War of words over
new school plan
by David Skentelbery
A WAR of words has broken out over the controversial plans to demolish Stockton Heath Primary School, near Warrington and replace it with a completely new building.
On the one side are the parish council, borough councillors, school governors and some staff and parents.
Ranged against them are SHARCS ? the Stockton Heath Alternative Residents Council ? a new group of local people who say they are to contest seats at next year?s council elections, an action group set up to preserve the existing school building and some staff and parents.
New plans have been submitted for the demolition and re-building of the school and these will be on show at a special meeting of Stockton Heath Parish Council tomorrow (Tuesday) to be held immediately before the normal monthly meeting of the council.
Borough councillor Celia Jordan, who is currently chairman of the parish council and deputy Mayor of Warrington, has distributed a letter to constituents to explain her position on the school plan.
She says she has been misunderstood by some residents because she has, ever since the proposals for the school were first announced, had an open mind.
But, having studied all the information available, including consultants? reports on the two options ? refurbishment of the old building or demolition and new build ? she is now convinced that new build will result in a better school at less cost.
Her letter, distributed with the Liberal Democrat Focus newsletter, has drawn a sharp response from Steven Taylor, spokesman for SHARCS, accuses Coun Jordan of being ?out of touch.?
Mr Taylor said : ?I remain unconvinced that she ever had an open mind on this one. Only the head teacher, governors, some of the staff and a minority of parents support the new build option.
?The cost exercises undertaken were inadequate to resolve the real differences and the schemes evaluated were also restricted in terms of design brief.
?No one has ever provided a sufficiently robust costed version of a refurbishment scheme, so how do they know what it would really cost extra. Smart money believes that refurbishment is cheaper – it is just a bit harder to conceive and achieve.?
Mr Taylor also claims the school has not been receiving any proper maintenance since the proposals to demolish were first put forward because the council felt there was no point in spending on the building when its fate was uncertain.
What residents really want to know, he says, is why objectors are having to fight off another planning application when the original was thrown out by the planning committee in March, by a 7-1 majority.
?It appears the council will bulldoze this plan through, in the face of overwhelming support for saving the building,? he added.
Project gives fresh
hope for young
by Gary Skentelbery
YOUNGSTERS who are under performing in Warrington schools are being offered new hope.
Connexions Cheshire and Warrington, which provides help and support to young people between the ages of 13 and 19, has launched an innovative scheme, the MINT project.
It is aimed at students in their final year at high school and provides them with the chance to take part in a range of activities including the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, youth achievement awards, first aid courses, driving courses, sport leader awards and healthy living initiatives.
A total of 110 young people were chosen to take part in the project and 95 of these youngsters achieved at least one extra qualification, 75 young people have gone on to further education, employment or training. Many also gained higher GCSEs than had been initially predicted.
Chantelle Delaney, 16, (pictured above) from Penketh, Warrington, who was on the verge of quitting high school a year ago, joined the project.
She said: “I was ready to leave school. I didn’t like it and wasn’t all that interested with the lessons. I am now doing beauty therapy at Warrington Collegiate, which is something which I would not have thought about 12 months ago.
“Connexions provided me with a large amount of time and help and supported me in looking for the various courses which were available to me. The MINT project gave me the confidence to get qualifications I needed to do the beauty course.”
Mint has received funding from the Learning and Skills Council and European Social Fund. The name Mint was created by the students taking part in the programme, believing it was a “fresh approach to learning.”
?38,000 facelift for
community centre
by Lesley Wilkinson
A ?38,000 grant has enabled major refurbishment to be carried out at a Warrington community centre.
St Elphins Community Centre was awarded the grant from Warrington Borough Council and WREN, the landfill tax credits organisation.
It now has a new entrance porch with disabled access, toilet block and a modernised kitchen.
Arnold Wright, centre management committee chairman, said members were pleased with the work and he is calling on local community groups to visit the centre and see the facilities that are available for hire.
He said: “The centre was set up in 1981 with the benefit of an urban aid grant and it is for the residents of Howley and Fairfield.
“It is appropriate that this refurbishment has taken place during our 25th year, some of the committee having served for the whole of this time. It is important that the community support the centre in order to keep the facilities available.”
Coun Yvonne Fovargue who supported the bid for funding praised the volunteers and management committee members who have helped during the refurbishment.
She said: “The refurbishment of the centre is in no small part due to the dedication of a number of volunteers and centre management committee members who have worked extremely hard to provide a superb facility which local residents and community groups across the town can access.”
Festive cheer
from Lions
by staff reporter
Sixty members and volunteers of the Oughtrington Community Centre Day Care Luncheon Club held their Christmas outing at the Barn Owl pub with the help of the Lymm Lions who presented a cheque for ?250 towards the cost.
Savers urged to
use credit unions
by Lesley Wilkinson
FOLLOWING on from the “Farepak” collapse, when people lost money paid into a Christmas savings club, a Warrington councillor is offering an alternative saving idea.
Coun Yvonne Fovargue says that local credit unions offer a safe and secure alternative and is encouraging local people to join.
She said: “Credit unions aim to help people take control of their money by encouraging people to save what they can and borrow only what they can afford to pay.
“Here in Fairfield and Howley we are blessed with a local credit union with a growing membership and proven track record. Members can deposit and withdraw cash and after a qualifying period obtain loans with affordable repayment terms, unlike the loan sharks that prey on the vulnerable.”
She encouraged people to contact the Fairfield, Howley and Latchford credit union and said further information is available by calling 01925 656968.
Children’s centre opens
with festive party
by staff reporter
A FESTIVE day with food, games and fun marks the opening of the third “Sure Start for all” children’s centre in Dallam on Wednesday (December 13).
The centre, based at Dallam Primary School in Boulting Avenue, opens its doors to local families and children between 10am and 4pm.
Centres are coordinated by Warrington Borough Council’s children’s services and families are invited to look around the facilities, which include early education, training with on-site creche facilities, healthcare, advice and family support.
Visitors can also book for a range of courses that start in the N
ew Year.
Consultation has been carried out in the community to ensure the facilities meet their needs, and staff are eager to involve local people.
Coun Sheila Woodyatt, executive board member for children’s services, said: “The Dallam team is looking forward to working with children, parents and carers on their ideas for improving services in their area.
“We are keen to meet as many families as we can and to take on board their views, ideas and suggestions to make this the sort of children’s centre the community feels they need and one that will work in the future.”
