Francis Maude visited Warrington Conservatives for an election strategy discussion and also took the chance to visit the Peace Centre where he had discussions with founder Colin Parry, Clare White the Chief Executive and David Mowat.
Maude said that "although he had heard of the centre and the work done he had found the visit inspirational.......my brief is to involve the charitable sector much more in the provision of services which used to be totally the remit og government.........much of the work done by the Peace Centre is pioneering in this regard........I look forward to returning as the Minister responsible........."

It is predicted that traffic volumes in Warrington will increase by up to 10% if the new Liverpool Gateway toll bridge is forced to charge a toll. This is a huge traffic surge and will be very detrimental to the town if permitted to go ahead. Mowat says "that an extra 10% is going to result in a huge increase in delays goinf through the A49 and into the town......at busy times the town will be paralysed........it won't just be when they close the M6......"

The announcement has come after it became clear that Warrington Council would not even be consulted by Manchester before they push ahead with as scheme to impose a congestation charge.  Again the impact on the town will be severe with many hundreds of commuters paying more every day.

Two local Charities point to way forward for the voluntary sector working with Government.

On Friday Mark Harper, the Shadow Minister for Disabled People, visited the town. He and Conservative candidate, David Mowat attended the Aiming High prize giving at Birchwood Tennis Club, and afterwards spent time with Joanne Freeman and a number of trustees from Warrington based charity Families United (FUN). (see picture).

Afterwards Mr Harper visited the team responsible for setting up Warrington Disability Day in Walton Hall Gardens.(see picture). The purpose of the visit was to learn and observe  the scope and the effort needed to make the day a success.

Mark Harper said “Warrington Disability Day is a world class event and a great example of the way that Government needs to utilise the charity sector to do more in other parts of the country. Talking to Dave Thompson and his team has been both inspirational and educational for me and there are a many lessons to be leant from the way that Dave and his team have built this event into something really special.”

David Mowat added “Mark has offered to come back to Disability Day when he is the Minister……I will hold him to it!”