New bid to end row
over rowdies at
school sports centre
by David Skentelbery
LICENSING chiefs are to meet a second time to try and end a row over an
application to renew an entertainment licence at a Warrington school.
Members of the borough council’s licensing committee have visited William Beamont High School to inspect the site for themselves since deferring a decision on the application last month.
Angry residents have lodged objections to the application – not because of any problems with the school itself – but because of the activities of the commercially run Vida sports centre which forms part of the school complex in Long Lane.
Residents say they never had any problems with the school, which has held an entertainment for years, until the sports centre opened.
Now they claim their lives are being made unbearable because of noise, vandalism, late night hooliganism and drunkenness involving youths using the sports centre.
The Vida centre opened after William Beamont School was designated a specialist sports college.
Enhanced sporting facilities were provided at the school by Vida – along with a bar. It holds an “on” licence but not an entertainment licence, which it does not need because only private functions are held there of an evening.
It is the school which is applying for a renewal of its entertainment licence.
A number residents lodged objections. They claim their lives are being made a misery by gangs of youths vandalising gardens, fences, parked cars and causing noise and disturbance.
All the residents say there were no problems before the sports centre opened.
Arty pupils told: “Don’t
worry about the mess”
by Terry Johnson
SCHOOL kids at Warrington, who won a national art award are being urged not to worry about “getting messy”.
Research carried out in schools reveals that nearly three-quarters of 21st-century primary children avoid “messy activities” – whether in school or at play.
They fear their designer-label clothes will be dirtied, with resultant loss of pride and image.
But squeaky-clean kids can miss out on creativity, say experts.
Special art days are now planned for children – to demonstrate that “getting messy” and experiencing nature first hand is a vital part of a child’s development.
Culcheth Primary School at Warrington is one of nine national winners of Persil Hands-on Art Awards, with 28,000 schools registered.
As part of their prize, an environmental art workshop was held with expert illustrator Liz Minichiello. Pupils were told: “Get creative at all cost”.
They rolled up their sleeves and combined painting and hand-printing to produce a “school welcome” mural. Teachers and school governors also joined in.
Community art co-ordinator, Jane Houghton, said: “It was a wonderful opportunity to get the whole school involved with art. The mural at the school’s entrance is a permanent reminder of how well we’ve done in the national competition”.
Faith leaders “not
divided” by bombing
by staff reporter
RELIGIOUS leaders from across Cheshire – including Warrington – have issued a powerfully worded statement in the wake of the bomb atrocities in London.
The leaders, meeting as an interfaith community support group, met at Cheshire Police headquarters at Winsford. The meeting was hosted by Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan.
In the statement, representatives of local Mosques, the Diocese of Chester, the Roman Catholic Church and the Sikh Temple, said: “The criminal acts in London are abhorrent but they have not succeeded in dividing us and they must not be allowed to do so. We are united in our common humanity.”
There was a round table discussion on the issues facing the community following the bombings.
After discussing practical steps that could be taken to reduce fear and to reassure local people about their safety, the group issued the following statement:
“The events in the country over the last week have had a powerful effect on everyone.
“The immediate response from people of faith has been one of shock, deep sympathy and prayer for those injured and for the families and friends of those who died.
“We have come together to express that sympathy and to stand together. Events like these make us more determined to build strong and lasting relationships between the people of faith in Cheshire.
“The criminal acts in London are abhorrent but they have not succeeded in dividing us and they must not be allowed to do so. We are united in our common humanity.
“It is important that people in Cheshire, and in the UK as a whole, should not respond with hatred to tragedy. It is a strength of our diverse society that we do not.
“At this time, everyone needs to feel secure in the knowledge that we are working together to support each other and to keep people in our community safe from harm.”
Among those taking part in the discussion were Hafizmatloob Ahmed, Imam of Warrington Mosque; Abdullah Badwi, representing Cheshire, Halton Warrington Race Equality Council; Amarjit Grewel, Independent Advisory Group member and member of Warrington Council of Faiths; Fr John O’Reilly, representing the Catholic Diocese of Shrewsbury; Bhajen Singh, priest of the Warrington Sikh Temple, Nigel Stock, Bishop of Stockport in the Diocese of Chester; and Garry Shewan, Assistant Chief Constable of Cheshire.
Police winning the
war on vandals
by John Hendon
POLICE say they are winning the war against vandals in Warrington.
A new “team working” offensive by beat officers, Community Support Officers and Specials has solved 16 per cent more criminal damage offences…in just two months!
With more vandals being hauled before the courts, police chiefs confidently predict: “It is the vandals’ way of life that is threatened”.
The breakthrough in detecting crimes to property, vehicles and offences of arson means the tide has turned on the wreckers, whose trail of damage runs into many millions.
Police in Cheshire, Warrington and Halton recorded 2,365 criminal damage incidents in April. Latest figures show a fall to 1,970 such crimes.
During the early summer, Cheshire’s detection rate for criminal damage rose from 263 cases to 306.
Chief Constable Peter Fahy, said: “We are now damaging the criminals.
“In the last few months our detection rate has steadily increased. There are 16 per cent extra cases going before the courts.”
New Neighbourhood Policing Units are the key to Cheshire’s success in solving low-level crime.
Said Mr Fahy: “Police officers, Community Support Officers and Special Constables now work together as a team. They perform an integral role in the community – trusted by local people and aware of those intent on causing trouble.
“It is their knowledge and people’s willingness to come forward with information that has brought about increased case-solving”.
The police chief added: “It is only with the help of local people that we can send a strong message to the small minority intent on bringing misery to communities.”
Soldier Andi is
put to the test
by Terry Johnson
WHILE his mates were trying to light the barbecue or strolling down to the pub, Warrington TA soldier Andi Donaldson was doing something just a little more challenging.
The vehicle technician was erecting an eight-metre communications mast while under “chemical attack”, recovering a crash-pranged military truck and moving casualties.
Andi, 22, from Great Sankey, teamed up with the 103 Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers) to compete in ‘Exercise Nor
thern Bluebell’, a Royal Electrical and
Mechanical Engineers competition in Cumbria.
Seventeen teams from Army units across the North of England and Scotland took part and were tested on a range of skills considered essential tools of the trade” for REME soldiers and officers.
The competition was won by a regular army unit from York.
Andi has served with the paid, part-time military for two years.
Sign can’t
be seen
by staff reporter
FOLLOWING complaints that a “no entry” sign to Ellesmere Road, Stockton Heath, is not clearly visible, an investigation is being carried out by Warrington Borough Council.
Stockton Heath Parish Council had reported that the No Left Turn sign outside St Thomas’ Church, was obstructed.
The borough council will check, and if possible re-site the sign adjacent to the signals.
