High hedges charge is
slammed as “hidden tax”
by David Skentelbery
A ?500 charge to be imposed on Warrington people who want action taking over a neighbour?s high hedge has been condemned as a ?hidden tax.?
Coun David Earl says the charge ? approved by the borough council ? will deter people with genuine grievances from seeking action.
Currently, nearly 60 local people have made enquiries about the issue.
The council can take action over hedges more than two metres high, forming a barrier to light or access, under legislation which came into force in June. But the Government has made no additional funding available for the work involved and the council has no budget allocation.
Owners of hedges are entitled to appeal against the council?s decision and lengthy and costly processes are possible.
Warrington will charge ?500 ? or ?200 in the case of people on benefits ? to pursue complaints on behalf of residents.
Coun Earl (pictured) said: “What is disturbing is that it is the ‘victim’ in the situation who is being forced to part with cash to resolve the matter rather than the individual who is causing the inconvenience.
“Surely this is contrary to the British concept of justice and reasonableness and is a most perverse way of achieving a result in a difficult and stressful situation.
“I appreciate this measure is being placed upon councils by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister yet no additional funding is Being provided to pay for this duty – hence the ‘innocent’ complainant is having to find a large sum before any action will be taken.
?This appears to be yet another hidden tax on residents and helps government to give the impression of low Council Tax rises.
“Is this also going to set a precedent to charge for other services such as objections to planning applications or similar??
Coun Earl suggested that to avoid imposing such draconian charges and save officer time, ward councillors could help taking an initial look at situations and, providing it is safe to do so, discuss the issue with all parities hopefully achieving an equitable solution without resorting to extreme measures.
Other North West councils are charging between ?135 and ?500 for the service.
Boost for wheelchair users
A CHARITY dinner dance raised ?550 towards the cost of new wheelchairs for the short-term loan fleet at Warrington Disability Partnership.
The dance was organised by the Terry and Jean McDermott Sequence Dancing Section and friends at Alford Hall, Warrington. Special guests were professional dancers Steve and Helen Shaw from Leeds.
WDP’s short-term wheelchair loan is a free service to any member of the public. It offers chair sizes from kids to large adults and can provide a wheelchair from one day up to a six week period. Details are available from 01925 247501.
Councillor’s action call
on “eyesore” alleyway
by Lesley Wilkinson
A COUNCILLOR has called for action to clean-up an ?eyesore? alleyway at Warrington, strewn with litter and overgrown with weeds.
Bakers Place, behind Sharp Street, Laira Street and Orford Lane, Howley, requires a major clean up, says Coun Yvonne Fovargue.
“I noticed this site during a recent walkabout and was shocked at the eyesore before me. The alleyway is really in need of a major clear up. It is strewn with rubbish and weeds, particularly the area directly behind properties on Sharp Street,” she said.
“That’s why I have contacted Warrington Borough Council to ask them to clear the site as soon as possible,?
Coun Fovargue welcomes new powers that will allow the council to take action against people who fly-tip.
“Fly-tipping is an unsightly, expensive menace that costs council tax payers over a million pounds a week across the country. That’s money that could be spent on schools, on social services or on lower council tax, and until now even if councils did spend more to prosecute the fly tippers, they wouldn’t get their costs back,” she added.
She said under the new council powers, offenders themselves will foot the bill.
“Now offenders themselves will foot the bill. Under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act, local councils will be able to make the polluters pay for the mess they have made, as well as the costs of tracking down the culprits,” said Coun Fovargue.
New measures include fines of up to ?50,000 and five years in prison for those found guilty of fly-tipping.
But Coun Fovargue says that more needs to be done.
“In April next year councils will be able to introduce on-the-spot fines to ensure we combat the smaller, but equally problematic, fly-tips like the one at Bakers Place,” she said.
Binge drinkers will
be targeted with text
by Lesley Wilkinson
A CAMPAIGN depicting mobile phone text warnings will be used to tackle the problems of binge drinking among young people in Warrington.
Adults who buy alcohol for youngsters will also been targeted in the hard-hitting campaign.
Posters designed by young people will be displayed in youth clubs, leisure centres, pubs and clubs. Entitled “Wot do u wnt booz 2 bring u 4 chrimbo,” they depict through text images the problems young people face when they drink too much – sickness, violence and accidents.
Off-licences will be giving leaflets to adult customers warning that they risk a fine of up to ?5,000 under a new law if they buy alcohol for young people.
A leaflet on things parents and carers need to know about under age drinking, will be handed out in shopping centres and off licenses throughout the festive period.
The campaign is being organised by Warrington Alcohol Harm Reduction Partnership, which consists of Warrington Primary Care Trust (PCT), Warrington Borough Council, Cheshire Police, North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust and other statutory and voluntary organisations.
Warrington PCT health improvement specialist Jane Knight, who is leading the campaign, said: “Young people think more and more that a good night out includes heavy drinking. But with it comes a risk of being involved in arguments, accidents, impulsive behaviour, vulnerability and risky sexual behaviour.
“In Warrington we are seeing increasing numbers of young women with liver disease too. The issue for us is how to get young people to understand the short-term and long-term effects of alcohol use,” she added.
The campaign will be launched in Golden Square Shopping Centre today (Thursday) at an information stall staffed by health and council teams.
On Saturday between 2pm and 4.30pm youth workers from PhaZe, which provides advice and support to people aged under 19, will be staffing a mobile drop-in centre in front of Boots on Bridge Street.
Schools are also being offered a new toolkit to help teachers work with children on alcohol and sexual health issues.
A recent survey of 12,800 14 to 17-year-olds commissioned by the North West Trading Standards network showed that 33 per cent buy their own alcohol, 60 per cent get their alcohol from adults and 37 per cent drink in parks or the street.
According to Warrington PCT figures, the number of deaths in Warrington due to liver damage by alcohol is 38 per cent above the national average. In addition, people are starting to experience liver problems at a younger age.
A break with tradition
– jazz in church
by David Skentelbery
LIVE at St Wilfrid?s, the organisation that brings top quality serious music to Grappenhall, has announced its 2006 programme.
As usual, it features leading classical musicians who would not otherwise visit the area but, in a break with tradition, it also features one full evening of jazz.
Spokesman Norman Cutter said: ?This is a new venture ? a full evening of jazz. We have had part programmes before, but this will be a first for us.
?6pac Jazz Sextet is a young and vibrant group of highly talented musicians. The young sing
er, Alice Zawadzki, who made her debut last year at Ronnie Scott?s will join them.
?Although jazz is somewhat out of the norm for music societies, a society in the North West classed 6pac as the highlight of its season.? The programme opens on February 23 with international pianist Chenyin Li playing Shostakovitch, Schubert, Bartok, Albeniz and Liszt.
On March 11, father and daughter Martin Neary (organ) and Alice Neary (?cello) play Bach, Mozart, Couperin, Faure, Saint-Saens and Medelssohn.
April 8 sees the 6pac Jazz Sextet performing ?a programme we anticipate will be approved by all our regular concert-goers.?
On May 13 there will be an evening of chamber music by students from Chetham?s School of Music and on June 8, the Fodens Richardson Band will present an evening of brass band music.
International pianist Leon McCawley will play Mozart, Schubert, Hans Gal and Rachmaninov on September 14 and on October 19, ?Golden Moments of Opera? will be performed by Hatstand Opera ? a blend of hilarious scenes and heart-rending arias presented in an informal style.
The programme ends on November 16 with the Boidele Chamber Orchestra playing Handel, Bach, Mozart and Haydn. In line with the group?s policy of helping local young musicians play with a professional orchestra, the concert will introduce Laura Lucas, who is currently studying at the Royal College of Music.
All conerts are at St Wilfrid’s Church, in Church Lane, Grappenhall Village and start at 7.30pm.
Further details are available from Mr Cutter or by visiting www.liveatstwilfrids.co.uk
Helping young diabetics
feel less isolated
by Lesley Wilkinson
A SOCIAL evening to help young people with diabetes to feel less isolated and learn more about their condition is being held on December 20.
The event, from 7pm to 9pm, takes place at Bank Quay Sports and Social Club, Green Street, Warrington.
There will be help and advice from specialist nurses, a dietician, podiatrist, psychologist and a substance intervention worker from Phaze, an organisation that helps those with alcohol, drug and tobacco abuse problems.
There are 90 people aged between 17 and 25 registered with Warrington Hospital’s Young People’s Diabetes Service.
Regular clinics are held to offer guidelines on living with diabetes, including advice on diet, exercise, holidays and family planning. An evening diabetes clinic is also being organised at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington, to increase accessibility.
Dr Paula Chattington, consultant diabetologist, said: “Being diagnosed with diabetes is not something most young people and their families consider, so it is a shock and there is an element of fear of the unknown.
“Many find it hard to accept that this is a lifelong condition and just want it to go away. Young people can also be very sensitive about being different from their friends in any way.?
The team can show young people how to manage their condition and behave sensible, and can help parents let their children take more responsibility for their condition as they get older.
Dr Chattington said the service aims to be innovative to get the right messages across, for instance by using text messaging and e-mails, with some people replying from as far afield as Thailand and Majorca.
Susie Prestt, a diabetes nurse specialising in young people, said: “Our aim is to help young people cope with issues that are very topical and relevant to them at this time in their lives.
“We want to be supportive, but not intrusive, allowing them to make informed choices about their lifestyle,” she said.
Anyone who wants more information should contact Susie on 07796 938152 or phone 01925 662179.
School’s festive
day of creative fun
by staff reporter
A FESTIVE day of fun is being held at Birchwood CE Primary School, Warrington, tomorrow {Friday} as children get creative.
Working together is the theme of a Decoration Day, which kicks off with Christmas songs to get youngsters into the spirit.
The children from the different years will be working together to create Christmas decorations, design something for the Christmas tree and to take part in a range of seasonal activities. Parents and carers will also be joining in.
All the artwork will be displayed in a special assembly at the end of the day.
Head teacher Elizabeth Williams said: “Christmas is an exciting time and so we thought we would encourage the children to use their imaginations and get involved with themed activities. I am also looking forward to seeing parents and carers come along as well to have fun and help strengthen links between the school and the local community.”
