I GET it. Not everyone is going to agree with everything I write. I wouldn’t expect them to and the world would be a poorer place without a little debate now and then.
Last week I pointed out that wages in Warrington were below the national average and for some jobs, you could expect to be paid half what you would get for doing the same job in Slough.
Thar brought a certain degree of online criticism. That’s fair enough. We’re all entitled to our opinion.
But it did make me stop and think a little.
It’s easy to complain – we all do it – so maybe this week I thought that perhaps I would have a look at the good things about Warrington.
Here’s my list.
- Walton Gardens. To be honest, I’d sort of forgotten about Walton Gardens until I needed somewhere to take a toddler for an afternoon. We really are lucky to have somewhere like that.
- Warrington Hospital. I take my hat off to the staff at Warrington Hospital. I have spent more time than I would like at the hospital in recent years and have been treated with nothing but care and professionalism.
It’s just a pity they have to work in facilities some of which are well past their sell-by date.
- The town centre. This is a bit of a strange one. The Bridge Street part of the town centre isn’t great at the moment but I think it might well be.
The Time Square development is coming along nicely and I have high hopes for the town centre when it’s finished.
- Golden Square. I think Golden Square is great.
What a pity that Marks and Spencer pulled out.
- Gemini. Yep, back to shops again.
I actually like Ikea and I like the fact I can go there in the evening in the middle of the week, thereby avoiding the weekend crowds.
- Warrington Borough Council. If some of my other choices have seemed odd, I’m guessing this one will seem pretty strange.
I know I have criticised the council on a couple of occasions but on the whole, I think it does a pretty good job under difficult financial circumstances.
Yes, our councillors don’t get everything right every time – and they should be called to account when they don’t – but generally speaking it’s a decent council.
- The makers’ market. This is a new one but has really added to the cultural life of the town.
It’s good to see the museum and art gallery is opening and putting on events to take advantage of those Sunday shoppers.
- Warrington Wolves. I don’t get to watch live rugby league as much as I used to but it’s great the town has a professional team that can compete with the best.
- Warrington feels safe.
Yes, anyone can find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time but generally, Warrington feels like a safe place to live and work.
My list is not exhaustive and please feel free to add some of your own.
- When did garden centres turn into something else?
I nipped out over the weekend to get some bedding plants and the makings of a hanging basket (what a rock and roll life I lead).
I ended up at three different garden centres in the hunt for the elusive trailing white geranium.
You would have thought I was asking for the moon on a stick.
No trailing white geranium could be found but I could have come home with a bottle of expensive craft beer or some fireworks or a sweatshirt or a dining table (a proper indoor dining table, not an outside one.) I have no problems with garden centres diversifying but it feels to me it is at the expense of what should be their core business.
And if anyone can point me in the direction of a trailing white geranium, I would be most grateful.
I am prepared to admit in public I am a fan of the Eurovision Song Contest, even though I know the geo-political voting means we will always come somewhere near the bottom.
A German acquaintance of my message me during the contest on Saturday and said something like: “What did you expect, this is the rest of Europe getting its revenge for Brexit.”
I have a suggestion for next year’s contest. We should take a leaf out of the Millwall supporter’s songbook and use their anthem for our entry. It’s called ‘No one likes us, we don’t care.’
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