Major survey of town’s
footpaths and bridleways
by David Skentelbery
A MAJOR survey has started of more than 230 miles of public footpaths, bridleways and other rights of way in the Warrington area.
The survey is being carried out by transport planners JMP Consulting and includes a check of access, condition and use of the public rights of way around the town.
It is required to help the borough council prepare a rights of way improvement plan.
The plan will set out the priorities for improving the rights of way network and how the needs of different users, including walkers, cyclists, horse riders and people with mobility problems can be catered for.
A spokesman for JMP said: ?Work carried out so far indicates, among other issues, that there is a shortage of horse riding facilities in the borough and also some disparity of path provision between areas north and south of the Mersey.?
Users are being consulted as to what they want from the network and JMP and the borough council will produce a draft version of the rights of way improvement plan to encourage public comment.
These views will then be incorporation into preparing the final version of the plan.
The survey coincides with the ?Saddle Up? initiative by Business Link Cheshire and Warrington to boost the equine industry in the area.
This will, among other things, help riding schools and other ?horse? businesses with innovative ideas to increase income.
Businesses will be helped develop safe off-road riding in areas where bridleway systems are sparse.
The initiative has the backing of the Cheshire and Warrington Tourism Board.
Volunteers give time to
disabled community
by John Hendon
WARRINGTON Disability Partnership’s headquarters have been given a major facelift by volunteers from the team building the Golden Square shopping centre expansion.
More than 40 members of the project team spent two days helping to upgrade the facility in Beaufort Street.
Senior managers from Lend Lease – the company behind the Golden Square development – Bovis Lend Lease, Golden Square, project architects Haskolls and sub-contractors Hewletts, Hares and John Doyles were involved in the initiative.
Every year, Lend Lease employees throughout the work are asked to take part in a “Community Day” project and this year was the 10th anniversary of the scheme.
The aim is to provide employees with an opportunity to actively participate in community work and give their time, energy, enthusiasm and skills to help their local community.
Last year, more than 900 employees took part in projects in eight different countries.
The Disability Partnership’s existing premises were given a new meeting room and a new access was provided to a newly created Leonard Cheshire”Discover IT” suit at the centre.
Rupert Wood, development manager at Lend Lease said: “The Golden Square development team has been working closely with key stakeholders in the Warrington community for over 18 months and we’re pleased to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the Lend Lease community week in Warrington.”
Chairman of Warrington Disability Partnership Dave Thompson said: “We’re delighted to be this year’s beneficiary of Lend Lease’s community week project, which will see some much needed changes taking place within the entre for Independent Living.”
Melissa’s a bright spark
BRIGHT spark Melissa Day is a girl in a man’s world.
The 16-year-old Warrington Collegiate student is training to be an electrician in a classroom full of men.
Melissa, of Valiant Close, Padgate, enrolled on the electrical installation course at the Winwick Road campus.
As part of the new ?27 million redevelopment the Collegiate has created a state-of-the-art engineering skills and construction centre to train tradesmen and women of the future.
School get together
for poetry day
by staff reporter
TWO Warrington schools got together to stage a week of special events and celebrations in the run-up to National Poetry Day.
The week began with the two schools, Longbarn Primary and Green Lane Special ? meeting at Woolston Park, under the guidance of park rangers, to allow children to use their senses to explore the sounds, scents and colours of autumn.
Back at base, they worked away on group and individual poems.
Longbarn held an open day and guests, including local councillors, watched performing poets Gabby Mouth and Penelope Page strut their stuff and show that poetry is for everyone.
The children voted ?Scabby Knees? the most hilarious poem!
Later there were poetry workshops for older pupils while the air was scented with the smell of home cooking as the younger ones got down to some hands on biscuit baking for parents.
The creative poetry offerings were then taken back to the park for public display on the big day.
Early years centre
wins quality award
by David Skentelbery
THE Sandy Lane Early Years Centre at Warrington is to be awarded a Primary Quality Mark by the Basic Skills Agency.
Quality Mark is awarded for meeting a number of standards in the teaching of literary and numeracy.
It is awarded for three years, over which the local education authority will monitor the centre to ensure standards are maintained.
Warrington North MP Helen Jones (pictured) welcomed the award.
She said: “This award is further evidence that the Sandy Lane centre is providing a first rate early years education for our children. To receive the award they were inspected in 10 areas including the way pupils are assessed and the way parents are involved in developing their children’s basic skills.
?Congratulations are due to all involved. The award is very well deserved.”
A chance to break
into German market
by business staff
BUSINESS leaders in Warrington interested in breaking into the German market are being invited to a free event.
The borough council?s economic development team are hosting a British Chamber of Commerce in Germany (BCCG) event at the Birchwood Centre.
Businesses with a general interest in the German market, those already trading regularly in European markets or wanting to break into the German market will be able to attend the event, which starts at 4.30pm on Wednesday October 19.
Visitors will have the opportunity to speak to legal experts from the Manchester office of Eversheds solicitors and hear from local companies about their experiences of trading with counterparts in Germany.
Further information is available from Helen Williams, of the council?s economic development team at [email protected] or by calling 01925 715115.
Bargain sale of
books and videos
by staff report
PAPERBACKS and videos are just some of the treats up for grabs at a book sale bonanaza idn Warrington.
Bookworms can pick up a bargain at Warrington Central Library and Museum’s book sale, which is being held between 9am and 4pm from Thursday October 27 until Saturday October 29.
It is the perfect opportunity to obtain on withdrawn library books at discount prices.
Prices will start from 10p and the sale will include hardbacks, paperbacks, textbooks, children’s books, CD’s and videos.
For more information ring the library on 01925 442889.
