“Sports village” plan
on course for success
by David Skentelbery
WARRINGTON?S multi-million ? Orford Project is on course to become a centre of excellence not just for the borough but for the North West generally.
Project management has been ?beefed up? and Town Hall chiefs are confident they can succeed with the development of a very exciting project.
The Orford project is a unique project designed to regenerate the Orford Park area of the borough through a partnership between health, education, community and sport sectors.
It involves the creation of a ?sports village? just off the A49 including a multi-use sports building, a super new health centre, specialist disability services and the Warrington Wolves? Academy.
There will be links with Warrington Collegiate and William Beamont Specialist Sports College, with sporting provision including grass pitches, a synthetic turf pitch and and regional gymnastics centre.
Council leader Ian Marks gave an upbeat assessment of progress on the project.
He said the council had met with Sport England and other interested bodies and given a strong commitment to make the project a reality.
It was clear at that stage that there was a need to beef up project management so new project sponsor Yvonne Bottomley had taken on consultants Capita Symonds to project manage, provide commercial advice and develop a revised business case.
Accountants Price Waterhouse Coopers have been taken on to provide commercial support and act as a ?critical friend.?
A considerable amount of external funding to help pay for this had been obtained.
The project structure had been strengthened and now had a member steering group, with relevant executive members and local councillors, a project board with representatives from Wolves, Warrington Collegiate, William Beamont School, the FA and the Primary Care Trust.
A project team had the task of delivering the elements of the project and there was a community group with representatives of various interested local groups.
Coun Marks added: ?We are now very confident we can succeed with this very exciting project.?
Aden’s swim for charity
DISABLED swimmer Aden Walker raised about ?150 with a sponsored swim on behalf of Warrington-based charity Families.
Aden was swimming with the backing of Warrington Lions Club – he is the only young member of the Lions with a disability – and has taken part in the Special Olympics.
He has more than 250 medals for swimming and also carries out a great deal of voluntary work. He has raised substantial sums for charity with sponsored swims.
Families United is a charity which works on behalf of parents and children with sensory, physical and associated difficulties.
Aden completed his swim at Warrington’s JJB leisure centre – and earned congratulations from the Mayor, Coun Linda Dirir and Warrington Wolves’ mascot Wolfie.
Teenagers win place in
“ad idol” competition
by Lesley Wilkinson
A TEENAGER from Warrington has won his way through the preliminary heats of an “Ad Idol” style competition to earn a chance to design an MTV advertisement for road safety.
George Sampson, aged 13, from Birchwood, is through to the final stages of the national competition.
The innovative road safety project aims to reduce teenage road deaths ? and the national winner will create an advert for the Government’s THINK! Road Safety Campaign.
George and Mollie Czachur, 14, from Sale, impressed the judges and now been short-listed from more than 200 entries.
They were chosen by MTV executives after an induction day at the music station’s Camden studios, followed by a day of brainstorming with top London advertising executives. Youngsters, in teams, presented their final ideas to the judges.
George was commended for his striking ideas on talking to fellow teens about the importance of road safety.
The campaign team are promoting the teens competition in an attempt to curb the high number of teenagers killed every year. Government figures show that more than 1,300 teenagers were killed or seriously injured on Britain’s roads in 2005.
George and Mollie are looking forward to filming their winning idea, and before that they will be coached in script writing, casting and filming.
Once their adverts have been filmed, the three winning teams will have one final stage to get through before their idea makes it onto television.
Parking wardens
upset more drivers
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON?S parking wardens are antagonising motorists by handing out tickets even where there are no yellow lines.
Residents of Lymm have been ?booked? for not parking properly on village car parks.
They believe there is room for more cars ? particularly on the Davies Way car park ? and that marker lines for parking bays should be repainted to make maximum use of the space available.
Shopkeepers are also concerned that parking tickets being issued on car parks will drive shoppers away from the village.
The parish council has agreed to write to the borough council asking for extra spaces to be designated on car parks where possible.
Credit union plan
is progressing
by staff reporter
MOVES to set up a credit union in South Warrington are progressing, members of Appleton Parish Council have been told.
Project organisers are understood to have located suitable premises for a headquarters in the area.
The council has pledged a ?600 grant to the scheme if and when other South Warrington parish councils and other local bodies have confirmed they will also support the initiative.
“Music in hospitals”
concert in town today
by staff reporter
A CONCERT arranged by the charity Music in Hospitals, is being held at Sandy Lane Day Centre, Stockton Heath, Warrington today (Monday).
Ghanean singer Margaret Ferguson and pianist Jonathan Ellis will be performing in their own unique style.
The charity organises some 4,000 concerts throughout the UK each year, bringing the joy and therapeutic benefits of live music to adults and children whose lives are restricted by illness or disability.
Diana Greenman, Chief Executive of Music in Hospitals said: “There is recognition in the healthcare profession that exposure to high quality live music produces clear and measurable benefits in patients, residents and clients with a wide range of conditions.
?Music in Hospitals engages professional musicians whose high standard of musicianship and communication skills aid the healing process and bring warmth and joy into the lives of sick and disabled adults and children across the UK. Our musicians’ sensitive approach helps to “bring the person out of the patient.”
Caretaker retires
PAULINE Jones, caretaker and hall bookings secretary at Appleton Parish Hall for the last six years, has retired.
The parish council has sent her a letter of thanks for her work over the years.
Catrin Middleton has been appointed to take over the post.
