Fourth oldest building in Sale!

I thank God for Trafford Heritage Society, Sale Civic Society, the Victorian Society and all those societies

committed to our built heritage.  I do not have a good word for Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council.  The council is proposing to demolish St Paul’s Vicarage because according to a Trafford MBC spokesperson, quoted in the SAM (Front page 29.08.13), “the proposed demolition of the vicarage was weighed against the public benefit of providing outdoor play space for Springfield Primary School.”   But this building is the fourth oldest in Sale.  How, one may reasonably ask, do the local authorities of Paris, Rome, Prague, Munich, Salzburg, Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Budapest, Barcelona, &c., manage to educate their primary school children without demolishing their old buildings.  Perhaps it is because these cities are not cursed with the kind of councillor who says:

 “There is a lack of green space at this school.  If we can provide some green space by removing that ugly building, it should happen as soon as possible.”

(Councillor Phil Gratrix, quoted in SAM 18.07.13).  

I urge Trafford voters to withdraw support from any prospective councillor who supports the demolition of St.Paul’s Vicarage.  It is a listed building, not without good reason, and therefore there is not a good reason for knocking it down.  For the record, I am so grateful that we have a newspaper like the SAM which never fails to keep us informed about the lamentable record of Trafford MBC in the stewardship of our built heritage.

Robin Glennie

Sale vicarage to be demolished?

Messenger Newspaper

"...Planning committee member, Cllr Phil Gratrix, said: “There is a lack of green space at this school.f we can provide some green space by removing that ugly building, it should happen as soon as possible..."

Is this what Cllr Phil Gratrix calls ugly?

Or is this just another way to remove a part of our Heritage?

Probation service

Probation service

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Under the Justice Secretary's proposals 70% of Probation Service work will be delivered by private and voluntary providers. This will include child protection cases, violence against the person and domestic violence cases, offenders with vulnerabilities and mental health problems, sex offenders and offenders at high risk of reoffending, such as prolific burglars, chaotic drug users and gang members. This will mean only an approximate 50,000 offenders, of the 240,000 currently managed by Probation, will continue to be managed and rehabilitated by Probation. This will pose huge risks to the public and victims of crime, end the effective local community partnerships Probation has built up, and put approximately 18,000 Probation staff at risk of redundancy.

If the Probation Service is dismantled and privatised, many offenders will no longer be supported to make the necessary changes in their lives, as the 'results' may not be quick and lucrative enough to private firms. Privatisation of a service such as this is very risky, especially if it is money orientated, as true and accurate 'results' may not be reflected in reality. Businesses want to make profits, not losses. Low to medium risk offenders can turn into high risk offenders overnight. People working with offenders should be well trained and skilled professionals.

Public sector Probation should continue to deliver this function in its entirety – the Justice Minister must be urged to consider public safety and abandon his plans.

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/44403

Heritage - Episode 1

Heritage

“Joyce Povey.”

As part of its Oral Heritage Series, THS announces the release of its new film, “Joyce Povey.” The feature consists of an extensive interview by Ian Mobley, recorded in Summer 2012. Joyce Povey speaks about Sale, Cheshire, as she has known it, with particular reference to Arran Avenue, where she lived from 1933-1946.