A message of hope
for cancer victims
by David Skentelbery
KIDNEY cancer sufferer Brian Sibbald, of Appleton Thorn, has embarked on a potentially life-saving drugs programme after winning a battle with health bosses who at first refused to fund the treatment.
The 59-year-old successfully appealed against Warrington Primary Care Trust’s decision not to pay the ?2,500-a-month cost of the drug, Nexavar.
Now he is campaigning to get the drug made generally available for kidney cancer victims in the UK. It is already available in Europe.
It was in February 2001 that electronics engineer Brian was diagnosed with kidney cancer – by accident. He injured his shoulder and when he was given a bone scan it revealed the cancer. Six days later he underwent surgery.
He said: “Once the cancer was discovered, the NHS was brilliant. There is no blood test for kidney cancer – it’s usually found by accident.”
After the operation he was clear of cancer for four and-a-half years. Then, while playing badminton, he thought he had pulled a muscle. In fact, the cancer had returned. Eventually he was told he had about nine months to live.
But Brian was not giving up. He arranged a transfer to The Christie Hospital in Manchester where various treatments improved his condition for a while. But then the cancer started growing again and, after consulting with doctors, he decided he wanted to try the relatively new drug Nexavar.
He was stunned when Warrington PCT refused to fund the drug but, after contacting the charity Kidney Cancer UK website www.kcuk.org he appealed.
The PCT had listed five reasons for refusing to pay but Brian, with support from the charity, demolished them all. Within half-an-hour of his appeal hearing he received a telephone call to say the decision had been reversed and the drug would be funded for three months.
“I am not too critical of the PCT” said Brian. “They treated my appeal as a matter of urgency and once they realised they had made a mistake they immediately agreed to fund the drug.
“I now want to let other sufferers know – not just cancer victims, but everyone – that it is possible to win an appeal.”
It is too soon to know if the treatment will be effective for Brian. On average it doubles life expectancy and in some cases sufferers have survived for more than two years and are still enjoying a good quality of life.
Now Brian, his wife Elizabeth, daughter Emma, 26 and son Steven, 24 are planning a fundraising campaign to raise money for research. They are also asking people to sign an email petition to Downing Street urging the Prime Minister to make potentially life-saving drugs available on the NHS. The petition can be signed at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/kidneycancerRCC
Having a laugh
for Comic Relief
by Gary Skentelbery
AS WARRINGTON and the rest of the country went Red Nose Day crazy yesterday (Friday) visitors to the town’s Pyramid Centre were given an insight into the benefits of “having a laugh” in return for a donation to the charity event.
Laughter expert Robin Graham was on hand to entertain passersby as he taught the health-giving properties of laughter through a series of techniques and workshops.
In return those taking part were invited to make a donation to Comic Relief.
The day long event concluded with Comic Relief being screened on a large screen.
Meanwhile students of Dunham Hall at Lymm High School held various fund raising events for Comic Relief.
Banner advert must
go, planners rule
by John Hendon
A GIANT advertisement attached to the side of a seven storey building at Warrington will have to be taken down, following a decision by borough council planners.
The banner advert for Warrington Self Storage was attached to the former Fairclough’s flour mill building, off Old Liverpool Road – without planning consent.
Now the council’s development control committee has refused a retrospective application for permission.
They agreed with planning officers who claimed the advert could distract drivers at the Sankey Way roundabout and cause a road safety hazard.
In addition, the 9m x 10m banner was considered visually obtrusive and visible from a wide area to the detriment of the locality.
Ironically, the banner is attached to the building just below the famous “Pink Eye” painted by local artist Anthony Turk nearly nine years ago to mark an earlier planning dispute involving the building.
Mr Turk was refused permission to paint a giant undersea mural on the building in 1999 – also because planners said it would distract drivers.
He wanted to paint a scene which would reflect the proximity of the Mersey and current interest in ecological themes.
But planners told him a more abstract theme might be acceptable – so he painted the Pink Eye, complete with a falling tear to show his disappointment.
The new banner will have to be taken down unless Warrington Self Storage can mount a successful appeal.
“Lovely village should
enter competion”
by Lesley Wilkinson
THE new look Stockton Heath village should be entered into a national competition, the parish council was told.
Coun Celia Jordan said new footways along London Road and planted troughs made the village look lovely.
“As summer goes on we will also have the attractive hanging baskets,” she said.
She suggested that the village should consider entering a national competition such as Village in Bloom or Community Pride.
But clerk Peter Briggs said he had checked and the criteria for entry demanded more community involvement in projects, so the parish would not be eligible.
There was insufficient time to prepare an entry for other competitions.
Cottage extensions
can stay in place
by John Hendon
PLANNING chiefs at Warrington have agreed to allow unauthorised extensions to remain in place at an attractive college at Rixton, despite objections from the local parish council.
Members of the borough?s development control committee approved a retrospective application for permission to add a dormer window at the front of September Cottage, in Dam Lane, Rixton.
Alterations to the roof and a porch extension were also approved.
The committee was told the cottage formed a semi-detached pair with Rose Cottage and was within the Green Belt. But the extension preserved the character and appearance of the area and the amenities of near neighbours.
Members of the parish council objected on the grounds that the dormer window would impact on the street scene and also result in over-development in the Green Belt.
There were no objections from neighbours.
Traffic problems
to be eased
by Lesley Wilkinson
TRAFFIC problems at the junction of Fairfield Road and London Road in Stockton Heath should soon be eased.
Stockton Heath Parish Council complained to Warrington Borough Council about the junction.
They said drivers turning right from Fairfield Road into London Road to travel over the swing bridge faced a backlog of traffic as the lights did not allow enough vehicles through.
Clerk Peter Briggs told members that a green filter arrow had been approved by the borough to improve the situation, and should be introduced by July.
Members are also requesting a green filter arrow to help drivers travelling along Grappenhall Road from Stockton Heath and wanting to turn right under Lumb Brook Bridge.
Grants to help
children’s services
by staff reporter
TWO grants towards the cost of providing services for children have been awarded by Stockton Heath Parish Council.
Members agreed to give ?400 to Warrington Borough Council towards a play scheme at St Thomas’s Church Hall in th
e village.
They also approved a ?200 donation to Families United (FUN) a Warrington charity that supports parents and children with sensory, physical and associated disabilities.
News in brief
Smoking shelter
PLANS for a smoking shelter at the rear of the New Inn, in Warrington Road, Culcheth, have been submitted to the borough’s development control committee.
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 2, 4, 11 and 16. There was no winner and the jackpot prize will be rolled-over to next week.
Bungalow remodelled
AN existing bungalow at 80, Higher Lane, Lymm will be remodelled as a two-storey dwelling if planning chiefs give the go ahead.
Notice board
LYMM Parish Council is to look into the possibility of providing another notice board in the village – possibly on the wall at Somerfield?s supermarket. But illegal notices on trees at The Cross are to be banned.
