Wednesday 19th December 2007

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Council chiefs explain
why school has to close

by David Skentelbery

BOROUGH Council chiefs at Warrington have spelled out why Woolston High School has to close ? and why Padgate High can stay open.
A special meeting of the council?s executive board approved a detailed explanation of the reasons behind the controversial closure decision at the request of the council?s Children?s Services scrutiny committee.
The key reasons were:
A significant decline in the number of pupils in central and east Warrington which would have required a subsidy rising to ?1.2 million a year by 2014.
Padgate High out-performed Woolston, which had made below average progress since 2004.
Padgate is a specialist school.
Community use of Padgate High is greater than at Woolston.
Additional travel caused by closure will be less significant at Padgate.
Padgate has better buildings on a single site which will better meet future needs.
Only one member of the executive opposed the explanation.
Coun Fiona Bruce said she believed it should also explain why it was necessary to close a school at all.
Earlier there had been a furious row at a meeting of the full council when Labour members tried to force through a resolution deploring the executive?s decision to close Woolston High.
This was defeated by the narrow margin of 28 votes to 25 with two Liberal Democrat councillors ? Judith Walker and Iona Gillis ? voting with Labour.

Wheelchair man slashed
with Samurai sword

by James Parr

COWARDLY thieves struck at the home of a wheelchair user in Warrington and attacked him with a Samurai sword before making off with valuable items.
Police are hunting two men believed to be from the Warrington area in an attack described by Detective Constable Stephen Hopkins as “particularly despicable.”
The pair forced their way into a property on Carlisle Street in Stockton Heath and demanded possessions from the 40-year-old victim, before slashing one of his arms with the sword.
The pair made off with two black ipods, a brown wallet, a mobile phone, two bottles of wine and a bottle of champagne.
They left their victim in a shocked state.
Both are described as being in their mid 20’s, around 5ft 10in in height and speaking with a local accent.
One of the men had short fair hair, while the other had dark hair and stubble.
Detective Constable Hopkins added: “This was a particularly despicable crime where the offenders have specifically targeted the victim.”
The burglary took place at around 10.30pm on Sunday, December 16 and anyone with any information is urged to contact DC Hopkins on 01244 614 893.

Holly has one present
on her Christmas list

by James Parr

AS PLAYSTATIONS, ipods and mobile phones top the Christmas list of most people this year, one young woman from Warrington is hoping for just one thing – a new kidney.
Holly Shaw, 20, suffers from kidney failure and has been on the waiting list for a new kidney for two and a half years.
Holly, a second year student at Chester University, was taken ill three years ago and was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Failure (ESRF).
At the moment she attends hospital three days a week where she receives dialysis treatment.
Holly is now desperate to break free from the rigours of attending hospitals, as the dialysis leaves her feeling tired and nauseous.
There are also heavy restrictions placed on her regarding fluid intake as she is only allowed to drink 500ml of fluid per day.
She said: “Dialysis is a lifesaver but it’s also a life sentence. It’s restrictive, time-consuming and has unpleasant side effects. But it’s the only thing that can keep me alive unless I get a transplant.”
This Christmas over 8000 people in the UK need an organ transplant to save or radically improve their lives, however, due to the chronic shortage of donors, 450 people die each year waiting.
Holly is backing the UK charity “Live Life Then Give Life” in asking everyone to show the true spirit of Christmas by signing onto the NHS Organ Donor Register this week.
She added: “If I could have one gift this Christmas, it would be to have my health and freedom back. I’ve got so much I want to do with my life but without a kidney transplant I just don’t know what the future will hold. I just have to keep hoping that one day I’ll receive the greatest gift of all – the Gift of Life.”
People can do this online by visiting www.uktransplant.org.uk or by phoning the Organ Donor Line on 0845 60 60 400.

Coffee shop plan
attracts opposition

by John Hendon

A COFFEE shop will open at Fearnhead, Warrington ? if planning chiefs give the go-ahead.
Plans have been submitted for the change of use of a retail shop in Orchard Street ? in the end unit of a parade of shops fronting onto a parking area.
Three similar proposals to use the premises as a hot food takeaway have been turned down but the new plan ? involving a coffee shop with 20 tables ? will be recommended for approval when it goes before the borough council?s development control committee tomorrow (Wednesday).
The shop would teas, coffees, milkshakes and smoothies.
A small selection of hot food would also be sold, such as paninis, toast, baguettes and home-made soups. The proposed hours of opening are 8am to 8pm.
Coun Colin Oliver has expressed concern that the opening hours are not acceptable to nearby residents, who fear increased traffic and parking and anti-social behaviour.
Nine neighbours have also lodged objections on the grounds of parking and traffic problems, increased litter, odours and noise. They claim they have not been adequately consulted.
But planning officers say the change of use will have no significant change on nearby.
A condition can be imposed to ensure the premises is not used as a takeaway.

Landfill site appeal
is withdrawn

by David Skentelbery

AN appeal against a planning refusal for changes at a landfill site at Moss Side Lane, Rixton near Warrington has been withdrawn.
The changes would have meant alterations to the form of the site and time scales for completion of tipping and restorations.
Warrington Borough Council refused consent some time ago, resulting in the appeal. But following discussion between council planning officers and the appellant, the appeal has been withdrawn.
A council spokesman said discussion had centred on the requirements to alter the land form of the restored Moss Side Lane site and the scope to assess landfill operations as a package which would secure the greatest possible mutual benefit to the council, the local community and the appellant.
Agreement had been reached that there are potentially better ways to progress than to pursue the appeal. No details have been agreed it is considered that there is scope to submit further applications for planning permission which would enable consideration of alternative means of dealing with existing and permitted landfill sites within the Rixton area.
The submission of applications would place the debate in the public domain and enable widest possible input and discussion.

Garden shed “grottos”
attract festive thieves

by staff reporter

POLICE are warning residents in Warrington not to make their sheds an easy target for thieves this Christmas.
Many people will hide presents or extra alcohol in sheds over the festive period, making them a prime target for would be thieves.
Usually, residents will store lawnmowers, power tools and other valuable items, but by adding presents and other items, sheds become like Santa’s grotto.
A police spokesman said: “A lot of people use the shed as a place to hide presents from their children. Others buy extra amounts of beer, w

ine and spirits for Christmas parties and then find they do not have room for it in the house.
“People generally think of shed breaks as a summer crime, but these are all goods which can raise cash for thieves. They know that breaking into a shed at this time of year might yield something more lucrative than usual and at Christmas the market for stolen goods is even greater than usual.”
Police are now issuing advice such as to keep a sturdy pad lock on the door, don’t store good in full view of any windows and have a garden security light near the shed.


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Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.

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