September 2018 September 2018 Insight 1 September 2018 September 2018 Four generations celebrate 50 years of Orbit News with town hall tour OUR generations of the Skentelbery family were given a special tour Fof Warrington town hall by the Mayor Karen Mundry to help celebrate 50 years of Orbit News. Cllr Mundry invited Father and Son, Chamber members Orbit News are David and Gary, their wives Patricia publishers of warrington-worldwide and Janet, Gary’s daughter’s Amy and associated magazine titles. and Hannah and granddaughter Gary is also a Director of Warrington Olivia, into the town hall for Chamber of Commerce. afternoon tea and a tour of the historic building. “It was a very special moment taking the family into the town hall She presented David and Gary to meet the Mayor. with certificates of appreciation in recognition of the many years “It provided a fascintaing insight into the town’s history and was also they have covered local news in the a great trip down memory lane for town. me and my dad. David has reported on local news “I’d like to thank the Mayor for 60 years with Gary approaching for making us so welcome and 40 years - nearly a century between presenting us with certificates of them! appreciation.” Warrington Borough Council - Local Plan Update The council is currently working to deliver its draft Local Plan - which sets out the proposed approach to meeting the borough’s future need for homes, jobs and supporting infrastructure - but must now take into consideration recent changes to planning rules, as well as updated population projections. The Government has just published the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), and the Office for National Statistics has recently released the latest population projections for Warrington. The council needs to ensure both of these are taken into account in the drafting of the plan. It is now anticipated that the draft Local Plan will be published by the end of 2018, prior to a further round of public consultation early in 2019. “Love local business” – a chance to showcase products and services WARRINGTON lifestyle provider strategic library manager, said: residents. Any business interested in having LiveWire is to hold an event to “LiveWire is delighted to announce a stand at the Love Local Business enable businesses to showcase this new opportunity for small “Whether an individual, family Show should contact Wendy their products and services. businesses. business, local shop, online business, wholesaler, business Molyneux at LiveWire by emailing The event on Sunday, November “The event is part of LiveWire’s service or small manufacturer, we wmolyneux@livewirewarrington. 25, will be at the Orford Jubilee commitment to support the growth would love to hear from businesses Neighbourhood Hub from 10am to of Warrington’s local economy and who would like to be involved – get org or phone 01925 912653 or 3pm. to help small businesses make their in touch to book a stand.” 07730 075966. dreams of a thriving business a It is described as “the perfect reality. spot for local entrepreneurs, self- employed and small businesses “Creating opportunities for to showcase their products and businesses to gain new customers, services.” open the door to new markets and The Love Local Business Show will help our local businesses achieve be free to attend and will present their ambitions is a key drive an opportunity behind this event. for small local businesses, local “The event is an opportunity for entrepreneurs and local people local businesses from Warrington who are self-employed to promote and the surrounding area to come what they offer – free of charge. together, to get connected, to create new opportunities and to showcase Wendy Molyneux, LiveWire’s their products and services to local 2 Insight September 2018 September 2018 From the Chief Executive Colin Daniels The disappearing Green Belt The green belt is disappearing The situation is likely to get worse The CPRE report says the at an “alarming rate” with the according to CPRE with 460,000 Government is “failing” in its equivalent of 5,000 football homes planned for land that will commitment to protect the pitches lost because of the be released from the green belt “green belt”. relaxation of planning laws says most of which will not be classed A spokesman for the Ministry a report from the campaign to as affordable. of Housing, Communities and protect Rural England (CPRE). CPRE says losing green belt land Local Government said “we are Developers are being allowed is unnecessary because brown clear that building the homes our country needs does not mean planning note book strengthens to gobble up green belt land as field land which has been used tearing up our country side”. national protection for the local authorities’ release it to for housing or industry could green belt and says that councils meet government targets for new accommodate one million homes “We are adding more certainty to may only alter boundaries in homes. in England. the planning system and our new exceptional circumstances”. Unemployment at record low Unemployment dropped to its lowest level in more than 40 years in June as the growing economy created tens of thousands of higher quality jobs more workers are moving into full time jobs instead of part-time work, the office for National Statistics has reported. The proportion of part-time workers who want full time jobs is down to 11.7pc, its lowest level since 2009. As a result unemployment fell to 4pc in the three months to June down from 4.2pc previously. This is the lowest level since the start of 1975. The number of unemployed fell by 65,000 on the quarter to 1.36m while the number in work increased by 42,000 to 32.4m youth and unemployment fell to a new record low of 11.3pc. The number of job vacancies rose to a new record high of 829,000 in July. Government borrowing hits 16 year low Government borrowing has budget deficit within reach. level 2002. The national debt, excluding fallen to its lowest level in 16 Borrowing fell to £12.8bn in Last month recorded the biggest the bill to bail out banks now years as tax revenues grow the first four months of the surplus for any July since 2000, stands at little over 84pc of GDP, faster than spending and bring financial year, down from as tax receipts out stripped the end of a long battle with the £21.3bn last year to the lowest spending by £2bn the ONS said. down from 86pc a year ago. M62 Junctions 10-12 Smart Motorway Project works update ere are the latest updates on the new smart motorway schemes in J10-12 scheme mean for customers? These closures will take place at night Hthe North West. to minimise disruption and will have Temporary narrow lanes will be no impact on drivers during the day. With the Manchester smart motorway technology to monitor traffic levels introduced on a 3-mile stretch of the (M60 junction 8 to M62 junction 20) so that variable speed limits can be M62 near junction 12 to allow us to During the full closures, the following now fully operational, work started automatically changed on overhead work at the side of the motorway, diversion route will be operating: on the M62 junction 10 (Croft) and electronic signs to keep traffic moving and a 50mph speed limit will be junction 12 (Eccles) from Saturday 11 at a steady speed. The hard shoulder needed for the safety of drivers M62 eastbound – M6, M56, A5103 August 2018. on this smart motorway route will and workers. The roadworks will be Princess Parkway and M60. be converted into a permanent extra gradually extended to junction 10 by As our region continues to see M62 westbound – same as above in lane and 11 new emergency areas the autumn and the smart motorway rapid growth, Highways England is reverse. will be created for drivers to use if scheme is due to be completed by committed to ensuring our roads they break down. have the capacity to support it. This spring 2020. Find out more and contact us scheme is one of four new smart New CCTV cameras will also provide In order to put the narrow lanes In the meantime, if you have any motorway schemes, worth around 100% coverage of the route and out on the highway, we will initially questions or would like to know £500 million, which will all begin Highways England will be able to display red Xs on overhead signs to need to close the road overnight for about this work, please contact construction within the next 18 a period of 10 days. Full closures will M62J10-12SmartMotorway@ months. close any lane, allowing its traffic officers and the emergency services start on 11 August at 10pm and will highwaysengland.co.uk or call us on What is a smart motorway? to get through. be needed nightly (10pm-6am) up 0300 123 5000. You can also visit our until 6am on 22 August. However, website at www.highwaysengland. Smart motorways use the latest What will construction of the M62 there will be no closure on 18 August. co.uk/m62j10to12 International Business Centre President: Nigel Schofield Delta Crescent Chief Executive: Colin Daniels Westbrook, Warrington Cheshire WA5 7WQ International Trade Advisor: Tricia Francis Office Manager: Gail McGough Registered in England No. 2964304 Tel: 01925 715150 • Fax: 01925 715159 Administration: Charlene Haslam Members of Chambers of Commerce North West. [email protected] Editor / Group PR: Gary Skentelbery Members of Cheshire Chambers Enterprises Limited www.warrington-chamber.co.uk Design / Production: Paul Walker The views expressed by correspondents and contributors to this magazine are not necessarily those of the Warrington Chamber of Commerce & Industry.