Town centre hotel plan
given the go-ahead
by David Skentelbery
A MAJOR plan for a town centre hotel, shops, offices and apartments has been given the go-ahead by Warrington planners.
The scheme ? submitted by local property developer Brian Foden?s company, Briden Homes, involves the site of the former Thomas Locker wire works near the junction of Farrell Street and Church Street.
A number of objections were lodged on the grounds of the height of the buildings, traffic problems, loss of trees and shrubbery, light pollution, noise, etc.
But planning officers recommend the scheme be approved and pointed out that although in the short term there would be a loss of greenery, the scheme incorporated a landscaping scheme with tree planting along Church Street and shrub planting on Farrell Street.
The developers have agreed towards the cost of highway improvement, education provision and a children’s playground.
The site is located within the Church Street Conservation Area and there are a number of Listed Buildings on the opposite side of Church Street – to the north of the site – including Cromwell’s House, a Grade ll* Listed Building.
The hotel will include a restaurant and bar open to the public. It is intended there will be three retail units.
Buildings at the junction of Church Street and Farrell Street will be of five storeys, dropping to four storeys, three and then two storeys as the development extends along Church Street.
Six office blocks of two and three storeys will feature in the office development.
Main access will be from Farrell Street and the office buildings will be grouped around a courtyard. There will be car parking ? some underground ? and landscaping, including an art feature.
Pupils help bring in
the festive spirit
by John Hendon
PUPILS from St Elphin’s CE Primary School, Warrington helped bring Christmas to Countryside Properties’ prestigious Carrington Park housing development off Battersby Lane
They sang a selection of carols and Christmas songs at the official switch on of the festive lights on the development.
Guests were treated to mince pies and refreshments as they gathered round a 21 ft high tree in the boulevard to watch the children perform favourites such as “On a starry night” and “See him lying on a bed of straw”.
Countryside Properties donated ?500 to the school as thanks for helping to kick of Christmas at Carrington in good old-fashioned festive style.
Andrew Robertson, Countryside Properties? regional sales director, said: ?The boulevard at Carrington Park lends itself to such a picturesque Christmas card setting it seemed a shame not to make the most of it for the residents. I?d like to thank everyone at St Elphins for putting on such a beautiful performance and helping us to bring Christmas to Carrington in style.?
State-of-the-art youth
centre opens at school
by James Parr
PREMIERSHIP footballers from Everton unveiled a state of the art youth centre at Thomas Boteler CE High School in Warrington.
Ian Turner and the youngest Premiership goal scorer ever, James Vaughn, cut the ribbon at the official opening of the “Boiler Room.” Councillors, police officers and students gathered for the event at the Boiler Room, which is dubbed as the first of its kind in Warrington.
Housing a cafeteria, Internet suite, dance studio and games room, the Boiler Room is an impressive revamp of a building that used to have old oil containers and boilers in it.
It has taken around 18 months for the building to be transformed from the early stages of ideas to the what it is today.
Main purpose of the site is to encourage students and people from the community to work as well as relax with their friends.
Headteacher John Sharples said: “There are two main aims of the Boiler Room, one is meeting the needs of the youngsters and filling a gap for them, the other is integrating it in the community so they can reap the benefits as well.
“Because of our strong links with Priestley College, they have been able to provide us with qualified workers to help run the Boiler Room. The co-operation from all parties involved in the project has been fantastic right from the very start.”
Students at the school are already making full use of the facilities, with around 40 to 80 descending on the Boiler Room daily to complete home work and socialise with friends.
Leader of Warrington Borough Council, Ian Marks said: “I think it is great. I have always been keen on schools opening themselves up to the community. The council is very pleased with the Boiler Room and think it will be a great benefit to all in the area.”
The area is also going to be used as an additional teaching facility during the day, as staff can hire out the dance studio and Internet suite to teach classes in.
Head boy at Thomas Boteler, Lee Beswick added: “It is a really great facility that gives the opportunity for people relax and do homework. If you get the opportunity to come down to the Boiler Room I would definitely recommend it.”
Motorists ignore police
drink-driving warnings
by David Skentelbery
MOTORISTS in Warrington are failing to heed police warnings about the dangers of drink driving.
Figures released by Cheshire Police show that since the start of the pre-Christmas drink-driving campaign, 145 drivers have been arrested and charged.
This is ?almost on a par? with the figure for the full festive season campaign last year, say police.
A total of 1,221 people have been tested across Cheshire and 11 per cent have exceeded the legal alcohol limit, tested positive for drugs or failed to provide a sample.
Last year, during the whole of the campaign, more than 6,500 people were tested and 174 were prosecuted.
A police spokesman: ?Motorists should be aware that Cheshire Police are taking a robust approach on drink and drug driving over the festive period. If drivers choose to drink or drug drive they will be prosecuted.?
Alcohol is known to effect driver’s vision, the ability to see distant objects is reduced, and hamper vision by up to 25 per cent, co-ordination is affected and slow reactions by up to 30 per cent, say police. Driving under the influence of drugs – whether prescribed or illegal – is just as dangerous.
Inspector Brian Rogers said: “The message to drivers using Cheshire roads is clear; there is no guaranteed guide as to the amount of alcohol an individual can consume and still drive safely. As for drug driving the penalty is the same and the death and destruction it can cause is the same. The only safe option, for everyone, is not to drink or take drugs at all if planning on driving.”
Jaw broken in attack
on wrong man
by James Parr
A MAN suffered a broken jaw after being attacked in Warrington town centre in a case of mistaken identity.
John Rigby, 22, felled him with a single blow after mistaking him for another man he had earlier had a disagreement with, Warrington Crown Court heard yesterday.
Rigby, of Wrights Crescent, Widnes admitted causing grievous bodily harm and was given a 10 month jail sentence, suspended for two years and made the subject of a supervision order for 18 months.
Richard Sealey, prosecuting, said Rigby had been drinking in Warrington town centre and attacked the victim as he was walking to a taxi rank, believing him to be a man he had argued with earlier on.
The 27-year-old victim suffered a broken jaw and had to undergo surgery, with two metal placed in his mouth to hold the jaw together. He remembered nothing of the incident, other than lying on the ground with blood pouring from his mouth.
Jonathan Rogers, defending, told the court Rigby had expressed sincere regret throughout the proceedings and had apologised to the victim. The attack involved only one punch.
Councillors seek update
on revamped beauty spot
by Lesley Wilkinson
APPLETON parish councillors who are fond of Stockton Heath beauty spot Ackers Pit were keen to be updated on its “facelift.”
Coun Mike Stansfield said: “I know that Ackers Pit has been a bone of contention. Can we have an update on how work is going?”
Peter Briggs, who is clerk to both Appleton and Stockton Heath parish councils, said: “The stage we are at now is that it looks fairly respectable after a troublesome nine months.
“The next stage is to release the plug and to start filling it up.”
He said so far almost ?50,000 had been spent, and a further ?30,000 was needed for additional work including planting and footpaths.
Mr Briggs said: “We had a very difficult start with the project – there was far more silt than we ever imagined.”
Addict couldn’t recall
breaking into house
by James Parr
AN addict claimed he didn’t even know he had burgled a house in Warrington because he was so high on drugs.
Barry Wilson, 42, of Sycamore Court, Salford, stole goods worth nearly ?2,000 from the property, Warrington Crown Court heard.
Wilson admitted burglary and was given a 51-week jail sentence, suspended for two years and ordered to attend a drug rehabilitation course for 18 months.
Julie McNeill, prosecuting, said Wilson removed a window to gain entry to the house and trawled every room in the house looking for valuables.
When the owner returned she found the window on her path and discovered rooms had been ransacked and all jewellery was missing, along with her daughter’s mobile phone, the court. Blood was found on the window frame, a filing cabinet and a purse in the house.
Wilson initially denied even being in Warrington at the time of the offence.
Charlotte Holland, defending, said Wilson had a severe drug problem and had been in and out of care homes and prisons all his life. He was committing crime to fund his drug habit and was so intoxicated with drugs he couldn’t even remember committing the offence.
A chance to win a
free Christmas lunch
by staff reporter
FAMILIES spend an average of ?28 a head on Christmas lunch ? but in Warrington they stand a chance of festive dining for free, courtesy of house builders Countryside Properties.
Residents are being invited to pop down to the company?s Carrington Park development off Battersby Lane and simply register their details in order to be entered into a draw to win Tesco vouchers worth ?225 ? the cost of Christmas lunch for 8 people.
The competition was developed by Countryside Properties after questioning 100 people who live or work in Warrington about their plans for this year?s Christmas lunch.
The survey showed that 67 per cent of people found Christmas lunch to be the most expensive meal of the year with 69 per cent claiming to spend the majority of their money on alcohol.
It also found that 77 per cent will be sticking to the traditional turkey for their main course in favour of a more fashionable option like fish or game.
Andrew Robertson, regional sales director at Countryside Properties, said: ?Christmas is an expensive time of year for most people, but after speaking to our residents we were shocked by just how much the cost of the traditional Christmas dinner had risen.
?We wanted to help lighten the load by offering one lucky family the chance to have this year?s lunch on us. Come down to Carrington Park and tell us your name sometime before Christmas Eve and ?225 worth of vouchers could be yours for you and the family over the festive holidays.?
News in brief
Car fire
FIRE crews were called to Sankey Valley Park, Warrington late last night when a stolen car was found abandoned and on fire. The vehicle was completely destroyed.
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 1, 3, 7 and 13 – but the jackpot prize went unclaimed. Two consolation prizes of ?25 were awarded and a special Christmas bonus prize of ?100 was awarded, together with a bottle of wine. The next draw will be on January 10.
Car park ramp
PLANS for a proposed ramp leading from the car park to the tennis courts at Bridgewater High School?s lower school building in Hall Drive, Appleton, near Warrington have been approved.
Accountants’ office
AN accountants? office can open in Warrington Road, Risley, following the decision of Warrington planners to grant permission for a change of use from a house.
Pub demolition
THE Manor Lock public house, at the junction of Westy Lane and Grange Avenue, Latchford, Warrington can be demolished to make way for a development of 16 two and three storey houses.
