Parking tickets set to
cost council ?30,000!
EXCLUSIVE by Gary Skentelbery
WARRINGTON’S controversial clampdown on illegal car parking in the town is set to make an anticipated loss of ?30,000 in its first year, despite more than 8,000 tickets being issued since its launch in February.
Current estimates suggest the scheme, run on behalf of the council by national contractors, should break even in the second year, with the possibility of a small surplus.
The reason for the deficit is the “Warrington Way” according to Christopher Wigdor, head of corporate communications for APCOA Parking (UK) Ltd.
He says the council is operating a non-aggressive policy of enforcement with instructions for it not to be a “money making venture.”
He said every permit holder was being given one chance of displaying a permit incorrectly and around 900 tickets had been cancelled.
“We are delighted with the way the council has designed the scheme which has been an extremely professional exercise.”
The council embarked on the decriminalisation of car parking to ensure the town is managed efficiently and effectively.
In response to changes in the law, the council took over the enforcement of parking regulations from Cheshire Police, who had been unable to give parking enforcement priority for some time – with motorists effectively getting away with illegal parking in many places for several years.
APCOA employ a total of 13 parking attendants, who are mainly local people. They are paid a basic wage and do not have targets or bonus schemes.
A poll on the front page of the website reveals that motorists in the town are fairly evenly divided for and against the effectiveness of the scheme.
“Congestion Summit” will
put traffic on the agenda
by David Skentelbery
ABOUT 70 organisations and groups are expected to be represented at Warrington?s first-ever ?Congestion Summit? tomorrow (Thursday).
Borough council leader Ian Marks says he is very pleased with the comprehensive programme that has been drawn up for the event at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. Council chiefs are planning a ?congestion summit? early in July to seek solutions for Warrington?s chronic traffic problems.
Interested groups such as industrialists, shopkeepers, cyclists, motorists, etc have been invited to the conference, along with community and voluntary groups.
Coun Marks said: ?The summit will be divided into two sections. The first part will look at where we are now and the second at what might be done to solve our problems.
?This summit will not solve the problems of congestion in Warrington but I?m sure it will be a very useful contributor to debate and give some pointers for action?
The idea of a congestion summit was first put forward in February and planning has gone on since then. Council chiefs accept there is no simple solution to the problem and admit they have no ?magic wand.?
A whole range of possible solutions will be looked at – some large, some small. A western bypass is likely to be on the agenda, but the cost may prove prohibitive.
The possibility of a bypass using the existing ?Blue Bridge? might be considered.
School travel plans ? some of which are already being introduced ? will be looked at, together with problems associated with the ?school run.?
But road pricing, or road charging, has already been ruled out. Council chiefs do not believe it would be appropriate for Warrington.
The possibility of increased use of the Manchester Ship Canal, bringing about a return to the ?bad old days? of the swing bridges repeatedly closing to road traffic, is another issue likely to be debated.
BBC North West reporter Dave Guest will be hosting the event.
Ready, steady, cook!
FOLLOWING in the steps of celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, catering students from Warrington Collegiate teamed up with a local school to promote healthy eating.
Hospitality and Catering students joined forces with Year Nine pupils at Thomas Boteler CE High School for a Healthy Lifestyle day.
Collegiate students organised a “Ready, Steady, Cook” themed competition to create a healthy lunch box.
Kate Blackmore, deputy head of the hospitality and catering department, said: “At the moment there’s a big push for healthy living, so for us to get involved in something like this is really important.”
Other activities during the day included alcohol awareness workshops, health tests, boxercise classes and circus skills workshops.
Council slammed over
union learning centre
by Lesley Wilkinson
CUTS to the number of courses at a trade union learning centre in Warrington have been slammed by MP Helen Jones.
The Warrington North MP said local trade unions and councillors are calling on Warrington Borough Council to halt plans to reduce the number of courses at the Trade Union Learning Centre, Woolston.
She said the pioneering centre has been praised by Government ministers for offering learning opportunities to workers.
Unionlearn project worker Ged Bretherton said: “The council has now brought in a private training provider, and has denied the trade union learning rep on site the time which used to be available to assist others and is set on restricting the number of courses on offer.”
The MP said: “The whole idea behind trade union learning reps was for them to be able to help people at work to access the kind of learning they felt they wanted. Instead, the council seems to be determined to have a ‘top-down’ approach, by restricting the choices available. I call on them to rethink their plans.”
Town Hall to investigate
flooding problems
by David Skentelbery
TOWN Hall bosses are to carry out an investigation into flooding blackspots in Warrington.
They are concerned about a backlog of work that is building up on collapsed drains and blocked gullies.
Coun Ian Marks, leader of the borough council said the heavy rain of the last few days had accentuated the problem, particularly in areas such as Liverpool Road and Orford.
But the council had been concerned for some time about the backlog of work.
He told the council: ?We have no idea of the scale of the problem but I suspect it?s big requiring a massive investment to sort out.
?As first step we are instructing the relevant officers to do an audit of the problem in conjunction with other organisations like United Utilities.
?Once we have the facts we will be in a position to come up with a plan of action and see if other sources of funding are available.?
Coun Mike Hannon said some areas of the town had been badly affected, with homes and gardens flooded by raw sewage.
?These are properties which have never been affected by flooding before,? he said.
Coun Linda Dirir said four years ago the council was told United Utilities were responsible for drainage.
?We should be holding United Utilities responsible,? she said.
Bikers to stage
fund-raising event
by Lesley Wilkinson
FANS of the famous Harley Davidson motorbikes will gather in Warrington at a fund raising event for the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace.
The event, at the Ferry Tavern in Penketh is on July 7, and organised by the pub and The Harley Owners Club.
It starts at 12 noon and runs until 1.00am and all are welcome.
There will be music from live bands, including Kappa, Rainmakers, Monsoon and Sticky Fingers, there will be hot food, real ale, trade and children’s stands.
Other features include a bike show with prizes, open to all makes of bikes. There will also be a raffle for the foundation.
Wendy Parry, foundation trustee, said: “Last year’s event was excellent. It was attended by hundreds of bikers and over 1,000 people.”
Events are free but there is a charge of ?5 per tent for those wishing to camp overnight, subject to space.
To
wn gears up for
“smokefree” Sunday
by staff reporter
BUSINESSES, pubs and the community in Warrington are gearing up for going “smokefree” on Sunday.
And Warrington Borough Council is on hand to ensure the law is enforced and to offer advice to businesses on introducing the restriction.
Smoking in almost all enclosed public places, including offices, factories, pubs, bars and public transport, will be against the law.
Indoor smoking rooms will also be banned and smokers will have to go outside. Officers say the ban will help prevent the health risks associated with smoking.
Surveys have shown that going smokefree can actually be beneficial to the hospitality industry, as three out of four people in England already choose not to smoke.
The council will be responsible for building compliance, supporting businesses and other premises to implement the new law and carrying out enforcement.
Coun Roy Smith, executive member for community services, said: ?Businesses, and the public, should be preparing to ensure a smooth transition for everybody.”
Failure to comply with the law will result in penalties both to individuals and businesses.
Further information on the legislation is available from Sheila Cahill on 01925 443319, and advice on giving up smoking is available from Warrington Stop Smoking Service on 01925 843713.
Blaze wrecks
site buildings
by staff reporter
FIRE crews tackled a blaze on a housing estate at the new Chapelford Urban Village, near Warrington, during the night.
Three portable buildings being used by site workers were involved in the fire – and two of them were completely destroyed.
The third was badly damaged before firefighters could bring the flames under control.
A Fire Service spokesman said the outbreak was being investigated but it was suspected the cause was an electrical fault.
