NO-one could surely blame Cllr Terry O’Neill if he now sanctioned the construction of a giant wall from Cuerdley to Newton-le-Willlows to keep out any Scouse interlopers?

You could avoid all nonsense with working groups on Warrington’s city region future and generate a mini-boom for the town’s construction industry into the bargain.

And it would serve as just rewards for the shameful about-face by George Gideon Osborne’s mob over the newly-revealed toll fees for borough motorists who can’t avoid regularly travelling to Halton, St Helens and Greater Merseyside.

For seed funding, WBC could even look at introducing a one-off ‘Mowat’ tax, to be collected on a daily basis, for any out-of-town visitors wishing to carry on their gainful employment within our boundaries.

Scoff if you like, dear readers. All I’m saying is that if you gave Podium the kind of executive power afforded to Donald Trump, this town could break even within the year.

Perhaps this notion is far-fetched – but no more so than our jingoistic Brexit-loving oldsters forcing Theresa May into The Donald’s tiny clutches to cadge favourable trading arrangements, while forsaking the bounties from our largest commercial bloc.

Mrs May isn’t the only one who would be advised to remain wary of her new bosom buddies, if the contents of lively debates in the Cheshire East area are to be believed.

Tory councillor Mike Sewart, representing Poynton East and Adlington, has already voiced misgivings about the new combined Cheshire authority becoming a socialist haven. His warm words for Warrington in December bear repeating.

“They were part of a north Lancashire county borough, they were dragged kicking and screaming (into) the county back in 1974 and, in their view, they escaped in 1998,” said Cllr Sewart.

“They have little in common with us and I think we are better off without them.”

Our older friends might make for more nurturing bedfellows, if only we’d let them over the threshold. The Friends of Real Lancashire (FoRL) have recognised a kindred spirit and sent intelligence to these quarters about efforts to persuade Warrington to acknowledge its storied past.

But while certain parts of the old red rose county are given free rein to celebrate being in the old West Riding of Yorkshire, despite their postal address dictating otherwise, WBC will broker no suggestion of split personalities.

The FoRL was decidedly downhearted to receive a communication from Stephen Broomhead that poured cold water on any ambitions to cement Warrington’s centuries-old links to the House of Lancaster.

In a letter to the Lancashire campaigners, Mr Broomhead has reportedly said: “We are in the county of Cheshire for civic and ceremonial purposes and to erect ‘Lancashire signs would be confusing to our residents and businesses.”

He later confirmed the decision not to amend road signs at significant locations was one of principle.

Wherever your heart ultimately lies, this approach at least appears to be consistent, given the Greater Cheshire vote. Let’s just hope the experiment succeeds come next year.

  •  Watching The Wire at The Etihad for the odd Magic Weekend held a certain charm. Seeing a scratch side take on Rochdale Hornets in the stadium’s little brother was just weird.

Podium had been looking forward to revisiting Spotland, the Hornets’ traditional home, amid fond memories of a 2013 World Cup jaunt there.

But a footballing clash forced the fixture to be relocated to the Manchester Regional Arena, home to the fledgling Manchester Rangers side.

They are bidding to revive the sport in the city, and good luck to them.