Protesters vow to fight
on to save school
by Gary Skentelbery and James Balme
PROTESTERS who rallied at Warrington town hall to demonstrate against the proposed closure of Woolston High School – have vowed to fight on after council bosses rubber stamped a recommendation to shut the school in 2012.
As hundreds of protesters chanted “Save our School,” many of them pupils, local councillors said they would continue the campaign to have the controversial decision over turned.
Members of the council’s executive board voted unanimously to close the school after being told the number of high schools in central and eastern Warrington had to be cut from four to three, due to falling pupil numbers. They were left with the difficult decision of choosing between Woolston and Padgate High School.
Coun Sheila Woodyatt, lead for Children Services said: “We took no pleasure in reaching this decision – it is one of the worst things I have had to do in more than 20 years of local government.
“If it was possible to support four high schools we would but it would reduce standards and it would be irresponsible of the authority to do this. We must maintain the high standards we have in our schools and childrens services.”
Coun Woodyatt said it was now important to “mitigate against the loss of the high school with a cross council strategy which would be implemented in time for 2012. It is estimated that by 2014, the number of secondary age pupils will have fallen by over 1000 in the area.
But local councillor Paul Bretherton said: “The fight will go on. This is not the end of our campaign to save the school, far from it.”
Fellow local councillor Colin Froggatt said the next stage would be to have the decision “called in” to the council’s scrutiny committee.
“All we need is the signatures of councillors from two parties. This should not be too difficult as the Labour group are opposed to the decision and one of the Poulton South LibDem councillors put out a leaflet saying they were supporting the school.”
Parents, carers, teachers, staff, community groups, residents, children and young people all had the opportunity to comment on options for schooling in the area following an extensive programme of consultation by the council. Now Following the consultation process, officers recommendations that statutory processes are undertaken to reduce from four secondary schools in central and eastern Warrington to three secondary schools and for Woolston Community High School tpo close on 31 August 2012 have been approved.
Coun Bretherton added: “The Woolston Community and the school itself are appalled by the outcome of this recommendation.
“I and many others are highly suspicious that this is a political decision based around the fact that Woolston CHS sits within a Labour held ward, and that Padgate CHS sits in a currently held Liberal Democrat ward. Is the fear of losing votes more important than the future education of children in Warrington?
“Woolston children have now been deprived of a Secondary education in their own community, which will also face having its heart ripped out.” The statutory consultation process outlines:
That no pupils are admitted to Year 7 of Woolston Community High School in 2008;
That where possible all existing pupils will complete their education in Woolston Community High School;
Woolston Community High School partner primary schools to be partnered with Padgate Community High School;
That for 2008, the Published Admission Numbers in the area will be Birchwood Community High School 210 (7 form entry), Padgate Community High School 240 (8 form entry) and William Beamont Community High School 210 (7 form entry)4.
That a cross Council strategy is developed with the community and local Members to mitigate the loss of a high school.
Council leader Ian Marks said: “This is a complex process we have been through. We are well aware of the school’s importance in the local community and we will be looking at ways, across the council, of developing the community.
There will now be a further stage of consultation until November 9 with the results being taken to the Executive Board on December 3.
New flagship campus
building now open
by Mark Hemmings
A ?3 million state-of-the-art building designed for students and businesses has been unveiled at the Warrington Campus of the University of Chester.
With eight teaching spaces, three computer labs, 14 offices and a large meeting room The North West Development Agency (NWDA) has funded the majority of the new Tucker Building.
The opening marks the latest stage of the ongoing campus redevelopment.
Housing up-to-date computing equipment, the Business Centre will be home to teaching facilities for students studying courses within the Faculties of Lifelong Learning; Business, Management and Law; Applied and Health Sciences; and Social Science.
It will also provide a focal point for businesses in Warrington and the sub-region, offering a wide variety of support services.
University of Chester?s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tim Wheeler, said: ?This is part of a major investment programme the University has undertaken at the campus.
?Over five years, ?12 million has been injected into the site. The development will complement the work already carried out.?
Chief Executive of the NWDA, Steven Broomhead, said: “We are delighted to support this project, which is a vital step in maintaining the University?s growth and development, and will enhance the already excellent contribution it makes to skills and training both in Warrington and the region as a whole.
?The Business Centre project is integral to expansion of higher education at the Warrington campus, and in serving the local and sub-region, with a particular focus on employers in key business clusters, primarily located on business parks around Warrington.”
Local business figures have praised the new development. Chief Executive of Warrington Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Colin Daniels, said: ?We welcome this important addition to the University of Chester?s Warrington campus, and all the support it will provide to businesses in the area.?
Provost of the Warrington Campus, and Dean of Corporate Planning and Development, Dr Chris Haslam, said: ?The Business Centre marks the University?s strong commitment to working closely with employers across the region.
?It will be at the centre of business support and recruitment development. The signing of the Train to Gain Skills Pledge signals the start of many enterprises using the facility to further develop their businesses.?
The centre is already gearing up to host one part of Cheshire?s foremost business events, the High Sheriff?s Award for Enterprise, in March 2008.
Hospital progress to be
outlined at annual meeting
by John Hendon
WARRINGTON Hospital bosses, the Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust are holding their AGM this Friday September 21 from noon at Warrington Hospital?s postgraduate education centre, when they will outline progress made over the past 12 months.
The meeting will feature a review of the year at Warrington and Halton Hospitals, reporting on their performance against key government targets and talking about achievements and challenges over the last year at the hospitals.
In 2006/2007 the hospitals met all of their key access targets which included 98 percent of all accident and emergency patients being seen and treated within four hours, 99.5 percent of all new referrals from GPs being seen within 11 weeks and all suspected urgent cancer referrals being seen within two weeks.
During the year the majority of planned surgery moved to Halton General Hospital and operation cancellation rates nearly halved to 1.1 per cent from 2 per cent the previous year as routine surgery came under less pressure from emergency work.
The trust will also report on work to reduce hospital infection
over the last year and the progress it made against its financial targets.
Trust Chief Executive Catherine Beardshaw will also talk about the plans for the future and new developments at the two hospitals including ward upgrades, new renal dialysis facilities at both sites and new cancer services at Halton.
Members of the public are welcome to attend the meeting. A copy of the trust?s annual report will be available and refreshments will be served.
Anyone who cannot attend the meeting but who wants a copy of the annual report, or to send through a question to be raised at the meeting, can email Chris Horner at the hospital at [email protected].
Alternatively you can call on 01928 753031 and a copy can be sent out and a note of any questions can be taken.
Poem could win ?1,000
by Mark Hemmings
In a free poetry competition, all Warrington residents are being given the opportunity to write about something or someone in the town.
The competition is open to poets of all ages and is designed to encourage new poets to get more involved in writing poetry to assist self expression and creativity.
Peter Quinn, Managing Director of United Press, who are running the competition said: ?Poetry is one of the most accessible art forms and more people should be writing poems. Many new poets are unearthed by competitions like this.
?Last year?s winner was a Yorkshire nurse and the previous year?s winner came from Merseyside. Maybe this year the ?1000 will go to a poet from Warrington??
Entrants can send up to three entries into the competition. They must all be a maximum of 160 words and be 20 lines each. The closing date for the competition is December 31.
Entries should be sent (with a loose stamp if entrants would like a reply after the competition has closed) to United Press, Admail 3735, London, EC1B 1JB.
National prize for
Older People’s Forum
by Mark Hemmings
WARRINGTON Older People?s Forum (OPF) has received national recognition.
Thanks to the focus of the OPF on issues relating to the needs and well being of older people in the town, mobile phone operator O2 has donated ?1000 to the organisation as part of their ?Its Your Community Charity?.
Councillor Geroge Warburton, OPF Chairman said: ?Applications were submitted from all over the country, so we were delighted when notified that from several hundred applications, ours was successful and would receive the top prize.?
Briers’ beer fest
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON Wolves skipper Lee Briers is inviting fans to join him in Latchford?s The Bridge Bar for an Beer Fest on Saturday October 6 in support of his Testimonial Fund.
The night is set to feature a German Oompah Band, German buffet and various beer offers.
Starting at 7.30pm, tickets priced at ?6 are now on sale from Wolfware and The Bridge Bar.
Bonfire event
by staff reporter
MEMBERS of Lymm Round Table will once again be holding their traditional bonfire night festivities at Lymm RUFC on Saturday November 3.
The bonfire will be lit at 7pm followed by firework display at 7.30pm.
