Disability event
takes to world stage
by Gary Skentelbery
A GROUNDBREAKING disability awareness event which grew out of a tragic accident has now taken to a world stage.
Warrington’s annual Disability Awareness Day, now in its 17th year, takes place at Walton Hall Gardens on Sunday July 8 and for the first time is attracting overseas visitors from Turkey. Similar projects are already being replicated across Europe and plans are also in the pipeline for a similar event in America!
The event, which now culminates a week of activities, has come a long way since 1992, when co-ordinator Dave Thompson MBE, who tragically broke his neck playing American football, leaving him confined to a wheelchair, piloted the first project.
Now organised by Warrington Disability Partnership and sponsored by the North West Regional Development Agency DAD concludes a week long programme of activities offering something for everyone from children and young people, learning disability and mental health, wheelchair users and carers, employers and students, a BBQ and quiz night.
To mark the occasion a bus has been specially branded to promote the work of Warrington Disability Partnership, provided by sponsors Warrington Borough Transport, who also provide a free bus service ion the day to help alleviate traffic congestion.
This years ?DAD week? will be launched on June 30 at Golden Square with a celebration of diversity through the arts including dance and live music including Bollywood Dancers, a Samba Band and the nationally acclaimed ?Heroes?.
On Sunday July 8 a huge tented village will provide cover for the majority of the 280 exhibitors including support groups and equipment suppliers promoting the latest designs, alongside health, social, employment and education providers all promoting independence throughout life and work.
Event co-ordinator Dave said: ?The whole team is still on a high after receiving the Queens Award for Voluntary Services. This has added to the continuing success of the event which provides a platform for small family run organisations to promote their services alongside the biggest National charities and businesses.”
Steven Broomhead, NWDA Chief Executive, said: ?We are delighted to be sponsoring this important event, which will provide a great opportunity to highlight the range of services that are available to disabled people in England?s Northwest.
“One and a half million disabled people make a valuable contribution to our region and it is vital that we create an environment that allows them to fulfil their potential. The Agency is proud to be supporting the outstanding work achieved through Disability Awareness Day, which will raise awareness of disability issues and promote the skills and talents of the region?s disabled people.?
Last years event attracted 27,000 visitors from across the UK.
Past visitors include delegates from across Europe. DAD events have since been organised in Gibraltar, Sweden, Denmark, Cornwall, Rotherham and Wigan. The team are currently in communication with a group planning an event in America.
For more details about visiting, exhibiting or sponsoring events held in DAD Week, or if you require information about the Park & Ride scheme, wheelchair loans, enabler services and BSL support on the day please visit www.disabilityawarenessday.co.uk or call the DAD team on 01925 240064.
Councillors hit out
over college cuts
by David Skentelbery
LIBERAL Democrat councillors are to put a motion to Warrington Borough Council next week which slams the Government over plans to slash ?1 million from Warrington Collegiate Institute?s budget.
The motion, to be proposed by Coun Roy Smith and seconded by Coun Bob Barr, praises the work done by the college over the years with people with learning difficulties, mental health problems and other disabilities.
But it condemns the plan by the Government to cut ?1 million from such services in the next academic year.
It goes on to deplore the effect the cuts will have on some of the most vulnerable people in Warrington, and the loss of jobs among the staff at the Institute.
Finally it calls on the town?s two MPs, Helen Jones and Helen Southworth, to lobby the government to reverse the cuts.
A second motion, to be proposed by Coun Bob Barr and seconded by Coun Brian Axcell, welcomes the role played by the council?s Environment and Regeneration Directorate to guide sustainable development in the town and combat climate change and the efforts of Golden Gates Housing to make homes sustainable as well as decent.
The resolution would commit the council to:
Make it clear to developers that it requires high standards of sustainability in new developments and refurbishments;
Provide additional clear and comprehensive guidance as to the council?s sustainability criteria and good practice;
Support Golden Gates Housing in its efforts to improve the sustainability of its stock
Ensure, wherever possible, that new build in the private and public sectors significantly exceeds the minimum sustainability standards currently required in building regulations and encourage innovative sustainable designs?.
Youth band to play
at national festival
by John Hendon
MUSIC for Youth ? the national initiative to involve young people in music – has invited Warrington?s Wire Youth Brass to perform at the 37th National Festival of Music for Youth on July 9.
Wire Youth Brass is a children’s brass band run entirely by volunteers, which was only formed in 2005. Less than two years later, the band now comprises 34 players, with members aged 5-13 playing instruments from soprano cornet to tuba and everything in between.
This is the band’s first ever appearance at a Music for Youth event, and follows on from their recent successful debut at the National Youth Brass Band Championships of Great Britain last month.
Following their performances at 60 Music for Youth regional festivals this spring, more than 300 groups of the nation’s most talented and exciting young musicians and singers have been invited to take part in this week-long celebration of their achievements.
The National Festival of Music for Youth, the largest youth music festival of its kind in the world, takes place in Birmingham at Symphony Hall, Adrian Boult Hall (Birmingham Conservatoire), CBSO Centre and Carling Academy 2 July 9-14.
Groups performing include full symphony orchestras, choirs, chamber groups, brass, wind, jazz, rock bands, drums and percussion, steel pans and folk music, as well as ensembles of every shape and size. Performance awards are presented by the adjudicators during the festival and 30 groups are subsequently invited to play at the Music for Youth Schools Proms on November 12, 13 and 14 at the Royal Albert Hall, London.
Council chiefs celebrate
“incredible” finances
by David Skentelbery
TOWN Hall chiefs at Warrington are celebrating after reporting a much improved financial position.
Excluding school based spending, the council will report an underspend of ?424,000 on revenue spending for the year ended on March 31.
Coun Fiona Bruce,(pictured) executive member for Value for Money, told the executive board: ?This is better than excellent ? it is nothing short of remarkable.
?We started the year with a ?black hole? of ?8 million.?
Council leader Ian Marks added: ?I think it is just incredible ? an excellent demonstration to the people of Warrington that we have balanced our books.?
The council?s final revised budget for 2006-07 was ?114,264 compared with an actual spend of ?114,844.
Including school based spending ? the Council will report an overspend of ?580k.
But the position in the schools is now under control and the council has a three year plan to manage the overspend.
Coun Sheila Woodyatt, execut
ive member for Children?s Services said: ?So much of what we have to do is statutory. There are some things we would like to change because I think local people know best. But we have no choice.?
Apart from Children?s Services, all council directorates underspent.
The board agreed to use the underspend on concessionary travel (?190,000), Maintaining its Four Star CPA (Comprehensive Performance Assessment) score (?130,000), delivery of the ?Transforming Warrington? programme (?85,000) and increasing the Green Initiatives Fund (?19,000)
Councillors were told the revised housing revenue budget was in line with its ?break even? year end target.
Ninety one per cent of the ?45.922 million capital programme had been delivered and schemes which had been delayed, amounting to ?4.464 million or 8.8 per cent of the programme, would be re-programmed to 2007-08.
Police clampdown
on rogue traders
by staff reporter
POLICE stopped 35 vehicles and arrested two men during a day-long clamp down on potential rogue traders at Warrington.
One man was arrested on suspicion of theft and the other for traffic offences.
Operation Rogue Trader targeted doorstep traders who con householders out of money ? and sometimes steal from them.
A police spokeswoman said: ?Over the past six months there have been almost 30 incidents of doorstep crime in the Warrington area.
?Many involved bogus callers who targeted homes of the elderly and vulnerable.
?Many residents were conned into paying more for jobs around their home – such as fixing roof tiles, gardening, or laying a drive. Others paid and had sub-standard work completed at inflated prices.
?Meanwhile, many bogus callers – armed with plausible excuses – distracted the home owner while an accomplice stole money from them.?
Police joined forces with partner agencies, including Trading Standards, to target the rogue traders. Officers patrolled the streets and roads of Warrington checking that those plying their trade were genuine craftsmen.
They were supported by Cheshire Police’s Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) unit, which uses a special system to read number plates and identify vehicles and occupants.
One contractor, who was carrying out resurfacing work, was stopped by Trading Standards and forced to take considerably less money than he had quoted as his work was not up to standard.
Insp Richard Hill, in charge of the Warrington operation, said: “We hope this operation has raised awareness of the problems of rogue tradesman and cold callers.
“Residents should remember to always check the identity and credentials of anyone that calls at their home offering to carry out work. If they are in any doubt as to the identity of the person they should always check directly with the company.
“Also it is important that residents are aware that anyone who calls at a property offering work must give the person a statutory seven days cooling off period before the work is carried out.”
Town prepares for
173rd Walking Day
by John Hendon
THE 173rd Warrington Walking Day will take place on Friday, June 29 ? and thousands of local people are expected to turn out for the town?s biggest annual celebration.
Churches and schools will walk in procession through the town?s streets ? closed to traffic during the period of the Walk.
The procession will begin at the Town Hall at 10.30am and make its way through the town centre.
It is anticipated that there will be some disruption to traffic but this will be kept to a minimum and the borough council is asking for people’s co-operation on the day.
The inner town centre will be closed to all traffic from 9am until about 12.30pm. All town centre roads are expected to re-open by 12.45pm.
Access to Mersey Street car park will be via Academy Street and Academy Way, which are off both Mersey Street and Buttermarket Street. Exit will be via Bank Street to Mersey Street at all times.
Delays on main roads are expected and motorists are being urged to be patient and take extra care if delayed by walking groups going to or from the procession.
Most bus services – including National Express coaches. – will be diverted via Midland Way and continue to use the Bus Interchange.
Exceptions are services operating along Wilderspool Causeway and Chester Road (A5060). These services will end and start near the Warrington Borough Transport depot on Wilderspool Causeway or Chester Road.
Summer fair
OUR Lady’s RC Primary School at Latchford, Warrington is to hold its annual Summer Fair at the school in Wash Lane on July 22.
