inside www.halton.gov.uk YOUR FREE MAGAZINE FROM HALTON BOROUGH COUNCIL WINTER 2018-19 www.halton.gov.uk Message from the Council Leader Welcome to our winter edition in which we commemorate the last year of the World War One centenary and give thanks to all those who played a part in that conflict. We are one year on from the opening of the Mersey Gateway Bridge and the benefits it is already bringing to Halton in terms of transportation, job creation and inward investment have surpassed our expectations. The opening of the new bridge has made it possible to carry out much-needed renovation work on the Silver Jubilee Bridge and to improve the roads around Runcorn Station making it easier to connect with the town centre, and enable opportunities for future developments in the ‘Station Quarter’. Halton is proud to have a tremendously diverse range of thriving businesses in the borough – many that people probably do not realise are here. Starting in this issue we take a brief look at a few of our commercial gems. Elsewhere we have important advice for staying warm and well during the winter months, and full calendar of activities and events throughout the next few months. The festive season will soon be upon us, so it just leaves me to wish you and your families a happy and peaceful Christmas and New Year. Cllr Rob Polhill Council Leader 13 As the rising costs of a funeral leave many bereaved families in debt, Halton Council has teamed up with a local funeral director to provide a fixed, low-cost funeral for Halton residents. 13 07 Also in this issue... 07 To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Runcorn’s iconic railway bridge, the historic 08 Health Improvement fog bell which sat on top of the bridge has 11 Halton Libraries been restored and is now on permanent 12 Cheshire Police display at The Brindley Theatre. 14 Mersey Gateway 22 Beauty & The Beast 16 From small local firms, to 16 23 What’s On world leaders in science and 26 Council meetings and useful numbers manufacturing, Halton has it all. 27 Councillors’ surgeries Our two-part series reminds us 28 Halton Transport what a thriving business community we have. inside is produced by Halton Borough Council. Previous issues can be viewed at: www.halton.gov.uk and audio versions are available on request. Contact: Gill Cook. Tel: 0151 511 7770 e-mail: [email protected] Designed by Fractal Creative Ltd, Prescot. Tel: 07941 568454 e-mail: [email protected] recycle for Halton When you have finished with this magazine please recycle it www.halton.gov.uk | Winter 2018 Specia l thank s fo r Carin g Sylvia Long-serving Adult Placement Carer, Sylvia Roberts, has been awarded a Certificate of Recognition from Halton Council, presented to her by the Mayor and Mayoress. Adult Placement Carers are carers in their own home for adults who need support due to age, illness or disability. Sylvia used to work as a Care Assistant for people with Alzheimer’s and dementia, helping them wash and dress and looking after their health and wellbeing. After a short retirement, she saw an advert at Widnes Library asking for people who have a few hours to spare. Following an assessment, Sylvia started working as an adult placement carer in July 2002 and 16 years later, she supports three people at a time in her own home, where they spend time chatting, laughing and watching TV with other family members. Sylvia said that she receives a lot of satisfaction from this type of work as she wants to be involved in supporting people who wish to remain in the community. Not one to be left behind by the technology revolution, Sylvia has undertaken online training and achieved an online Care Certificate. She is considering a second retirement when she reaches 80, but says it all depends on her health. Stiofan O’Suillibhan, Divisional Manager of Adult Social Care, said: “People like Sylvia are very hard to find. Committed to caring for others and a sense of humour are some of Sylvia’s many attributes and we are very lucky that she saw our advert.” For anyone wishing to become a carer in their own home, full training is provided and, once approved, the carer’s position comes with a tax-free payment depending on the number of people cared for. Executive Board Member for Families, Cllr Tom McInerney, said: “We are looking towards a time when our adult care service will come under greater pressure due to Halton’s population becoming ever older and demands for our services increase. We need carers to look after people within their own For details of the Adult Placement Carers Scheme visit families now more than ever. Feeling part of a family in the carer’s home is a www3.halton.gov.uk/Pages/adultsocialcare/adultplacement.aspx well-known route to keeping them active and in good health.” or call 0151 511 6677. Fairytale of New York & Widnes When Halton Council received a request for a new Albert Road street sign there seemed nothing unusual about it - at first. In this case it was requested by an Italian- Homesick, Marie returned with the baby to her American family from New York and, after home on Albert Road vowing never to go back. hearing the family’s saga, the Council gifted Joseph, only weeks into his job as an aircraft the sign to them. mechanic, was forced to borrow money and return to Widnes. With the help of Marie’s family In 1955 when Joseph DeClemente of New and friends he convinced her to return to New Rochelle, New York, was stationed with the US York with the promise that they would visit Air Force at Burtonwood, he met Marie Owens Widnes every year. The couple had two more from Albert Road, Widnes. children, Janice and Todd. His son Steve says: “Even though my Dad was a Steve said: "Our family pretty typical "Yank" in so many ways, he embraced much holidayed in Widnes English culture and fell in love with my Mom. every year - I always looked Her family loved him too, but nobody really forward with such excitement thought the relationship was going to amount DeClemente family to return to my second to anything.” photographs home.” Planning for their retirement the couple bought a home in In 1958 it was Florida. Sadly, Marie passed announced that most away last year. Now, Joseph US Forces operations owns a small farm in Florida at the airbase were to end with its own private road, and and with Joseph about to return to the US, he Steve said it came as no surprise to discover knew he couldn’t leave Marie behind and, in what he wanted to rename the road. April 1958, the couple married at St Bede’s Catholic Church. “Well it only took one guess – Albert Road! It represents his love, our families’ love, and many Within a few months and expecting their first memories of Widnes, which will never be child, they left Widnes to start married life in forgotten, and our hope is to one day hang a New York where Steve, the first of three children real Albert Road sign on his private road.” was born. But New York life was a culture shock for a 19-year-old Widnes girl – it was a world And now they can, as the special sign has been taken by a family member all the way from David Brandreth (right), grandson of Marie Owens' away from the home she knew and her loving Widnes to Florida! sister, with Halton Council’s Iain Dignall family. 04 Winter 2018 | www.halton.gov.uk Lest we forget... 100 years since Armistice Day 1918 To mark the 100th anniversary and cast iron wreaths on the Widnes of the end of World War I, Cenotaph have been cleaned and Halton has been remembering re-waxed and all inscriptions and thanking those who served cleaned. during the conflict. The silhouettes have been on Halton Borough Council display around the borough to and the local Royal symbolise the communities that British Legion took part in WW1 and shaped commemorated the the nation as we know it centenary with events today, including British and enabling Halton Commonwealth soldiers, residents to reflect on the those who gave medical huge sacrifice that so many made during the support, RAF/RFC, Navy, Cllr Rob Polhill Great War. munition factory workers and and one of the suffragettes. Each of the Silent Silhouettes ‘Silent Silhouettes’ of First World War soldiers were Council’s Area Forums funded placed around the borough, and work began to silhouettes in their area. clean up the borough’s war memorials. Council Leader, Cllr Rob Polhill, "The Silent Silhouettes are the idea of The Royal Work is being done to restore and clean the War said: “I am so pleased that we British Legion as a 'Thank You' to the First World Memorials in Widnes, Runcorn and Hale. This has are sponsoring the Silent War generation who served, sacrificed, rebuilt and been part funded by a grant from Silhouettes, and have also changed the nation. I think they are a great idea the War Memorial Trust of repaired and cleaned the main as they allowed communities to show their £11,750 with the rest provided by war memorials to gratitude and have also raised funds towards the Council. Work includes careful commemorate the 100th the work that the Legion does day in day out cleaning and re-pointing of the anniversary of the end of to support service personnel, veterans and masonry.