Archived News page 1 of 2 (Scroll down to read if required)
Free Swimming a success in Halton. (December, 2009)
Almost 8,000 Halton people have registered for free swimming since the govt funded scheme began on April 1st. Prior to the scheme being offered Halton already offered free swimming to 16 year old's and younger and 60 year old's and over. Govt funding is now helping others to take advantage of a free swim as part of the nationwide 'Change4Life' campaign, aimed at encouraging people to lead more active and healthy lives and as part of the run up to the Olympic games in 2011.
Halton is one of 300 council's who have taken up the offer from the government. Neighbouring Tory controlled Cheshire West and Chester Council is one of those who have not participated in the scheme. Cllr Phil Harris said ''Health is a major priority in Halton, so our decision to take part in the free swimming programme was something we felt was important. Anybody interested in registering should phone the council and join today.''
All Saints (Upton) C of E Primary School to be rebuilt. (October, 2009)
More good news arrived in October, with planning permission being approved for a brand new purpose built school to replace the existing All Saints (Upton) Prinary School on Hough Green Rd. This is great news for local families and teaching staff and of course, future students.
You can view the new design on the Halton Borough Council website. Images of the new school will follow on a 'Hough Green Images' page in the near future. Construction of the school begins in the new year with a scheduled completion in November, 2010.
This great news follows the announcement in August of the approval by the Government of Halton Council's bid to rebuild or remodel all its secondary schools and special schools, under the Buidling Schools for the Future programme.
Hough Green councillors Kevan Wainwright and Phil Harris are both governors of All Saints and have welcomed the rebuilding of the school. Cllr Phil Harris said ''This is more great news for young students in Halton and contrasts with the past underfunding we faced when the Conservatives were last in government.''
Building Schools for the Future (BSF) funding approved (August, 2009) (Scroll down to read)
The government has confirmed that Halton has been given the go-ahead for £167 million of capital investment for Halton's BSF programme, with a further £13 million for ICT (information, communication and tecnology) in the schools. This is great news for Halton.
This means the Council can now commence the procurement process for the biggest school rebuilding programme in 50 years. Halton's BSF programme covers 11 schools, with the first planned to start in Spring 2011. As a governor of the Bankfield School, Phil Harris says ''This is great news for Bankfield and other schools across Widnes & Runcorn.''
In Widnes the proposals in brief are below.
The Bankfield High School will increase in size and will be a mixture of new build and remodelling on the existing site. The current Chestnut Lodge School for pupils with complex physical/mental needs will be re-located and rebuilt on the Bankfield School site. The Chestnut Lodge School age ranges are 2-16.
Sts Peter & Paul RC Catholic College. This will see places re-aligned to 1,350 places for 11-16 year olds plus 200 sixth form places. This will be a mixture of new build and remodelling on the existing site.
Wade Deacon High School will be remodelled and expanded and will be a mixture of new build and remodelling on the existing site. The Ashley School for pupils with cognition and learning combined with emotional and social difficulties will be relocating and rebuilt on the Wade Deacon site. The age range for Ashley is 11-16 year olds.
For further details see the Council's website or contact your local ward councillor. Some limited information is also on page 6 of the Web Links of this (Phil's) website.
Green Flag Awards increase again. (July, 2009)
Halton now has 12 Green Flag Awards for its parks and nature reserves - an increase of two on last years record 10 awards. Halton is now ranked in the top 6 councils in England & Wales for the number of green flag awards achieved.
Cllr Phl Harris is the Council's spokesperson on parks and countryside and is responsible for driving forward the programme of improvements to the Borough's parks and nature reserves. Phil proposed an updated programme of improvements to last September's Executive Board,.as part of Halton's rolling programme of investment.
Phil says ''These latest awards acknowledge that Halton's parks and nature reserves are among the very best in the country. They are an independent testimony to the hard work and commitment of Council employees, Friends of Parks groups and others.'' '' The Council's investment in parks and countryside has been an important part of the urban renaissance of Halton and there is more to come.''
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