Vision for a healthier,
safer, greener town
by David Skentelbery
A NEW corporate vision for Warrington with healthier residents, safer communities and an improved environment is to be launched next week.
Borough council chiefs aim to ?make Warrington an outstanding town in the North West, with opportunities for all” The new vision will be launched and a revived corporation plan for the next three years will be unveiled at the Town Hall on Wednesday, July 11.
Council chiefs believe the town is already well on its way to achieving the vision, already having a four-star rating from the Audit Commission, recycling on the up, and local children continuing to achieve some the highest GCSE and A-Level grades in the country.
Now they aim to build upon these achievements by putting the borough on the road to further success in the future.
The refreshed corporate plan is an important document that details the council?s aspirations for the next three years and is updated annually to show improvements that have taken place and reflect developments in the region.
Council leaders have six main ambitions for the town:
Improving health and well-being and promoting independence
Making our communities safer, stronger and more sustainable
Improving the local environment and economy and regenerating our deprived areas
Improving transport availability, infrastructure and choice
Ensuring all children and young people have the opportunity to reach their full potential
Transforming the council?s organisation to deliver the outcomes.
Chief executive Diana Terris said ?Our new vision statement sets out our stall as a council which aims high and continues to improve for the benefit of our residents, employees and partners. We have come a long way in a short space of time but we know that there?s more to do if we want to be an outstanding council, in an outstanding town. This plan is our blueprint for how we get there.?
More Roman treasures
unearthed at School
by James Balme
ARCHAEOLOGISTS working at the Stockton Heath Primary School site near Warrington have unearthed even more hidden treasures, including pottery and coins.
To view more of the finds click on the TV screen above for the 4th instalment of www.warrington.tv’s exclusive coverage of the dig.
More filming of the work is scheduled to take place next week.
College welcomes record
number of new students
by John Hendon
WARRINGTON?S Priestley College welcomed a record number of more than 700 new students through its doors for the annual “Welcome Day.”
Year 11 pupils from across the borough were given an introduction to life at the Loushers Lane campus which was recently described as “outstanding” by OFSTED inspectors.
All the youngsters had an opportunity to take part in three sample lessons they had pre-selected prior to their arrival and were also given an insight into the new facilities they will be taught in from the beginning of the academic year in September.
Work continues to gather momentum on the ?7 million campus development project which will revolutionalise the sky line of Loushers Lane. A brand new building which will house new teaching and learning facilities and a high street standard food court will open together with a new Media and Performing Arts Academy.
Highlight for many of the teenagers came at the end of the day when they were able to see themselves on a video filmed during the events and activities.
Marketing officer Nat Ashurst said: “We were delighted to welcome students from all over the borough to our campus. There was a unique buzz around the place which is always brought about when such a large number of new students are given an introduction to college life.”
“We look forward to welcoming them back in September and wish them all the best when they pick up their GCSE results in August.”
Mayor launches new
hearing aid centre
by James Balme
A NEW international hearing aid centre has opened its doors in Warrington, offering free hearing aid tests.
Based on Buttermarket Street, Warrington, the
Amplifon Company, part of the Ultravox Group, has been manufacturing hearing aids and associated test equipment since 1935.
Amplifon was established by the late Charles Holland in 1950 and is now the world’s leading hearing aid dispensing company, serving over half a million customers every year from its 5,600 specialist centres.
Peter Clack and David Markey are the resident hearing aid audiologists at the new Warrington centre which was officially opened by the town’s Mayor,Coun Celia Jordan, who wished the company every success on their new venture.
Woman robbed of
handbag near bank
by David Skentelbery
A WOMAN was robbed of her handbag at Warrington ? just after she had obtained money from a cash machine.
The theft was in Poplars Avenue, Orford, close to the TSB bank.
Police say the woman and two friends were walking away from the bank, towards an alleyway to walk to the Jolly Tanner public house in Statham Avenue.
The victim had just used the machine when a man ran up behind her and grabbed her handbag and contents before running off. The woman was badly shocked but unhurt.
The offender was about 5ft 11 inches tall with short blond hair. He was wearing a black hooded top, blue jeans and white trainers.
Anyone who witnessed the incident at about 12.30pm on June 24 is asked to contact DC Anna Last on 0845 458 0000.
Older people have a
say on mental health
by Lesley Wilkinson
KEY members from Warrington?s Older People’s Engagement Group have had their say on the future of mental health services in the town.
They have helped to develop the Older People’s Joint Mental Health Strategy, which will be considered by the borough council’s executive board on Monday.
The strategy has been produced by a partnership of the council, Primary Care Trust and 5 Boroughs Partnership Trust. A key proposal is to increase investment by ?1m in community mental health services for older people, by setting up integrated mental health social work teams.
In addition, the strategy stresses that measures to prevent the development of conditions such as dementia are just as important as measures to prevent physical ill-health.
The strategy focuses on six local priorities including improving the liaison service and joint working with Warrington Hospital, working closely with local GPs and challenging the stigma associated with mental ill-health via promotion and education.
The strategy is also being considered the other partners involved.
“Cowboy” fire
crews herd ’em in!
by staff reporter
IT was like a scene from the Wild West when fire crews were called to a crash on the M56 near Warrington.
A saloon car had careered off the eastbound carriageway, crashed through a fence and ended up on its roof in a field full of cows ? which then wandered through the gap in the fence.
Firefighters rounded up the cows and returned them to their original field and made the vehicle safe.
The car driver was not seriously injured.
Early morning
flasher in park
by staff reporter
A MAN indecently exposed himself to a woman jogger at Warrington shortly after 6.30 in the morning.
The woman was running through Sankey Valley Park when she saw the man seated on a bench by the canal, close to a railway bridge.
Her attraction was attended to him because it was so early and because he was alone.
He was about 5ft 10 inches tall, of medium build and dark, wiry hair which needed cutting. He was wearing a navy blue jacket with a high collar, light blue jeans and dark trainers. He was aged in his late 30s or early 40s.
Anyone who can identify the
offender or who saw the incident is asked to contact DC Jessica Jarvis on 0845 458 0000.
Non-stop fashion
show in town centre
by staff reporter
TV style duo Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan will be hosting a non-stop fashion show at Warrington?s Golden Square shopping centre tomorrow (Saturday).
The professionally choreographed show will feature stunning models and the very latest collections from famous name stores including H&M, Debenhams, Bank, Oasis, Republic, River Island, New Look, Monsoon, Burton, Bay Trading, BHS, Blue Inc, Dorothy Perkins, La Senza, Marks and Spencer, Principles, Officers Club and Warehouse.
It gets under way at 12 noon and continues non-stop on the catwalk until 4pm.
