Deprived areas being
neglected, council told
by David Skentelbery
WARRINGTON’S Community Development Service – set up nine years ago to tackle problems in the most deprived inner areas of the borough – is not achieving its objectives because its resources are too thinly spread.
Some of the most deprived areas have no permanent resource assigned to them – and the team cannot continue to operate on this basis, council chiefs have been told.
The council’s executive board – after being told available resources will not allow the team to be increased in size – have approved a policy of targeting the most deprived areas.
Work will be carried out only the most deprived wards.
When the community development service team was established in 1988 it had 12 staff. But over the years it has been reduced to six and-a-half as members have left and not be replaced.
As each officer had been assigned to a particular ward, it was difficult to re-deploy them and some wards were left without one – including wards identified as being among the 20 per cent most deprived nationally.
These include Bewsey and Whitecross, Westy, and Fairfield and Howley.
Other wards with no community development officer include Latchford East and Latchford West.
Currently, two officers are seconded to work on the Orford Neighbourhood Project and while this joint working has proved successful, it has created problems for the service in the allocation and balancing of the workload within the inner wards.
As a result, these two officers will be re-deployed back to the most deprived areas.
This means the service will benefit an area with a population of about 29,500, plus a black and ethnic minority community of about 5,000.
But some areas which currently receive the services of a community development officer will no longer do so, because although relatively deprived they are not in the bottom 20 per cent nationally.
Knifeman grabs cash
from off-licence
by John Hendon
A MAN brandishing a large kitchen knife got away with cash after threatening a member of staff at an off licence at Stockton Heath, near Warrington.
The raid was at the Bargain Booze store in Cawdor Street.
A 22-year-old woman assistant was in the store when the man entered. He threatened her with the knife and demanded cash, forcing her behind the counter.
The man then left with a quantity of cash.
Police say he was aged 30-35, about 6ft tall and was wearing a grey, hooded top with a black hat underneath the hood.
They are appealing for witnesses of the incident at about 11.50am on Saturday, February 3. Anyone who can help should call DC Gary Smith on 01244 613845.
Pyramid premiere for
new dance work
by staff reporter
THE premiere of a new dance work is to be staged at Warrington?s Pyramid Arts Centre tomorrow (Thursday).
Wordsolos, by Forecast ? one of the UK?s foremost dance company?s working in the field of live art and movement ? will feature two young dancers experiencing their first opportunity to dance with professionals.
Emily Smith and Katy O?Donnell have been spending every spare minute over the last few months rehearsing with the company to create a duet with one of Forecast?s professional dancers, which explores the ideas of childhood and ageing.
Katy and Emily have been working with Olivier award-winning director Mark Whitelaw, performer and choreographer Anna Macdonald, and Paula Hampson who was on hand to offer her choreographic experience to the process.
The girls will split a forthcoming regional and national tour between them ? and the first performance will be at Warrington.
They have described their experience so far as ?hard work but really exciting?.
Forecast has worked in the region since 2002 creating intelligent, moving and thought provoking dance. Wordsolos is a thoughtful reflection on childhood, ageing, place and possibility performed by a 33-year-old woman and a 12-year-old girl.
Ten months to go – but
Christmas is coming!
by Lesley Wilkinson
IT may be less than two months since the Festive Season ended ? but planners have found themselves debating next Christmas and New Year already.
Warrington?s development control committee was asked to consider longer opening hours at Stockton Heath?s 101 wine bar on Christmas Eve and New Year?s Eve.
The application sparked fierce opposition from Stockton Heath Parish Council who felt it ?totally unacceptable? because of the proximity of a large residential area.
But the committee was told the bar had been granted unrestricted opening on New Year?s Eve ? and there had been no complaints from neighbours.
Nearby residents had been consulted about the new applications for 2am opening on Christmas Eve ? that is, the early hours of Christmas Day ? and unrestricted opening on New Year?s Eve. Again, there had been no objections.
The parish council?s objection had insufficient weight, taking into account the lack of response from other consultees.
Parish councillors urged the committee to restrict opening to 1am on both nights to reduce public nuisance.
But the committee decided to allow 2am opening on Christmas Eve and unrestricted opening on New Year?s Eve for a trial period of two years.
Woman with savings
claimed ?9,594 benefit
by court reporter
A WOMAN who claimed ?9,594.04 of benefits from Warrington Borough Council when she had hidden savings has been given a 20-hour curfew order and ordered to pay back the money.
Rhonda Chaney, 36, of Centurion Close, Locking Stumps, Warrington, was sentenced at Runcorn Magistrates’ Court after being found guilty of benefit fraud. She had denied the offence.
Magistrates were told between June 2000 and April 2005 Chaney defrauded the council of ?7,520.19 Housing Benefit and Council Tax benefit of ?2,073.85.
The court ruled that Chaney must not leave her home between 9:30pm and 6am and was also ordered to pay ?450 costs.
Adrian Webster, the council’s benefits manager said: “There are no ifs, no buts when it comes to benefit fraud. Deliberately withholding information that affects your claim is stealing. That’s why we are targeting benefit thieves”
“We have introduced new methods of data matching – and the obvious message to benefit cheats is ?You will be caught?. This case is yet another clear demonstration of our determination to tackle benefit fraud.”
The women who feel sad
on Valentine’s Day
by Lesley Wilkinson
AS Valentines Day approaches a Warrington charity is reaching out to women who may be suffering from domestic violence rather than celebrating love.
The Relationships Centre said that for some men and women February 14 merely serves to highlight the sadness they feel.
One in four women experiences domestic violence at some stage in their lives, and the charity estimates that one in nine will have experienced domestic violence in the past year.
A spokeswoman said violence is rarely a one-of incident, and is often seen as a pattern of abusive and controlling behaviour through which the abuser seeks power over their victim. They say it occurs across all sections of society but is mainly of violence by men against women.
The centre offers support to those in unhealthy relationships and has launched an information card as well as posters and stickers aimed at those affected by domestic violence.
Helen Southworth, MP for Warrington South, said: “I am happy to support this initiative. It takes on average 35 incidents before a woman will seek help – by having these cards available, we can hopefully reduce that figure.
“It is unbelievable that one in four women in this day and age will be affected at some point in their lives. We need to send out a strong message that domestic violence in not acceptable in today’s society.”
Anyone who needs support f
rom the centre can call free on 0800 7839636.
[ 12.02.2007, 17:50: Message edited by: DS ]
