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Community Collaboration Brings Green Spaces to Cromdale Way Pre-school
In a heartwarming display of community spirit, Great Sankey Parish Council and Cromdale Way Pre-School have teamed up to create a beautiful and functional green space for local children. The project, which focuses on creating an outdoor learning environment, has been a wonderful example of collaboration, with parents, volunteers, and council staff all coming together to make a difference.
The journey began when the council’s dedicated staff worked together to landscape an area of the community centre’s garden, transforming it into a useable space. With their expertise, they created a safe and accessible environment where the children can interact with nature while learning valuable lessons.
Parents from Cromdale Way Pre-School then stepped in to raise funds to purchase new planters for the children to grow bulbs and vegetables. These planters were intended to give the children a hands-on opportunity to learn about nature, gardening, and the environment.
The final touches of the project came over the weekend when a staff member from the Parish Council and a staff member from the Pre-School volunteered their time to paint the Pre-School’s shed and make covers for the planters. Their teamwork and dedication truly brought the project to life, making the garden a vibrant and welcoming space for the children.
In a generous show of support, the Parish Council also matched the funding raised by the Pre-School parents for the planters, making it a true partnership between the community and the council.
Parish Council Chairman, Peter Watson, expressed his pride in the project, saying, “This project is a testament to the incredible spirit of collaboration that exists within Great Sankey. It’s wonderful to see how the Parish Council, Cromdale Way Pre-School, and the local parents have worked together to create something special for the children. We are so proud to support this initiative, which provides a space where children can learn and grow, and we look forward to seeing the impact it will have on the young minds of our community.”
Thanks to the combined efforts of all involved, the children of Cromdale Way Pre-School now have a thriving garden space where they can watch their plants grow and engage with nature – a perfect complement to their learning and development. The project has not only transformed a part of the garden but also strengthened the bonds within the local community, making the space more accessible and enjoyable for all users of the community centre. Local groups and individuals can now benefit from the refreshed outdoor area, showing that when people come together, great things can happen.
If you would like more information about the Pre-school or to request a show around, please give Dawn a call on 07752030476 or email [email protected].
Follow them on Facebook and visit their website at www.cromdalewaypreschool.com.
Sankey Soaked by Record Rainfall
Over the past few months a seemingly endless deluge of rain, the wettest seven months since records began, have left Great Sankey Parish Council’s parks waterlogged and our grass cutting schedule delayed.
Despite the best efforts of our team, the saturated ground conditions render any attempt to cut the grass futile and risk damaging the sodden turf and equipment.
Understandably this has led to delays in our routine maintenance tasks.
However, we want to reassure residents that as soon as conditions permit our team will be cutting the grass – staff will carry out daily site inspections along with other maintenance work while these conditions persist.
Just a little reminder to keep spirits up, “No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.” -Hal Borland
Great Sankey Parish Council brings Grounds Maintenance in-house.
Great Sankey Parish Council will now look after the management of its own grounds and have recently recruited a Head Gardener to bring the grounds maintenance in-house.
The Parish Council currently contracts out the grounds maintenance service but agreed to bring the service in-house from the end of June 2023. The reason for this is that over recent years you, our community, have provided feedback indicating your appreciation of our work and expressing a desire to do more if possible.
Peter Watson the Chair of Great Sankey Parish Council said “ Great Sankey Parish Council manages five Community Centres, three of which have gardens, a beautiful newly landscaped park; Vicarage Community Park, Lingley Green, Tim Parry Recreation Ground and Childs Wood.
Five years ago the Parish Council embarked upon an ambitious ‘Greening of Great Sankey’ campaign. Great Sankey has undergone significant change and development and the Parish Council has been at the forefront in developing innovative green spaces to address issues from speeding traffic to designing and landscaping Parks to improve the quality of the green spaces and the mental wellbeing of residents”.
Vice Chair, Cllr Dan Price who led the initiative to insource grounds maintenance said “After many years of improving our green spaces in Great Sankey, this new role gives us the ability to do more, raise our standards and to be more flexible to meet the needs of our community. I can already see the difference our head gardener is making and I’m excited about the projects ahead of us”
Sole/Head Gardener – Job Vacancy
Summary
Location: Great Sankey, Warrington
Salary: £27,852k to £34,723 DOE
Hours: 37.5 hours per week (flexible working)Please email the Deputy Clerk of Great Sankey Parish Council, Lynne Brereton, if you require further information: [email protected]
An exciting full-time permanent opportunity has arisen for a Sole/Head Gardener to join Great Sankey Parish Council and lead the Council in providing an in-house garden maintenance and development scheme. We are seeking an energetic, creative, gardener who possess the skills to maintain the Council’s portfolio of land and develop innovative community minded garden initiatives.
Who We Are
Great Sankey Parish Council is a local authority who manages five Community Centres, three of which have gardens. A beautiful newly landscaped park; Vicarage Community Park, Lingley Green, Tim Parry Recreation Ground and Childs Wood. The estate in total is seven and half acres.
Five years ago the Parish Council embarked upon an ambitious ‘Greening of Great Sankey’ campaign. Great Sankey has undergone significant change and development and the Parish Council has been at the forefront in developing innovative green spaces to address issues from speeding traffic to designing and landscaping Parks to improve the quality of the green spaces and the mental wellbeing of residents.
The Council is now ready to bring the service in house and is looking to recruit the right candidate to take the campaign to the next level.
What you’ll be doing
This role is a hands-on role which includes a range of practical horticultural tasks to develop, enhance and conserve the Parish Council’s grounds, gardens and parks and proactively identify, manage and deliver future projects. You’ll be delivering hard and soft landscaping and general maintenance of the garden, such as mulching, pruning, leaf clearing and weeding. You’ll identify and deliver new planting schemes, cut the existing hedges, and mow our array of grounds delivering a different level of cut for each scheme.
You will also be responsible for the management of all the health and safety, and risk assessments for garden operations.
Please also read the full job profile attached to this advert.
Who are we looking for
To be successful in this role you should be able to demonstrate the following:
- Excellent communication and organisation skills
- RHS Level 2 (or equivalent) as well as practical gardening / horticulture experience
- An excellent understanding of horticultural techniques and plant identification
- Experience of using and maintaining garden machinery
- Ability to maintain and demonstrate high horticultural standards
- Experience of hard and soft landscaping
- Knowledge of Health and Safety compliance requirements
- Willingness to engage with members of the public, sharing the Parish Council’s enthusiasm for green spaces and future plans
- Ability to creatively design and deliver new planting schemes
- Be self-motivated, proactive and able to work on their own initiative
- Basic computer skills: knowledge of MS Office preferred
The package
Great Sankey Parish Council is a small team delivering big results. We adopt an inclusive flexible culture, where your voice can be heard, and your ideas realised into delivered projects.
You will report into the Clerk for the Council, mainly working alone but on occasions alongside the Centre Maintenance Officer.
We offer Flexible working whenever possible. Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary. Further training opportunities
Additional information
Closing date 20th January 2023
To apply for this vacancy please send your c.v. to [email protected]
Great Sankey Parish is committed to equal opportunities and welcome applicants regardless of religious beliefs, political opinion, race, sex, marital status, age or disability. You can read our Equal Opportunities Policy here.
Refurbished children’s play area re-opens at Tim Parry Recreation Ground
The major £58k makeover of the children’s play area at Tim Parry Recreation Ground is now complete.
Children will be able to enjoy a range of new equipment which has been installed as part of the refurbishment.
Peter Watson Chair of Great Sankey Parish Council said “We are really pleased that we have been able to upgrade the play area, we want children to have access to safe and enjoyable facilities that will encourage play and social activity.
The Council had planned to have the work completed prior to the summer holidays but unfortunately due to a delay in materials the project has overrun, but now that it is complete, we hope that children will enjoy the new play area”
The new equipment which has been installed for children from the ages of 2 up to 12 years includes a see saw, spinning wheel, junior swings, climbing adventure slide, bucket springer, and new junior adventure trail; all which now sits alongside the refurbished bucket swing, toddler swings and junior climbing frame.
Great Sankey Residents’ Survey
Great Sankey Parish Council is totally committed to improving the lives of our community in accordance with our responsibilities.
We are aware that over recent years the area has undergone significant change with the building of more houses, corresponding in the increase in the number of residents and the development of Omega Logistics Park.
We have a role in making outside bodies such as Warrington Borough Council and others aware of the views of our community.
To assist us in doing this, we would be most grateful if you would complete the survey below which will enable us to become aware of your views, based upon the evidence provided.
We intend that this initiative will be repeated regularly in order that we can continue to be informed of your opinions.
Please complete the survey below.
Vicarage Community Park scouted by t.v. production company
Great Sankey Parish Council’s Vicarage Community Park has been scouted by a t.v. production company as a filming location for CBeebies series Biff and Chip.
The CBeebies show follows twins Biff and Chip alongside their little brother Kipper and pet dog Floppy.
The programme follows on from the popular books Biff, Chip, Kipper, and Floppy the dog which have been helping children learn to read for more than 30 years. These much-loved characters from Oxford Reading Tree were created in 1986 by author Roderick Hunt and illustrator Alex Brychta.
CBeebies have published 25 episodes from series one and filming from series two is due to be aired in autumn.
Bruce Gill, Location Manager said “ Vicarage Park is a lovely park, we just came across it when we were looking at filming locations in the area and thought it was so nice it would be ideal to film a picnic scene for the programme”
Great Sankey Parish Council completed phase one of Vicarage Community Park project in 2020, it was a £160k joint venture with Warrington Borough Council. This included an installation of a drainage system, which successfully addressed the regular flooding of the site. New railings and ornate entrance, new path to access the park, seating, and landscaping.
Phase two of the project is due to be completed by the end of May 2022, the works will include installation of a timber adventure trail which will border the new tarmac path, providing an element of play provision to the park for local families.
Meet the Chair of Great Sankey Parish Council
Meet Peter Watson the Chair of Great Sankey Parish Council and Parish Councillor for Great Sankey North
My name is Peter Watson, I am retired but mentally active even if my body creaks a little
Q. How long have you been a Parish Councillor for?
A. 10 years
Q. What made you volunteer as a Parish Councillor?
A. I had an interest in happenings in my local community and volunteered when expressions of interest were requested at my local Labour Party member’s meeting
Q. How have you found the experience so far?
A. Most enjoyable, there is a sense of satisfaction from working with my fellow Councillors as a team to assist and improve our community.
Q. What have been the positives that you have taken from the role?
A. I am particularly proud of the fact that when we commit to delivering a project, we have a track record of delivering the project for our community. Examples of this include:- the refurbishment and increased use of our community centres, the completion of Vicarage Park and our annual fun day.
Q. Have you encountered any obstacles?
A. Not particularly obstacles but sometimes an element of frustration with the obtaining of finance for projects which would enhance our community. I do recognise that we must give value for money and are accountable for our decisions involving the spending of our council tax precept
Q. What do you think makes Great Sankey a great place to live?
A. There are many reasons but in particular, the area is well served with road and public transport links, there are local employment opportunities, a crime rate which is below the national average and a population which is stable and engaged in wishing to see our community develop.
Meet your Parish Councillor for Chapelford & Old Hall
Meet Steve Pennington Parish Councillor for Central Ward (Chapelford & Old Hall)
Steve was born in Widnes, brought up in Penketh. He went to University in Liverpool and got married 39 years ago and has lived in Penketh, Thelwall and latterly in Great Sankey. He has taught for 37 years in the Warrington and Widnes area in 11-18 schools and Sixth Form Colleges.
Steve has been involved with working with young people, for the last 20 years as a Beaver Scout Leader. He has been on the committee of Whittle Hall JFC for 24 years and ran teams for sixteen of those years. As a local member of the Community, he has served on three Governing Bodies of schools in Penketh and Sankey
Q. How long have you been a Parish Councillor for
A. I did my first stint as a Parish Councillor in 1998-2002, then took time to reflect on a turbulent time of change. I returned to the fold in 2012 and have done two more terms since then.
Q. What made you volunteer as a Parish Councillor?
A. I was a Governor in Local Schools and thought that Parish Councils are at the heart of the Community. I thought a voice for local education at Parish level could be a valuable contribution to the Parish Council
Q. How have you found the experience so far?
A. Challenging, rewarding and sometimes quite frustrating!
Q. What have been the positives that you have taken from the role?
A. The positive attitude of Parish Councillors and their willingness to work together to get things done for their community. Some of the changes brought about by GSPC over the last twenty years have been very beneficial to the local community.
Q. Have you encountered any obstacles?
A. Sometimes, it feels like time is not on our side when getting things done.
Q. What do you think makes Great Sankey a great place to live?
A. Great Sankey is an evolving community. From a small village sixty years ago, it has become a relatively large modern urban area. It has been fascinating to see these changes. The village philosophy of caring and wanting the best for everyone is still there. People working together for the good of all is a powerful reason for making Sankey great!