?100 million shopping
centre gets green light
by David Skentelbery
A ?100 million-plus scheme to re-develop land off Winwick Street, Warrington, with shops, offices, a hotel, eight screen cinema and more than 600 homes has been given the green light by borough council planners.
The scheme, which would provide parking for more than 1,100 cars, now has to go to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott for final approval.
But planning officers, who recommended the project be approved, can think of no reason why it should not go ahead, providing a bold new gateway to the town centre from the north.
A second major scheme, involving demolition of the existing Time Square shopping centre and replacing it with a new development, has been deferred by the borough?s development services committee.
This also involves a multiplex cinema, restaurant, bars, shops, offices and 312 residential units and nearly 420 parking spaces.
But councillors decided to defer the scheme to enable them to receive more information about the possibility of providing affordable homes as part of the development.
The developers say they want to provide affordable homes off-site, through the payment of a commuted sum.
Planners say if this issue remains unresolved, it would provide a potential reason to refuse planning consent.
Both schemes were recommended for approval by the officers, subject to agreements from the developers to contribute to the cost of infrastructure. Both attracted objections – including one from agents acting for the Time Square developers objecting to the Winwick Street scheme.
Traders from Warrington Market opposed the inclusion of a cinema in the Winwick Street project.
They are supporting the Time Square project because it includes improvements to the Market entrance and could be expected to attract more shoppers to that part of town.
Princess Anne in town
HUNDREDS of people turned out to greet Princess Anne when she visited Warrington. The Princess Royal unveiled a commemorative plaque at The Gateway ? the town?s new one-stop-shop for help and advice. During her visit, the Princess took the opportunity to meet with and chat to staff and volunteers from the 25-plus organisations and projects based at the Sankey Street centre. As Patron of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, Princess Anne also inspected Warrington CAB?s new premises, which is within the Gateway. Princess Anne also went to Stockton Heath to visit the Save the Children charity shop in London Road ? one of the most successful charity shops in the country The Princess is president of the charity and has visited the shop previously, in 1997.
Editor prepares
for prison!
by Terry Johnson
MEMBERS of the Warrington business community are set to be put behind bars in aid of the St Rocco?s Hospice annual jailbreak. The event takes place at Stockton Heath Police Station on Friday March 10 and those standing in the dock include Warrington-Worldwideeditor Gary Skentelbery – who has been accused of impersonating a newspaper editor! Last year?s jail-breakers raised over ?20,000 from their ?bail raising? time in the police cells. This year will see 15 top local businesses support St Rocco?s Hospice through their jailbreak activities including Warrington Collegiate, Royal Mail, Bakers Jewellers and the Creamer Group. Locked up with only a ?cell? phone and a pledge sheet, ?prisoners? will be left to call upon friends, family and colleagues in order to raise enough ?bail? to secure their release. Each inmate will need to raise a minimum of ?500 for St Rocco?s before the ?magistrate? (Chair of Trustees for the Hospice, Councillor Celia Jordan MBE) will grant them bail. Well known members of the community taking part include Hospice Matron Beth Eccles, warrington-worldwide Editor Gary Skentelbery, Audrey Venebles- President of the Law Society and Partner at Davies Ridgway, Councillor Jeff Richards, and Gary Jones, Birchwood Shopping Centre Manager. St Rocco?s Hospice is Warrington?s only Hospice. It cares for patients with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses, provides in-patients and day care, along with family and bereavement support. The Hospice needs to raise ?1.7 million each year in running costs. All money is raised locally by the people of Warrington. To support the jail breakers by making a donation to Hospice funds, please call the Appeals Team on 01925 575780. Anyone wishing to sponsor Gary can do so via the website www.justgiving.com/garyskent
Your nicked – picture shows local councillor Jeff Richards being arrested by Inspector Stuart Woodcock watched by fellow jail breakers.
Children’s centre will be
“hub of the community”
by Lesley Wilkinson
A NEW children’s centre, which promises to be “the hub of the community,” is to be provided at Dallam Primary School, Warrington.
It will include early education at the school’s nursery class, childcare at the on-site nursery and a new building that will house health services and training facilities for parents and carers.
Dallam Sure Start Children’s Centre will join similar centres in Sandy Lane, Orford and at Westy in delivering integrated services and activities for local families with children aged under five.
It will offer healthcare such as midwifery, sleep advice, weaning and well person clinics, and adult learning courses for parents in topics such as first aid. There will also be sessions on yoga and healthy eating, appointments with Jobcentre Plus and other advisory services.
There will be support for childminders and play sessions. Other sessions will depend on the needs of local children and families.
Plans for the new centre are available to view at the school in Boulting Avenue. A parents forum group will be set up to allow parents and carers to get involved in the delivery of services.
Dallam Primary headteacher Jackie Watson said: “Both the school and local parents are really looking forward to the opportunities that this exciting new children’s centre will give our local community. We have already started to run a variety of courses for parents and their children, linking services like the childcare at the nursery with early education at the schools nursery class.
“The children’s centre will be the hub of the community and once a full programme of activity is designed local parents will be able access a one stop shop for all early childhood needs, ensuring that every child matters in Warrington,” she added.
Coun Colin Froggatt, the borough council?s executive member for children’s services, said: “Sure Start Children’s Centres play a vital role within communities giving young children and their parents and families access to information and services that can make a real difference to their lives.
“The new centre will no doubt be considered a valuable asset in the community and will enjoy as much success as the existing centres.”
Council budget “papers
over cracks” – claim
by David Skentelbery
OPPOSITION councillors at Warrington have accused the borough council?s ruling Labour group of producing a bud that ?papers over the cracks? caused by years of financial mismanagement.
Liberal Democrat finance spokesman Coun Peter Walker spoke of a ?financial black hole? concealed by a glossy budget presentation.
He said: ?Balancing the books will be a significant challenge for Labour as the annual audit recently pointed out. The problem is that for years Labour has been unwilling to make decisions and has dilly-dallied around.
?It’s not surprising that the annual audit criticised the council for being slow on key cultural service areas.
?A good example is their unwillingness to set up a Leisure Trust which would have saved ?250,000 a year and improved service. Now it’s probably too late.?
The council approved a 4.9 per cent
increase in council tax which will bring the amount payable on an average Band D house in the central, unparished areas of Warrington to ?1,139.48.
Coun John Morris, the council?s executive member for resources, said said the Audit Commission recognised the council was delivering value for money and had a stable financial position.
But being rated highly by the Audit Commission was not enough and the council was determined to continue making good progress. But escalating costs over the next three years meant tough decisions would have to be made.
?Our budget focuses on maintaining current services and details ?6.35 million of savings that that council tax increased could be low as possible next year. The savings would achieved by increasing efficiency, increasing income and focusing more closely on the core business in future years.
The council had listened to feed back from the public and had amended some spending proposals to take account of people?s concerns.
But Coun Walker said a council tax rise of nearly five per cent was two and-a-half times inflation and was a ?stealth tax? imposed by the Labour government.
?We have had several years of increases more than inflation and this particularly hurts people on low incomes. Residents will also be hit by a raft of increased charges above inflation for services and a ?1 million cut in other services,? he said.
Liberal Democrat leader Ian Marks: “A couple of years ago, Labour criticised us for presenting an alternative budget done on the back of a fag-packet. But their budget this year contains so many numbers just plucked out of thin air, it makes mine look like a carefully constructed financial statement Gordon Brown would be proud of!
?The period of 10 days for consultation is just a joke. It is plain arrogant to think that businesses and residents of Warrington can comment on a complex document in such a short period of time.?
He welcomed a ?500,000 fund for less well-off areas of the town but accused Labour of neglecting these areas for years.
Parish precepts in outer areas of the borough mean residents face an additional charge. The new council tax rate for a Zone D house will be as follows:
Appleton: ?1,155.48; Birchwood: ?1,222.84; Burtonwood and Westbrook: ?1,158.32; Croft: ?1,203.54; Cuerdley: ?1,154.11; Culcheth and Glazebury: ?1,155.81; Grappenhall and Thelwall: ?1,164.48; Great Sankey: ?1,156.48; Hatton: ?1,149.80; Lymm: ?1,165.99; Penketh: ?1,194.05; Poulton-with-Fearnhead: ?1,152.75; Rixton-with-Glazebrook: ?1,164.71; Stockton Heath: ?1,163.48; Stretton: ?1,154.48; Walton: ?1,148.88; Winwick: ?1,176.52; Woolston: ?1,148.63.
Road crash
victim named
by John Hendon
POLICE have named the elderly man killed in a road crash at Birchwood, Warrington at the weekend.
He was Alfred Cartledge, aged 79, who lived at Paddington, Warrington.
His red Volkeswagen Polo car left the A574 Birchwood Way and collided with a tree. Mr Cartledge died at the scene.
In a statement, his family said Mr Cartledge was a widower who was born and bred in Warrington.
He retired in 1990 to look after his late wife, Hazel, who had later died of cancer.
A keen photographer who also enjoyed walking, he had worked as a fitter for various Warrington firms and had played darts for the former Locker Sports and Social Club.
Anyone who witnessed the accident is asked to call PC Ian Stephenson on 01244 613813.
