Canal shipping paralysed,
homes blacked out as
vandals hit sub-station
by David Skentelbery
AROUND 1,500 people were left without power at Latchford, Warrington, after vandals struck at an electricity sub-station.
The Knutsford Road Swing Bridge was also without power for about one and-a-half hours bringing shipping to a standstill on the Manchester Ship Canal.
Intruders broke into the sub-station at the former Beers DIY firm near the Cantilever Bridge and started a fire.
Fire crews called out electricity engineers who had to cut off power supplies for approximately 90 minutes until they could be re-routed in from another source.
About 550 homes were blacked out – mainly in the Station Road area.
A Fire Service spokesman said: “Both high and low voltage power lines were affected.”
Police are investigating the incident.
Decision day for
music festival
by John Hendon
LICENSING bosses meet tonight (Friday) to decide if the controversial Creamfields music festival can go ahead for a second year at Daresbury, near Warrington.
Strong objections have been lodged by villagers at Walton, Hatton, Appleton, Daresbury and Moore who bore the brunt of noise, traffic and anti-social behaviour arising from last year?s inaugural event.
But the organisers clearly believe winning a licence is only a formality as they are already advertising the event on August 25-26 on their website ? complete with the line-up, ticket prices, etc.
The line-up includes the Chemical Brothers, Groove Armada, Kelis, Mark Ronson, Carl Cox and Erick Morillo.
General admission tickets will be ?57 while VIP/hospitality tickets will be ?100.
Nearby residents claim they suffered from traffic congestion, noise problems, vandalism and hooliganism last year.
Some Warrington youths who attended spoke of being accosted by people trying to sell drugs and police made a number of arrests.
A number of people were treated at Warrington Hospital for injuries received at the festival ? including at least one victim of a stabbing.
Extra police were drafted into the area to deal with the 40,000-strong crowd, many of who came from the Merseyside area.
Warrington Borough Council objected to the event last year, but have not done so this year.
The site falls in the neighbouring borough of Halton and it will be the local licensing committee which decides if a licence can be issued.
Volunteers leave an
environmental legacy
by staff reporter
STUDENTS from Warrington have been working hard to leave an environmental legacy at a popular beauty spot.
Community-spirited youngsters from the Padgate campus of Chester University joined students from universities across the region to carry out essential work at Hilbre Island in the Dee Estuary, in preparation for the summer season.
The operation organised by the Student Volunteers Network (SVN) in co-ordination with the Friends of Hilbre Island and the Wirral Ranger Service, involved shrub clearance, slipway regeneration and repairing existing sea walls at the protected site.
The university’s volunteer co-ordinator, Debra Donoghue, explained: “This was a fantastic opportunity for the students to get involved with important environmental work.
“Hilbre Island is a local nature reserve and the students have helped preserve this area for future visitors.”
She added: “We have many student volunteers at the Warrington campus who participate in a wide range of activities and I’m extremely proud of their efforts.
“Volunteering is both rewarding and beneficial to the students as they are able to learn new skills and meet new people.”
Picture shows Student volunteers from Warrington carrying out environmental work at Hilbre Island.
Police to take no action
against arrested relatives
by staff reporter
POLICE are to take no action against three people arrested following the death of a 76-year-old Warrington man on May 4.
The man, John Atherton, of Swindale Avenue, Orford died in hospital following an incident at his home.
Three members of his family were subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder but were freed on bail after questioning.
Police said at the time they were treating the death as ?suspicious.?
But now they have revealed that Mr Atherton died from natural causes and that no action will be taken against the three relatives.
Benefit claimant did
not reveal hidden savings
by court reporter
A WOMAN claimed benefit without telling officials she had hidden savings.
As a result she was paid benefit totalling more than ?21,000 to which she was not entitled, magistrates were told at Warrington.
Susan Braide, 59, of Orford, Warrington was given a conditional discharge for three years and ordered to repay the money after pleading guilty to benefit fraud.
The court was told Braide did not disclose savings when she claimed housing benefit and council tax benefit.
As a result she was overpaid housing benefit of ?17,334.06 and council tax benefit of ?4,282.06, a total of ?21,616.12 between June 1998 and December 2006.
After the case, Adrian Webster, the borough council’s benefits manager, said: “Benefit cheats are not just defrauding the Government, but their own tax paying neighbours and communities.
?With the new methods of data matching we are using, the obvious message to benefit cheats is – ‘you will be caught’.”
People in Warrington can give information about alleged fraudsters free and in confidence on the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854440.
Assault in bar leaves
man with broken jaw
by David Skentelbery
POLICE have appealed for help in tracing a thug who attacked a 21-year-old man in the toilets of a Warrington bar.
The attack took place in the early hours of May 7 but police have been unable to release details earlier because the victim has been in hospital and unable to make a statement.
He suffered a fractured jaw, serious face injuries and a large cut to his forehead in the assault in the male toilets at The Big Bar in Bridge Street.
Police say the offender was a stocky man who was either bald or had a shaven head.
Anyone who was in the bar at the time and can help police is asked to call DC James Thompson on 01244 615859.
Woman in hospital
after street attack
by staff reporter
A MAN is being questioned by police at Warrington following an attack on a 61-year-old woman.
The woman is said to be seriously ill in hospital following the attack in Tilston Avenue, Latchford, close to its junction with Reynolds Street.
Police said the woman was attacked in the street.
The offender was chased by members of the public and ran into a house, only to emerge with several knives which he threatened people with.
Police were called and the man was subsequently arrested.
Witnesses of the incident are being sought. Anyone who can help is asked to call DS David Griffiths on 01244 613831.
Top guitarist drops
in at the Pyramid
by Lesley Wilkinson
AN award-winning US guitarist Mike Dowling will play at the Pyramid, Warrington, on Saturday June 9.
Mike, winner of a prestigious record-industry Grammy Award, will present an evening of blues, swing, ragtime and original tunes.
He draws inspiration from a range of American roots guitar style and favours vintage instruments.
Mike’s work ranges from bottleneck blues on a well-worn National to elegant swing interpretations reminiscent of the great jazz artists.
