Top job for former
town police chief
by David Skentelbery
A FORMER Warrington police chief is to take over as Deputy Chief Constable of Cheshire.
Graeme Gerrard, currently Assistant Chief Constable, will succeed the current deputy, Ian Holding, when he retires on April 1.
Mr Gerrard was a superintendent in command of the Warrington division some years ago, before moving to force headquarters.
Cheshire Police Authority chairman Peter Nurse, announcing the appointment, said: “It was a tough decision to make. All the candidates had positive attributes making it a difficult choice.
“The Authority is confident Graeme Gerrard will be a worthy successor to Ian Holding. During the selection process Members were looking for evidence that the candidate would play a dynamic role in delivering the new policing model, including the introduction of 18 Neighbourhood Policing Units.”
“We selected Graeme for this reason. We believe that he will build on his existing significant contribution to the senior management team and has the personal attributes that will enable him to assist the Chief Constable, Peter Fahy in driving through the many changes being introduced this year as we develop a service that places the community at the heart of policing.”
Graeme Gerrard joined Cheshire Police in 1975 and gained his early police experience as a patrol officer in Widnes.
In 1980 he was selected to attend a rapid promotion course at the Police Staff College, Bramshill, and in 1983 he was awarded a scholarship and later graduated with an Honours Degree in Politics and Economics from Manchester University. His police career has been varied and has included periods in the CID, general policing and police training. In July 1998 he was appointed to his current post as Assistant Chief Constable and has responsibility for Operational Policing, Forensic Investigations, Administration of Justice and Professional Standards.
Housing company’s
birthday celebrations
by staff reporter
GOLDEN Gates Housing – Warrington Borough Council’s arms-length housing company – has celebrated its first birthday.
In its first year, the company has achieved a high rating for its services from the Audit Commission, let five major partnering contracts worth ?65 million, rolled out CHOOSEaHOME across the town, set up a new service centre, reorganised the business and introduced a fleet of new vehicles.
At the same time it has continued to maintain high levels of service to tenants.
To mark its first birthday GGH organised several events:
A prize draw for a signed Warrington Wolves shirt.
A donation of ?100 into the ‘baby bond’ account of a child who shares GGH’s birthday.
250 Golden Gates Housing key fobs giveaway.
Plans are being finalised to give away 20,000 low energy light bulbs to many of its customers.
Warrington mum Sarah Roome’s one-year-old son Dylan shared his birthday with GGH and was delighted to receive the ?100 baby bond.
A bottle of wine went to the only employee who shared a birthday with GGH, Stephen Yates, a tenant support officer who is familiar to many of GGH’s customers.
The winner of the prize draw will be revealed at a later date.
Coun John Kerr-Brown, chairman of GGH said: “We are now looking forward to the next 12 months. Our main objective will be to use the ?18m we received from achieving a good ‘two star’ rating in the Audit Commission report, to improve homes throughout Warrington. In addition, GGH will be allowed to seek up to a further ?12.1 million if we progress well.
“We would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the customers who supported us and hope they will continue to do so in the future.”
Town’s social services
“among the best”
by David Skentelbery
SOCIAL Services in Warrington are among the best in the country, according to new national ratings.
The ratings were published following submissions, which all local authorities make, to the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) and were based on visits and independent judgements of performance across all areas of social services.
Warrington was give a two-star good rating which makes Social Services in the town 19th overall in the national league tables for performance in a number of indicators for children and adult services.
Warrington was ranked joint first of all 150 local authorities in the country for children’s services.
Of the 18 performance indicators for children’s services in particular, Warrington was in the highest or second band for 17 areas.
As a result of the review Warrington was given two stars, which means it is serving most children and adults well and has promising prospects for improvement.
The department was ranked on its performance in areas including care and support for families in difficulty, the protection of children at risk of harm, helping older people to live as independently as possible and support for people with disabilities.
Coun Colin Froggatt, the borough council’s executive member for Social Services and Health Promotion, said: “We are pleased that this independent review has backed up what we know – that our Social Services department is carrying out some tremendous work and we are performing as well as any other authority in the country in many areas of our work.
“Tribute should be paid to all those people working for the department for the commitment and dedication they show to ensure we carry on improving in all areas of our work.”
?1,482 “thank
you” to hospital
by staff reporter
A LYMM woman who fought back to health after being diagnosed with leukaemia has raised ?1,482 for the haematology department at Warrington Hospital.
Mother of four Joanne Brown, from Statham, organised a 70s disco at Thelwall British Legion Club to raise the money.
She said: “I would like to thank everyone who supported the event and particularly those who donated raffle prizes.”
Joanne was diagnosed with Chronic Myloide Leukaemia in 2000 but made a remarkable recovery after being treated with a new drug from Switzerland which her husband Tony discovered on the internet.
Since then Joanne, helped by her sister Julie Burgess and brother Ray Broadsmith, has held a number of fund-raising events in aid of Manchester Royal Hospital and Warrington Hospital where she has received treatment.
New business
manager
by staff reporter
RUPERT Attlee, 41, has been recently appointed to the new role of business and events manager at the Arley Estate, near Warrington, following the departure of John Gallon, who returned to South Africa at Christmas after three years as events manager.
Mr Atlee combines international experience in event management, marketing and public relations with a sensitivity and knowledge for our heritage developed from his time as a York history graduate and teacher. One of his latest positions was managing the RFU’s Sweet Chariot Tour to celebrate England’s victory in the Rugby World Cup.
News in brief
Road closure
WARRINGTON Borough Council proposes to make an order to temporarily close parts of Kerfoot Street and Longford Street, near their junctions with the A49 Winwick Road for about two weeks from Monday March 14 while resurfacing work is carried out. Alternative routes will be signposted.
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery organised by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 32, 8, 11 and 15. The ?200 jackpot was unclaimed so next week’s top prize is likely to be around ?300. The ?25 consolation prize went to K Higham.
Disabled parking
DISABLED person’s parking places are to be introduced in Earl Street, Padgate Lane and Grasmere Avenue Warrington, subject to no valid objections being received by the borough council by February 24.
House conversion
PLANS to conve
rt a terraced house in Hanover Street, Warrington into a house in multiple occupation have been submitted to the borough council.
