WELL it has been the year nobody could have predicted
This time last year, social distancing, bubbles and coronavirus weren't being talked about.
But, we are looking back our our predictions for 2020 and how many came true.
Spoiler alert, many were heavily hit by Covid.
1 CENTRE PARK LINK ROAD OPEN TO BE DELAYED
What we said...
The new Centre Park Link Road from Wilson Patten Street to Chester Road is expected to held tackle some of the traffic chaos on Bridge Foot.
Work started in summer last year and council bosses say it will be complete by late 2020.
But these things never run to time do they?
We reckon it will be 2021 before the road opens to traffic.
What happened ...
The road has been slightly delayed but that is largely due to the effects of the early days of the pandemic in March.
It is due to open in the coming weeks.
2 LABOUR TO RETAIN CONTROL OF WARRINGTON BOROUGH COUNCIL
What we said...
The General Election was only a few weeks ago but already we are looking ahead to the council elections in May this year.
There has been plenty of criticism of the Labour party in Warrington over its stance on the Local Plan, Western Link and borrowing.
But with an enormous 45 councillors on the Town Hall, it is hard to see anything other than a Labour majority come May
What happened...
Well the elections were cancelled, so it is time to go again come May
3 GOLDEN GLOW IN TOKYO
What we said...
Swimmer James Guy is Warrington's best chance of landing a gold medal in this summer's Olympic games.
He bagged two silvers four years ago in Rio and since then has won two world titles as part of relay teams.
Expect the former Cardinal Newman student to go one better this year and strike gold in the pool
What happened...
The Olympics were delayed until 2021
4 WARRINGTON MARKET TO BECOME THE HEART OF THE TOWN
What we said....
We have been excited for Time Square for so long now.
Cineworld and the Botanist are open and Warrington Market will be soon.
More than 100 traders applied for a stall in the new look venue.
We think the food court will become THE place to be seen in Warrington with plenty of appearances in Instagram.
Expect Warrington Market to be packed - especially during its new evening opening hours
What happened...
Well despite coronavirus, we are happy to be provide correct.
The market opened in July and has been a huge hit, with evening openings and despite lockdowns and tier 3.
Let's hope for a trouble free 2021.
5 IT WILL BE OUR YEAR
What we said...
So 2019 was a bit mixed for Warrington Wolves.
A famous Challenge Cup win at Wembley but ultimate disappointment in a league campaign with peetered out into a first round play-off defeat to Castleford.
But with Gareth Widdop on board and plenty of other new signings, expect the Wire to be back at Old Trafford.
And we think Steve Price will be lifting the Super League trophy come October 6
What happened...
Way off here sadly. The Grand Final wasn't even at Old Trafford. And despite a promising spell after lockdown, Wire lost in the semi-final of the Challenge Cup and to Hull in the play-offs. Who wants to win in front of an empty stadium anyway.
CHRIS EVANS TO TURN ON THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
What we said...
Ok, Christmas has just finished but there is always time to think of the 2020 festive period.
Because the light switch-on in Warrington town centre is only 10 months away.
And as much as we have enjoyed the recent celebrations, we think it is time for a Warrington celeb to return.
So we predict Chris Evans for November's big date.
If you book him now, he might be free!
What happened...
Christmas lights were turned on virtually.
But by the town's school children. Which we think were more fun anyway!
7 NEW SUPERMARKET TO ARRIVE AT TIME SQUARE
What we said...
What are is the one thing missing from Warrington town centre?
Perhaps somewhere to do some quick food shopping on your lunch hour or after work. So we think a Tesco Express or Sainsbury's Local could be added to the Time Square development.
With 800 council staff on the same development and other shops and offices in the town centre, it could certainly do some brisk business
What happened...
No supermarket yet. But a dessert shop has been confirmed and two other restaurants have signed up.
8 LOCAL PLAN TO BE DELAYED UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTIONS
What we said...
It has been highly controversial and thousands of people have responded with objections.
The council has already delayed the publication of the Local Plan - which governs development in the town over the next 20 years - until 'early 2020'.
But with local elections in May, and the council in effect having to stop work on anything political in the run up to it, expect a further delay.
We think the publication will now be after June.
What happened...
Well spot on, sort of.
The publication has been delayed until after the 2021 elections! Coronavirus again to blame.
9 NEIGHBOURHOOD 2021 TO BE HEADLINED BY LIAM GALLAGHER AND ARCTIC MONKEYS
What we said...
Well you have to dream don't you?
The previous three years have seen a 'legend' solo artist one night and a top Indie performer the other.
Noel Gallagher, Richard Ashcroft and Ian Brown with Courteeners, Catfish and the Bottlemen and (less impressive maybe) George Ezra.
So following that theme in 2021 we are going for Noel's brother Liam and the Yorkshire-based Arctic Monkeys
What happened....
Sadly Neighbourhood didn't happen, it is planned to return with the same headliners later in 2021.
10 IT WILL SNOW!
What we said...
Now you don't get much snow in Warrington.
Indeed it has been a number of years since there has been any disruptive snowfall in town.
We are no Tomasz Shafernaker, but we think that will change in 2020.
What happened...
Well, we waited all year and it snowed a fair bit on Monday. Not exactly Norway but enough for a snowman, that will do us!
11 WARRINGTON WEST STATION TO STILL HAVE TWO TRAINS AN HOUR
What we said...
Chapelford's new station opened this month.
After years of promises of three trains an hour to Manchester and Liverpool, Network Rail announced only two would stop an hour.
This is due to congestion at Manchester claim the train companies.
Both Warrington Borough Council and Northern say they are going to keep the pressure up for three.
But timetable changes are made only twice a year. Work has already started on the May one but we think Warrington West will miss out on the December one too.
It may be a while before commuters get what they were promised.
What happened...
There has been no change, and with the pandemic, don't expect one any time soon either.
12 TONGA TIME AT WORLD CUP >
What we said...
The draw for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup takes place in early January.
We already know The Halliwell Jones Stadium will stage three games but we don't know who will play there yet.
But with the Ben Murdoch-Masila connection, we are going to take a punt at Tonga.
It will also bring back memories of Tonga's dramatic clash with New Zealand at Wilderspool during the 1995 World Cup, when former Wire star Duane Mann was among the main attractions.
What happened...
A bit off here, Tonga won't be playing games in Warrington. Papua New Guinea will be based in Warrington for the tournament in the autumn. And the three games are still exciting though. New Zealand v Lebanon, Samoa v France and PNG v Cook Islands. Plus the PDRL World Cup will be staged in Warrington.
We can't wait
13 NO MOVE ON TRAVELLERS
What we said...
WE have used this again from our 2019 predictions but we don't expect much to change Come the spring and Warrington will have its usual problem of dealing with unauthorised traveller encampments.
A call will be made for a transite site but, almost a decade after first looking at the issue, councillors will again fail to find a site.
With a local election coming in 2020, don't expect councillors to be in a hurry to make any controversial decisions.
And certainly there will be no movement until after those May elections
What happened...
Spot on, Nothing has happened. May as well just copy and paste this entry for our 2021 predictions
14 WARRINGTON BOROUGH COUNCIL TO BUY UP MORE LAND
What we said...
It has been one of the most controversial policies in recent years at the Town Hall.
The council has spent millions buying land in Warrington and the wider north west.
From Birchwood Business Park to Matalan and DW Sports to a supermarket in Bolton, the council's property portfolio continues to swell.
The council says its plan is simple. Buy up land, and use the rent generated to help subsidise cuts in funding.
Residents fear the council could be landed with huge plots of land it cannot continue to service if the businesses on them move or fold.
But we think the policy will continue in 2020.
What happened...
Spot on again. A massive development in Salford has been one of the highlights of the purchases for 2020. But concerns remains about the level of the council's debt
15 MOTHERCARE TO CLOSE AND NEW RETAILER TO OPEN >
Mothercare was the latest big name to announce it will soon disappear from the British high street in 2020.
The store on Junction Nine Retail Park is set to close later in January.
But what will replace it?
We expect to see another children's retailer in the unit before too long
What happened...
Well it has reopened. But as a Wren kitchen showroom.
16 > YELLOWS TO MOVE ON UP
What we said...
It almost happened in 2019, but we think it will in 2020.
Warrington Town may have had a December to forget but the Yellows are poised for another push at promotion come the spring.
They stand close to the top and within striking distance of another step on the Non League ladder.
We predict come April, it could be promotion time at the Cantilever.
What happened...
Sadly the league was cancelled due to the pandemic. And this year is also behind schedule too, Fingers crossed for a better 2021.
17 > NO MOON BUT LIGHT NIGHT BIGGER THAN EVER
What we said...
The Moon was the arts hit of 2019.
More than 10,000 people saw the installation at the Parr Hall.
But the light night on the opening night was a huge success.
And expect this to be bigger and better in 2020 as Warrington Arts Festival returns in the autumn.
Rather than one night, it is likely to be at least two
What happened...
Sadly the arts has been devastates by the pandemic. This event was one of dozens cancelled in Warrington this year. The Parr Hall has been closed since March
18 > SWING BRIDGES WORK TO START
What we said...
We think 2020 will be the year the swing bridges finally get a lick of paint.
They have look disgraceful for years but Peel will reveal a date for work to start this year.
Although pretty soon we will all wish they hadn't bothered as we sit in the queues that will inevtiably follow.
Anyone remember the problems with the Cantilever was shut for a few hours before Christmas?
What happened...
Well way off here. Still no painting. Peel says summer 2021. We won't hold our breathe.
19 > LEISURE NOT SHOPS THE KEY TO THE TOWN CENTRE
What we said...
The trend started in recent years will continue in 2020.
Golden Square saw a bowling alley open in 2019 and an ice rink attract shoppers at Christmas.
New food outlets arrived at the old market place.
And the current market is set to be opened for leisure use in 2020.
Expect this trend to continue as the fight for the leisure pound intensifies. Just shopping is no longer enough.
What happened...
Another tick. Gravity trampoline park opened in October in Time Square. Let's hope for a better trading year in 2021.
20 > WORK TO START ON YOUTH ZONE
What we said..
It has long been awaited but this is the year work should start on Warrington's Youth Zone.
The multi-million pound facility is being built on land at Winwick Street.
It will provide a one-stop shop for youngsters all under one roof, from sport to arts and music to media.
It will be a massive boost for the town's young people.
What happened...
Well just about! Work started earlier this month and it should be ready to open in early 2022.
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