that staffing costs account for nearly 50% of the budget, what is the absenteeism level, how is it being managed and what is its financial cost and how does it compare to the private sector?
Why wasn?t the stretch of road outside Priestly College resurfaced along with the rest of Loushers Lane? This has been a safety issue for a long time.
What is being done to reduce waste and improve efficiency?
What is being done to clean up this scruffy town with litter everywhere?
What support is being given to the community groups, now that there are such a small number of community development officers?
What plans are in place to build a ring-road to alleviate the traffic problems, which are exacerbated every time there is an accident on the motorways?
What is your vision for the future of the town? How do you intend to achieve it? What additional legislation or funding would you require to achieve said aims?
Why have all the road repairs been stopped in Poulton North despite hundreds of complaints about the pot holes?
Why is the council operating a “zero tolerance” policy with the new parking attendants and penalising people who are law abiding citizens going about their daily life?
If you miss any of the interviews they can be viewed on the movie gallery section, along with a wide variety of other news items from around the town.
The questions can also be debated on Warrington-Worldwide?s popular discussion forum, the biggest and best forum in the town with over 1,600 members ? and growing!
Canal company branded
“irresponsible” over litter
by Lesley Wilkinson
THE Manchester Ship Canal company has been branded as ?irresponsible? over litter along the canal banks at Warrington.
Peel Holdings ? parent company of the canal ? was slated for failing to employ people to clear litter at a meeting of Stockton Heath Parish Council.
Chairman and borough councillor Celia Jordan said the canal company made ?huge profits.?
In addition to the canal, they also owned substantial property including the Trafford Centre, Liverpool John Lennon airport, many property developments and the Mersey Docks and Harbour.
Coun Jordan told representatives of the company who attended the meeting: “You should go back and ask the company to sponsor a litter warden for the area.
“You say you haven’t got the resources to keep 36 miles of canal in good condition – that is just irresponsible”
Parish councillors complained about litter on the canal banks along Ellesmere Road and Fairfield Road. They also complained that gutters were blocked with water and litter.
Brian Grundy, in charge of engineering for the company, said he had fitters, technicians and general workers in his team.
“We are not there to pick up rubbish but I can ask the men to collect it if they are doing a job in the area,” he said.
“It is not the Ship Canal’s responsibility. If we are asked, we will try to help along the way. But we cannot say we will go out and pick litter. Warrington Borough Council should help.”
Coun Tudor Pole said: “You say you are not responsible, but it is inside your fence. This is one of the worst litter spots in the whole of Warrington. It looks a mess and nothing ever seems to be done.”
But Mr Grundy said men working on the site recently collected eight bags of litter while in the area.
He added: “I can’t put men out just collecting rubbish – it is not their job. You should ask Warrington Borough Council to put out more rubbish bins – that may help.” If the borough council was prepared to go onto the canal bank to collect litter, the company would allow this provided a suitable risk assessment was carried out.
Mr Grundy agreed to take members’ comments on board and see whether anything could be done. Parish councillors decided to investigate whether offenders on Community Punishment Orders could assist.
Teenager selected for
student “world elite”
by John Hendon
A TEENAGER from Warrington?s Priestley College is set to take America by storm after been selected to attend a “People to People Future Leaders Summit” bringing together the most able students from around the world.
Rebecca McCartney, 16, from Latchford, is currently in her first year at Priestley and is studying AS levels in Maths, Further Maths, History, Politics and Critical Thinking.
She previously attended Sir Thomas Boteler CE High School and arrived at college with 13 GCSE’s including a remarkable 10 A* grades.
The summit helps prepare the world’s most promising young people for the opportunities and responsibilities that lie ahead.
Speaking ahead of her trip, Rebecca said: “I’m looking forward to meeting up with people from different cultures and backgrounds and have been getting to know some of the other delegates over e-mail. I think it will be a fun experience more than anything else.”
Rebecca will travel to the States in late July and be based at two renowned places of study; George Washington University in Washington and Columbia University in New York.
Rebecca learned of her selection for the summit in a personal letter from Mary Jean Eisenhower who is the president of People to People International and the granddaughter of former US President Dwight Eisenhower.
Rebecca, currently completing her Duke of Edinburgh Award, is also a member of local amateur dramatic society CODYS.
Speeding, parking and
litter – the big issues
by Lesley Wilkinson
ISSUES that most concern people in Walton and Stockton Heath include speeding, parking, litter and graffiti according to police.
Residents who are concerned about these and other crime issues are invited to put their worries to police at a meeting tonight (Thursday).
The Police Community Action Meeting (CAM) will be held from 7pm at the Sandy Lane Centre, Stockton Heath.
The Community Action Team say they are eager to hear from local people about which of the issues they feel should be a priority.
A team spokesman said: “This is your chance to tell your local police what’s most important to you and to vote on the top priority for the next six months.”
After the meeting there will be a police surgery for 30 minutes to discuss individual concerns.
Man’s eight hour
roof top stand-off
by staff reporter
A MAN was “talked down” by Warrington police after spending more than eight hours on the roof of a house.
The drama took place in Waverley Avenue, Appleton and began around 4am yesterday (Wednesday).
Fire crews were initially called to the scene – including a hydraulic platform from Stockton Heath Fire Station. A line rescue team from Knutsford was also summoned.
But firefighters eventually handed over the incident to police and trained negotiators talked to the man, eventually persuading him to come down around mid-day.
Onlookers said at one time the man was throwing roof slates to the ground below.
It is understood the man was unhurt. Police said later a man had been arrested and charged with causing damage to a roof.
Teenage disco worry
for parish councillors
by Lesley Wilkinson
A TEENAGE disco in Stockton Heath would bring hoards of “excitable” youngsters into the village, the parish council heard.
Coun
June Daynes told members she had heard that one of the village venues was considering staging the event.
She complained there had been disruption when a similar event was held at Mr Smiths in Warrington.
“Apparently because they will not be serving alcohol, they do not have to go before the licensing committee,” she said.
“It would be chaotic to have something like this in Stockton Heath. There were screaming, excitable 13-year-olds outside Mr Smiths when they held a similar event.”
She said she had heard a “rumour” about the event and was not yet prepared to say where it was expected to be.
Coun Celia Jordan said members would request a significant police presence if it went ahead.
