Councillors will
not take pay rises
by David Skentelbery
AN independent panel is recommending a pay package for councillors at Warrington which would cost the borough council ?647,308 ? an increase of 6.1 per cent.
The deal would include a 1.88 per cent rise in the members? basic allowance, increasing it from ?7,350 to ?7.488 ? but exclude travel costs and subsistence allowance, National Insurance costs and childcare and dependant relatives allowances.
Members of the Independent Members Remuneration Panel are recommending the new pay rates come into force from June 1, with further adjustments in line with earnings in Warrington for the years 2008-9 and 2009-10.
But leader of the council Ian Marks says the increases will not be taken.
He said: “At a time when we are asking council departments to look very carefully at their own budgets, it would be unacceptable for councillors to accept a recommendation that gives an increase in their own allowances.”
The Members Remuneration Panel makes its recommendations based on local earnings levels in Warrington and the estimated time spent on council business.
Some element of the work is considered to be voluntary.
The Panel is recommending that the ?hourly rate? for the coming year should be ?12 and that 15 hours per week be used as the estimated average time spent on council business. Twenty per cent of time should be regarded as a voluntary.
Special responsibility allowances are paid on top of the basic allowance and are related to the estimated median wage in Warrington.
Travel and subsistence allowances are linked to those paid to council officers and would be revised in line with changes made nationally to the rates paid to officers.
College’s “go green”
policy is on target
by staff reporter
STUDENTS and staff at a Warrington college have embraced its “go green” policy and it is currently recycling just under a ton of waste a week.
Since it introduced the policy Priestley College has achieved impressive results. A report by the college’s waste transfer contractors showed a significant contribution to a “go green” ethos.
Since September a range of recycle boxes have been placed in a number of areas and people have been encouraged to put all waste paper materials in them. Most of the waste avoids landfill and can be pulped to produce fresh paper, according to the college.
In addition the Computer Services Department works to recycle as much IT waste as possible working in association with the Environmental Agency. Two groups of Science and Maths students are currently working on environmentally friendly projects as part of the Engineering Education Scheme.
Campus manager Roy Kettle said: “In most business settings, people just aren’t aware of how much of their rubbish could be re-used.
“At Priestley we are making a significant attempt to reduce our impact on the environment at a time when issues relating to global warming and the environment in general are never too far away from the spotlight.”
?46,000 windfall to
help hospital patients
by Lesley Wilkinson
A WINDFALL of more than ?46,000 has helped improve lives for patients at Warrington Hospital after being donated by local charity the League of Friends.
The charity has spent the cash on a “wish list” of equipment and tasks, which was drawn up by staff.
These included a machine for delivering anaesthetic, equipment for measuring oxygen in blood and an instrument to examine eyes.
Money was raised by selling hospital lottery tickets, books, toys and bric-a-brac at the league’s fundraising area near the hospital entrance.
Recently raised funds have been used to paint two murals on the walls of X-ray Room 2 in the Minor Injuries Unit.
Chris Cane, clinical lead radiographer, said: “The murals really brighten up the room, which is mainly used by children.
“Having paintings of Winnie the Pooh and scenes from Disney’s ‘Finding Nemo’ provides a talking point and gives our younger patients something familiar to distract them from the task in hand.”
A wax bath worth ?1,150 was presented to the Physiotherapy Department in May.
Chris Fenelon, muskuloskeletal team leader, said: “The wax bath is particularly useful for hand injuries, wrist fractures and for patients with arthritis. We use the heated wax to ease pain, rather like a warm bath.
“After 20 minutes we peel the wax off and use it to exercise with – squeezing the ever hardening wax is good for building up muscle strength.”
Acoustic brainstem response equipment, worth ?15,000, was presented to the Audiology Department in May.
Milly Syres, audiology services manager, said: “The acoustic brainstem response equipment, which measures how well ears respond to sound, will help us detect deafness and hearing impairment in about 150 newborn babies each year.”
Dave Hancock, deputy chairman of the league, said: “It is such a pleasure to know that the money we raise is put to such good use and helps to improve the patient services provided at Warrington Hospital.”
Security guard robbed
at railway station
by John Hendon
DETECTIVES from British Transport police are appealing for witnesses and information following a cash-in-transit robbery at Newton Le Willows railway station.
The raid was at about 7.10pm on Monday when a security guard was approached by a male offender at the station. The offender demanded the cash box and a struggle ensued. The offender was then joined by two more males and they punched and kicked the security guard to the ground.
They then left with the cash box in an estate car in the direction of M62.
The victim attended Warrington Hospital with cuts and bruises and was kept in overnight.
Detectives investigating believe that the station was quite busy with commuters at the time and are appealing for anyone who witnessed this incident to come forward.
At this time there are no descriptions available of the offenders other than they were three males.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information should contact Detective Sergeant Michael Maher at British Transport Police on 0800 405040.
Hospital radio gets
into festive mood
by Lesley Wilkinson
VOLUNTEERS from Warrington Hospital’s Radio General are out and about to ensure that patients do not miss out on the town’s festive happenings.
A series of outside broadcasts started on Saturday when Jim Jefferies took his “People and Places” programme to the Winter Wonderland at Walton Hall Gardens.
He broadcast live to patients in the hospital with guests including Tony “the top trackside tipster” and Warrington-Worldwide?s James Balme, who talked about his passion for archaeology.
James talked about the Christmas scene from the perspective of the Roman Empire – after all, he said, they were the first Christians.
Later on Saturday the radio team interviewed at Lymm Dickensian Festival and relayed the atmosphere of the day back to the patients.
Outside broadcasts continue this Friday with the Christmas Concert by Warrington Male Voice Choir from the Parr Hall. Guests at the event will be the Hepworth (Lanson Homes) Band.
On the Sunday December 17 the Warrington Light Opera’s Christmas Gala Concert will be broadcast live from the same venue.
Both concerts start at 7.30 pm and can be heard on the Patientline bedside units in Warrington Hospital.
Home extension
can go ahead
by staff reporter
SINGLE storey extensions can be built at a house in Pendle Gardens, Culcheth, despite objections from a neighbour and Culcheth Parish Council, planners have decided.
Warrington?s development control committee approved the scheme after planning officers informed them that the size of the plot and the substantial space at the side of the dwelling provided more scope for development than
other properties on the estate.
They did not believe the development would harm the character and appearance of the area or the original dwelling.
A neighbour had argued that the extension ?looked like a barn? and lacked any design character. The parish council claimed the extensions were of inappropriate size, design and massing and would result in a loss of amenity to neighbours.
Vandals set
car alight
by David Skentelbery
VANDALS set fire to a car parked outside a house at Orford, Warrington, during the night.
The top-of-the-range Ford Focus was badly damaged – but fire crews managed to prevent it from being completely burned out.
Neighbours in Cyril Street raised the alarm.
A Fire Service spokesman said the offenders had placed paper under the car and set it alight. The fire burned through the floor and into the passenger compartment, causing severe smoke damage.
Police are investigating.
