Town to sever links
with US community
by David Skentelbery
WARRINGTON looks set to end its links with the US community of Lake County as part of a review of overseas “twinning” arrangements.
But the borough council wants to strengthen its long-established twinning connections with Hilden, in Germany and Nachod, in the Czech Republic, as well as with the Island of Ireland.
There are also moves to establish links with a Third World town – probably Mwanza, in Tanzania.
Members of the council’s executive board want to set up an all-Party International Partnership task group, supported by the chief executive’s unit, to review the objectives of international relationships, agree overseas trips and agree a budget and plans for reciprocal visits.
Warrington set up links with Lake County, Illinois in the early 1990s, through the old Business Connections exhibition. But trips to the US by Warrington officers in 2005 confirmed there had been no follow up from Lake County in terms of identifying areas of mutual interest.
Hilden is Warrington?s oldest ?twin town?, dating from 1965. There are regular visits between the two towns and Hilden is keen to develop the partnership still further.
Nachod was twinned with Warrington in 1989 after the ?Velvet Revolution? led to part of former Communist Czechoslovakia becoming the Czech Republic. Recent exchange visits have identified a need to clarify the purpose and benefits of the partnership.
Links with the Island of Ireland developed through the ?peace movement? which sprang up in Warrington after the IRA bombings of 1993.
Recently, Mwanza made an approach to Warrington to establish formal links.
Coun Fiona Bruce has, coincidentally, made a private visit to the Tanzanian town recently.
She said: ?I am very excited about developing our international links, particularly Mwanza. We have much to offer each other, culturally and economically, using electronic links.
?We would be one of the first town?s in the country to twin with a Third World town.
?I think people in Warrington would want this ? they have already shown their interest through the Fair Trade movement. The benefits would be very much two-way.?
Leader of the council Ian Marks said: ?I am also excited by these possibilities.?
He said the council was also going to explore the possibility of economic development links with China.
Coun Terry O’Neill, leader of the Labour group on the borough council, said: ?Links with international partners provide important social and cultural benefits to Warrington but we need to see a greater emphasis on building economic links by involving local business in the process of reaching out and developing potential new markets for local employers.
?Over 18 months ago the then Labour administration was well on the road to realising this aim.”
Sisters set
the pace
by Lesley Wilkinson
SISTERS Harriet and Emily Knowles-Jones, from Lymm, came first and second respectively in the annual Warrington Primary School’s Cross Country League.
Harriet, aged eight and Emily, aged 10, are both pupils at Ravenbank Primary School, Lymm.
It is believed to be the first time ever that sisters have come first and second in the league.
The pair are both enthusiastic runners and are members of Warrington Athletic Club.
Their achievement is all the more remarkable because they were both competing against older runners.
Youth club’s offer of
volunteering opportunities
by John Hendon
PEOPLE with some experience in youth work are being offered a chance to widen their experience through a volunteering scheme at Warrington Youth Club.
The club, based at the Young People?s Peace Centre, at Great Sankey, says it is looking for people with ?creativity, passion and enthusiasm.?
People with some experience of youth participation or engagement work and with skills in art, drama, dance or sport are being sought.
Opportunities include supporting a youth forum, delivering youth work within a drop-in service for 11-16 year olds, and acting as a specialist – delivering workshops on things such as sport, art or drama.
Training and support is provided and refreshments are reimbursed.
More information is available from Sarah on 01925 581248 or e-mail [email protected]
Planners will not allow
homes on woodland site
by David Skentelbery
PLANNING chiefs have given a firm indication that planning consent for housing will not be given for land near the junction of Grammar School Road and Longbutt Lane, Lymm where a number of trees were recently felled.
Nearby residents are up in arms of the loss of the trees which formed a small copse ? and which are said to have given nearby Woodland Avenue its name.
Residents describe the felling as the “wanton vandalism” caused by contractors who arrived unannounced at the scene and starting felling the trees.
Attempts to persuade the workmen to stop were met by abuse – and later a bulldozer arrived on the site and began uprooting the remains of the trees.
Borough council officers and representatives of the Forestry Commission have visited the scene. But the copse has been almost totally destroyed.
Parish councillor Neville Woodyatt said: “The matter has angered a good number of people. But no-one seems to know who owns the land now. At one time it was owned by a local resident, but we understand it was sold some time ago.
“There is a rumour that someone wants to build two houses there, but there has been no application for planning permission.”
Highways chiefs are investigating because a stretch of distinctive metal fencing – known as Cheshire Railings – has been torn down.
None of the trees were protected, but the copse formed an attractive entrance to a public footpath leading over the fields to Oughtrington.
Planning chiefs say if an application to build on the site was received it would be turned down.
Stop smoking team will
help people quit the habit
by John Hendon
WARRINGTON’S Stop Smoking Team is working with businesses across the town to help them prepare to the ban on smoking in enclosed places which comes into force in July.
They are also gearing up to help an expected rush of people wanting to quit smoking when the ban comes in.
Sheila Cahill, Warrington Primary Care Trust’s tobacco control project officer, said: “We are delighted that all workplaces and enclosed public places will be going smoke free from July 1.
“We are supporting organisations across the town to implement new policies in order to achieve this. More and more are registering for the Warrington Smoke Free Award which promotes smoke free workplaces.
“New research confirms that exposure to second hand smoke puts you at risk of all kinds of nasty diseases. The risk of lung cancer is increased by 24 per cent, and heart disease by 25 per cent. Becoming smoke free is a real boost for everyone’s health.”
Ian Walker who has opened Warrington’s first smoke free bar, The Lounge, in Springfield Street, said: “We decided to be smoke free because there is a huge demand in Warrington. We are trying to promote a healthy attitude towards drinking in general and feel that people should be able to enjoy a drink in a smoke free environment. Already people have commented how it is great to have a night out in a bar without worrying about smelling of smoke when they leave.”
In the three months before the introduction of the ban in Scotland last March the number of people wanting to quit almost doubled in some parts of the country.
Linda Rainford, of the PCT’s Stop Smoking Service, said: “Half of the people who register with our service successfully quit. Last year we helped 1,063 people give up. We are not an anti-smoking service, but dedicated to providing non-judgemental information, support and advice to any individual or group who
express a wish to stop smoking.
“Clinics are available throughout Warrington, including out of hours for people who work during the day and unable to make daytime appointments.”
Free help and advice is available from the Warrington Stop Smoking Service on 01925 843713. Advice and support on promoting a smoke free environment and implementing a smoke free policy is available from Sheila Cahill on 01925 443319.
Business can tap into
university expertise
by business staff
BUSINESSES in Warrington will now be able to access the considerable expertise of four universities as a result of a new partnership.
The University of Chester ? including its Warrington campus ? and Merseyside?s Liverpool John Moores University, the University of Liverpool and Liverpool Hope University will all be available to help.
It all becomes possible through a new partnerships between the Chester university and Business Bridge, one of the UK?s most successful knowledge exchange centres.
Professor Timothy Wheeler, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Chester, said: “We’re delighted to join this very successful initiative as it will enable us to strengthen our links with business and industry and give our students the chance to gain vital work experience.”
John Trantom, who manages Business Bridge from its ‘hub’ at Liverpool John Moores University, said: “What other brokerage service enables businesses to select and recruit staff from such a high calibre pool of individuals, free of charge? The expansion of our operations into Chester and Warrington can only be good for students and employers across the North West.
“This initiative epitomises how effective collaborative working can be and with the addition of the University of Chester, we can help ensure that more employers realise the added value that students and graduates can bring to their business operations.”
Business Bridge was originally set up in 1995 to make it easier for companies to access university expertise in Merseyside and in particular their pool of talented students.
Around 50,000 students are currently eligible to work via Business Bridge and this is set to increase as a further 11,500 students currently study at the University of Chester.
Mr Trantom continued: “Over the last 10 years, we have brokered over 3,000 short-term work placements, known as bridges, in around 1,200 companies. In the last two years, students have earned over ?234,000 and on average almost ?1500 per ‘bridge’.” The success of these projects is reflected in the fact that 90 per cent of companies said that they would use the brokerage service again.
