Bold vision for future of town

A BOLD regeneration programme for Warrington, involving public and private sector organisations, has been given the green light by Town Hall chiefs.
The programme, which updates and expands the regeneration framework approved by the borough council in September, will involve a close partnership between the council and economic development agency Warrington 2000+.
Coun Bob Barr, (pictured)executive member for planning and regeneration, said: “This is an enormously ambitious programme – and it is accelerating.”
Warrington 2000+ was formed in 1991 to develop the economic potential of the borough. Its board is currently made up of representatives of numerous organisations including the Chamber of Commerce, University of Chester, English Partnerships, Town Centre Partnership, Birchwood Forum, the borough council and various private firms.
Recent additions to the board include Steven Broomhead, chief executive of the North West Development Agency and Jonathan Walsh, managing director of MEPC Birchwood Park.
Under the updated proposals, Warrington 2000+ would take on the role of a public-private urban regeneration partnership.
The main components of the proposed programme are:
Neighbourhoods – improved facilities and infrastructure including provision of appropriate housing through the empowerment of communities.
Town Centre Renaissance – physical regeneration of key areas in and around the town centre to provide improving working living and leisure time opportunities.
Greenways and healthy living – making the most of open spaces, parks and improved access to the riverside for walking and cycling.
Business and enterprise – significant employment opportunities through Omega, Birchwood, Woolston Grange, the A49 and the town centre.
Urban villages – a mix of carbon efficient and affordable housing with excellent leisure and community facilities.
Connecting Warrington – delivering a realistic local transport strategy that shifts dependency from the private car.
Learning and skills – working with colleges, schools, training agencies, etc to develop a centre of excellence in learning.
Warrington in the Region – to put the borough on the map as a leading town in the region for regeneration.
Marketing and communications – promoting Warrington and keeping people informed about the great things happening in the borough.
Coun Barr said the council was already working to improve disadvantaged areas of the borough as rapidly as possible.
The expanded Golden Square shopping centre had been a great success and the town could also look forward to the new retail and leisure complex off Winwick Road.
The Omega development would be “absolutely massive” in terms of providing employment.
Borough council regeneration chief Andy Farrall said a partnership with Warrington 2000+ might be seen as the council giving away power to the private sector. But the partnership would mean the council was actually gaining more power.
Council leader Ian Marks said it was important that the council did not lose momentum.
He added: “We will move as quickly as we can – the last thing we want to do is ‘turn-off’ the private sector.”