CHILDREN gathered to tell adults what they thought would make Birchwood a better place to live and learn in.

And a fun run, outdoor pool, community barbecues, more cycle paths and less litter were just some of the dozens of great ideas they came up with.

"It was a great opportunity for learners to develop their views and opinions and be able to put them to the agencies who deliver them locally," said Dawn Lane, a co-ordinator for the Birchwood Cluster', the area's five schools and Priestley College.

"It was a great success. Everyone seemed to get a lot out of it and it will keep the lines of communication open between the schools and the agencies."

The Learner Voice Conference saw Birchwood High and Priestley College join up with primary schools Locking Stumps, Gorse Covert and Birchwood and Fox Wood Special School at The Centre in Birchwood Park.

There they met members of Cheshire Police, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, Warrington Road Safety, Warrington Primary Care Trust, Birchwood Youth Partnership, Frontis Housing, Birchwood Shopping Centre and Thomas Risley Church.

The aim was to get children aged from seven to 18 working together in mixed groups to come up with ways to make learning more fun and interesting, the community more united, the environment safer and more attractive, and its people healthier and more active.

Children took part in four workshops with representatives of each agency before giving a group presentation of their findings at the end.

Other ideas included cleaner bus stops, more bins, better CCTV to deter crime like pub fights, clearer health advice in schools, improved skate parks and a graffiti wall on which children could post further ideas.

Each member of the Birchwood Cluster will now produce a flag that represents the schools and college coming together, which will be displayed at Birchwood Shopping Centre.

Another conference is expected to be planned for the next school year.

nick.lakeman@guardiangrp.co.uk