Beauty spot facelift
“one hell of a mess”
by Lesley Wilkinson
WORK on cleaning up of popular beauty spot Ackers Pit at Stockton Heath, near Warrington, has been dubbed “one hell of a disaster”.
Angry residents crammed into a packed parish council meeting and one was cheered when he told the council: “This project is one hell of a disaster. It is a crying shame – there is no other word for it. The pit may as well not be there.”
He said he had enjoyed the beauty spot for 30 years but knew problems caused by silt dated back 10 years.
“You may as well put the plug in, start again and do the job right next time,” he told councillors.
Proposals for a ?48,251 desilting and landscaping scheme were approved by the parish council in February. Funds were boosted with a grant from Warrington Anglers Association, ?15,000 from the Environment Agency and ?25,000 from an environment improvement fund.
It was hoped work would be completed by summer – but on May 12 following a series of problems the project was halted.
Residents fear the site could be sold and used for housing ? but council chairman Graham Roughsedge denied this. He said: “We have gone with the experts and been let down.
“As far as I am concerned there will not be any houses built. The pit has been there since before 1465. It was a beautiful green oasis and we intend to get it back to that.”
Senior landscape architect with project managers TEP Graeme Atherton said the amount of silt had been underestimated by contractors APEM in June 2005.
The project was amended to remove as much silt as possible and include a clay bund at the southwest corner. Work stopped on May 12 because of poor quality clay. This provided a chance to take stock and plan a way forward with the remaining budget.
“If we had continued making decisions on a day to day basis rather than looking at the larger picture we would have spent all the funds without getting the desired result,? he added.
Additional health and safety measures have been introduced to prevent public access and reduce the risk of children drowning.
The parish council must also look at future maintenance and silt removal, which it is estimated could cost at least ?80,000 at current prices every 25 years.
Councillors are now awaiting a further engineering report and investigating possible further sources of funding.
Disabled people
given sporting chance
by Gary Skentelbery
DISABLED people in Warrington have been given the opportunity to try their hand at new pastimes thanks to a disability sports day held at the University of Chester’s Warrington campus.
From traditional sports such as football, cricket and basketball, to boccia, curling and judo, disabled people from day care centres across Warrington spent around four hours taking part in activities organised by the University’s Department of Sport and Recreation Services.
Coaching on the day was provided by University staff, external partners including Warrington Wolves RLFC, and other volunteers, such as judo Paralympian, Terry Powell.
Neil Gibson, the University’s Community Sports Coach, said: “This event has been successful for the last few years and was a good chance for the University to strengthen its links within the local community.
“One of the main aims of the day was to give people the opportunity to try something new. Quite a few of the participants hadn’t previously been given the chance to take part in some of the activities on offer.”
The day was also used to promote a new sports club which is due to be launched at the University for adults with a disability. The brainchild of Neil Gibson, Sporting Chances will give people in the Warrington community the chance to enjoy weekly coaching sessions at the University’s Sports Hall.
The sessions, which will be available free of charge, will cover a range of different sports and will be operating on Tuesday lunchtimes with the help of University volunteers.
For more information, call 01925 534293.
Council’s “softly, softly”
approach to smoking law
by David Skentelbery
WARRINGTON looks set to adopt a ?softly, softly? approach to enforcement of the new anti-smoking regulations due to come into force on July 1.
Initially, the approach will be advisory, supportive and non-confrontational and will target businesses rather than individuals.
It will primarily focus on developing compliance and education both before and for a period of time after the legislation comes into force.
A report to be considered by the borough council?s executive board next week will recommend a high profile campaign in the weeks before and immediately after July 1. There will be:
Visits to ?high-risk? premises such as pubs and clubs before the law comes in to force.
Provision of ongoing advice to businesses given locally, in addition to a national campaign by the government and other organisations.
A high profile local media campaign. After the new law comes in, visits to high-risk premises will be made to assess compliance. In addition to reinforce our intention to enforce this legislation in instances of non-compliance.
Where non-compliance is due to misunderstandings or a lack of diligence, then further information, advice and guidance will be provided. However, where it is evident that serious efforts are not being made to comply, or the attitude is unco-operative or antagonistic, then a decision to take enforcement measures will be considered.
The council will investigate complaints about contraventions and where these are justified, appropriate enforcement action will be taken.
Persistent non-compliance by businesses and individuals will be tackled through strong enforcement action.
All enclosed and ?substantially enclosed? public spaces, including vehicles, and shared places of work, will become ?smoke free?.
Smoking in a designated smoke free area will attract a ?50 fixed penalty notice or prosecution. Failure to display no-smoking signage will result in a ?200 fixed penalty fine or prosecution.
Failure to prevent smoking in a smoke free place will result in prosecution with a fine of up to ?2500.
Officers from the council?s Housing, Protection and Community Service will enforce the Smoke Free Regulations.
Search for
pretty gardens
by staff reporter
A SEARCH is on for pretty front gardens in Stockton Heath.
Last year Stockton Heath Parish Council held a best kept garden competition, but there were very few entries. Now members are going out hunting for good gardens.
Coun June Daynes said: “If we see a pretty garden, we should knock on the front door and see if people want to enter.”
Members will seek out nominations to be considered at the July meeting.
Youths causing
problems in park
by staff reporter
YOUTHS gathering in a Stockton Heath Park are causing a problem for nearby residents – but the problem may end when schools break up for summer.
Police CSO Peter Crellin told Stockton Heath Parish Council youths were gathering in Alexander Park.
“Kids are down there most evenings, but once the summer holidays start they tend not to meet up.”
A chance to view
Daresbury gardens
by staff reporter
VISITORS to an event to raise money for All Saints? Church, Daresbury near Warrington will have an opportunity to see the gardens of Lord and Lady Daresbury.
The open day at Hall Lane Farm, Daresbury takes place on Saturday, June 30.
There will gift and produce stalls, plants, cakes, books, afternoon tea and games for children.
Warrington Art Group will be staging an exhibition and music will be played throughout the afternoon by Birchwood Silver Bank.
Summer Ball
GRAPPENHALL Sports Club is holding a summer ball at the Park Royal Hotel, Stretton on July 6 to raise funds for the
club in Stockton Lane.There will be a three course meal and dancing to an 11-piece band.
[ 15.06.2007, 10:57: Message edited by: DS ]
