I think perhaps people are overlooking the most obvious school to go for here. Ravenair have recently started operating from Barton with much lower prices than the Lancs Aero Club.
If you are worried about loosing out on flying during the winter period due to Barton becoming water logged then you can go to their Liverpool base. They have 11 PA38s, 1 PA28, 1 C172 and shed loads of instructors. They also operate the Seneca II, Aztec and Partenavia.
www.ravenair.co.uk
Regards