BREAKING NEWS
“Super surgeries” plan axed
HEALTH chiefs have thrown in the towel on the controversial plan to open five “super surgeries” in Warrington to replace local GP practices.
A recommendation is to be put to Warrington Primary Care Trust’s board next week that the plan to develop large health centres across the borough – including two pilot schemes at Garven Place and Orford Park – be not proceeded with.
See the full story on Warrington-Worldwide tomorrow (Thursday).
Objections overruled as
100 homes get go-ahead
by David Skentelbery
PLANNING chiefs at Warrington have given the all clear to changes to a development of 100 new homes – despite objections from residents of nearby existing houses that they will lose privacy and an open outlook.
Members of Warrington?s development control committee made the decision after hearing from officers that it was widely accepted that there was no private right to a view.
The new homes, including three and two and-a-half storey houses, will be built on the site of the former Marsden Vanplan site in Longshaw Street, Warrington.
Outline planning consent was granted in 2005 and detailed proposals were given the go-ahead in August last year. The new proposals amends the detailed proposals by varying the house types.
But residents of nearby Crosby Avenue claimed they would be robbed of privacy and of an outlook, that there would be increased traffic and parking problems and an increase in levels of anti-social behaviour.
Planning officers argued, however, that residential development would be an improvement on the previous industrial use. Most would be of two storeys and the developer was offering ?50,000 towards primary health care provision and ?136,000 towards the cost of improved sport and recreational facilities.
Although it was forecast that about 59 more pupils would wish to attend local schools, there was sufficient capacity. The development made acceptable provision for public open space within the site.
Currently there is a shortfall of affordable homes in the area, but the scheme provides for 20 rented homes to be provided in partnership with a registered social landlord.
Officers said although houses adjoining Crosby Avenue would be higher than the existing properties, this was not considered to have a harmful impact on the character of the area. Some existing houses enjoyed an open aspect to the rear and this would undoubtedly change ? but there was no private right to a view and this change was not sufficient reason to withhold planning consent.
Overall, the new proposals were not vastly different from those previously approved.
Students’ bid to help
find missing Maddie
CHILD care students at Warrington have been raising a smile to help in the search to find missing toddler Madeleine McCann.
The teenagers from the Health and Social Care course at Warrington Collegiate spent a day in fancy dress outfits to raise cash for the fighting fund set up in aid of four-year-old Maddie who went missing on a family holiday in Portugal.
Student Jenny Counsell, who is planning on a career working with children when she leaves the Collegiate, said she and her fellow students had been moved by the family’s plight and wanted to show their support.
The group spent the day collecting donations on the Winwick Road campus before heading into Warrington town centre to continue fund raising.
Summer launch boost
for St Rocco’s
by Gary Skentelbery
A SUMMER launch at Warrington based “Frock art” and Window Dreams helped raise funds for St Rocco’s Hospice in the town.
Artists from across the town and beyond visited the art gallery which exhibits the work of local artists.
The gallery is run by artist Sarah Harris and adjoins Window Dreams curtain and home interiors run by Tina Houghton.
Money for St Rocco’s was raised from a raffle.
Woman cheated council
out of ?4,569 benefit
by court reporter
A WOMAN who defrauded Warrington Borough Council out of ?4,569 council tax and housing benefit has been caught, sentenced and ordered by magistrates to pay back the money Kelly Pickering, 26, of Ford Street, Warrington, pleaded guilty to benefit fraud and was sentenced at Warrington Magistrates’ Court.
The court was told that between November 2002 and September 2005, Pickering falsely claimed ?4,043 housing benefit and ?525 council tax benefit as single person when she was in fact living with a partner.
She was conditionally discharged for two years and ordered to pay ?100 costs.
Adrian Webster, the council’s benefits manager, said: ?Deliberately withholding information that affects your claim for benefit is stealing. That’s why we are targeting benefit thieves.
“Benefit thieves must realise they cannot abuse the benefit system and steal from the rest of society. They are not just defrauding the government, but their own tax paying neighbours and communities in Warrington.”
Labour says “Save the Crest”
LABOUR councillors, Warrington North MP Helen Jones and members of the Warrington Older People?s Forum have joined forces in a campaign to ?Save the Crest.?
They demonstrated outside the Town Hall to launch a petition designed to show the strength of feeling across the borough.
The borough council, controlled by a Lib Dem-Tory alliance, has introduced a new, modern logo on council letterheads and plans to phase it in on council vehicles and buildings.
But despite their assurances that the old crest, or coat-of-arms, will not be dropped, the Labour group are maintaining their opposition the change.
Coun Terry O?Neill, leader of the Labour group, said: “We have been inundated with requests to start a petition so that the strength of opposition to this move can be heard. The crest belongs to no political party, no council officer – it belongs to the people of Warrington and the voice of the town is not being heard in the corridors of power at the Town Hall.
“But this is only the tip of the iceberg – the council also wants to abandon the use of the primrose and blue colours associated with the town and Warrington Wolves.
“I appeal to all Warringtonians to support the petition which we have launched today calling for the retention of the crest and the primrose and blue colours.”
Deputy leader Coun Mike Hannon added: “It is now time for the people to speak up and tell the council to ‘Save the Crest and ditch the logo’.”
Last week, council leader Ian Marks told a meeting of the council’s executive board, that the historic crest, would not be abandoned. As a compromise, he said, the new logo and the crest would both appear on council stationery. But the crest will be gradually phased out on vehicles and buildings.
