Monday 20th December 2004

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Vandals force closure
of new skate park

by Gary Skentelbery

A NEW ?40,000 skate park at Culcheth near Warrington, has been forced to close after being targeted by mindless vandals who lit a bonfire on the tarmac surface.
Local councillors Keith and Sue Bland, who campaigned for the new facility to help youngsters in the local community have been left devastated by the latest act of vandalism. Keith said: “I am as sick as a parrot over this.
“We had just been talking at the parish council about new ways to help local youngsters and then this happens.
“It makes me wonder why we bother. It is yet another kick in the teeth.
“I am totally fed up and demoralised.
“I would like to make a plea to all parents in Culcheth – if your children are out late at night and you don’t know where they are or what they are doing – don’t let them out.
“They are destroying our community.
“Somebody out there knows who is doing all this vandalism and I am sick and tired of it.”
He said youngsters had also been lighting fires on the village green.
The skate park vandalism is the latest in an ongoing number of incidents.

Giant spotted at
Causeway church!

by Gary Skentelbery

WARRINGTON based St John’s Productions are set to take centre stage with their 8th Christmas Pantomime – an original script based loosely on Jack and the Beanstalk and the Bible story of David and Goliath with lots of songs, fun and audience participation.
Over 50 members of the community from St John’s United Reformed Church on Wilderspool Causeway and Elmwood Avenue United Reformed Church are involved, on stage, making costumes or painting scenery, with ages ranging form 10-70.
Although the actors are amateurs, the group is lucky enough to have technical support from the same team behind the annual Parr Hall panto, so audiences can expect professional sound, lighting and special effects to rival the professionals.
At the last pantomime, over 300 people came to see the three performances and the show has become a popular Christmas event in the local community.
This year’s performances start tonight, Friday December 17 at 7.30pm, Saturday December 18 at 2.30pm and 7.30pm and tickets are available by calling 637023. Tickets are priced ?3.00 for adults and ?2.00 for children.

“Ethnic cleansing” claim
over gypsy caravan plan

by David Skentelbery

RESIDENTS objecting to proposals for a permanent gypsy caravan site on green belt land near Warrington have been accused of advocating “ethnic cleansing by exclusion.”
The accusation was made by civil rights campaigner Bob Stewart, representing gypsy families living at Two Acre Caravan Park, Warrington Road, Higher Walton, at a meeting of the borough’s development control committee.
Gypsy William Smith had applied for the removal of a condition which requires the caravans to be moved after four years, making the site a permanent feature.
Objections were received from 17 residents and from Walton Parish Council.
The gypsies, who had a temporary planning consent expiring in May 2006, sought to have the consent made permanent. They own the site, having bought it at auction about eight years ago. There are about 15 caravans on the site.
Walton Parish Council spokesman Mr Hardy said the gypsies were originally given temporary planning permission on the basis of “special circumstances” – the fact that their children needed a settled education at a local school and because of the medical needs of some of the party.
The aim had been to give the gypsies time to find an alternative site – but they appeared to have made no such attempt.
He urged the committee to allow the gypsies the remaining two years of their planning consent to find somewhere to move to but to refuse to allow them any extra time.
But Mr Stewart said: “There is no room in the borough for ethnic cleansing by exclusion and that is what this is all about.
“These are decent, hard working people who have caused no problems to their neighbours. It makes no sense to make them move on. You show allow them to stay on the grounds of common decency alone.”
The committee decided to grant a further temporary consent for a period 10 years from now, after which the caravans should be removed and the land returned to its former condition.

Petar steps up
to top job

by business staff

AFTER two and-a-half years with the company, Warrington-based Target Express chief operating officer Petar Cvetkovic is stepping up to the chief executive officer position from January 1.
Petar was formerly MD at Norbert Dentressangle in the UK and before that he held the position of MD at DFDS Logistics.
Petar’s appointment is part of a structured succession plan drawn up by Paul Murray, the outgoing CEO at Target who will stay with the business full-time for four months to support the transition. Further changes to the management structure will be announced in the Spring.
He said: “After seven very enjoyable, challenging, and profitable years as CEO, it gives me enormous pleasure to hand over the reins to Petar who has made such a significant contribution to Target as COO since I appointed him two and-a-half years ago and he thoroughly deserves this promotion.”

Conductor misses 30th
anniversary concert

by our correspondent

WARRINGTON Youth Orchestra’s Christmas concert went ahead without First Orchestra conductor Anthony Ridley – who would have been celebrating his 30th anniversary with the orchestra.
Mr Ridley was unable to conduct because of a back problem so the entire concert was conducted by Phil Robinson.
The concert began with the classic theme tune to Thunderbirds played by Second Orchestra who continued with Vitava by Smetena – a challenging piece the youngsters had learned at a musical workshop at Bala and continued with The Flute Dance from ‘La Fille Mal Garde’ (Herold).
Phil then moved on to conduct the Third Orchestra and began with a tune more appropriate to the season – Festive Spirit (Osterling), which he then followed with See the Conquering Hero Comes (Handel) and Mambo from the Congo (Sebesky).
He then showed the range of his talents by conducting ‘A Christmas Cracker’ which he had written himself to be performed specifically by the Third Orchestra.
Finally he conducted the First Orchestra – a challenge for both as he has rarely conducted it. However, he showed that he could get the best out of this orchestra too, conducting Liberty Nell (Sousa), Sleigh Ride (Anderson) – again a seasonal tune and then Symphonic Suite – ‘Lord of the Rings’ (Shore).
This latter piece had been rehearsed originally by First Orchestra in Germany with the Hilden Music School on the recent Exchange Visit. However, although a single orchestra Phil and the First recreated the sound and the audience could almost see the Hobbits, Men, Dwarves and Elves.
The audience really got into the Christmas Spirit singing Hark The Herald Angels. The concert was completed by First Orchestra with three pieces from Swan Lake (Tchaikovsky) and another festive piece, Christmas Memories (Finck).
Chairman Roy Green said yet again this had been a wonderful concert and the parents should be very proud of what their children had achieved.
WYO welcomes new players on any Saturday morning during term time at Bridgewater High School More details are available from Roy Green (01925 490527) or Kath Whyte (0161 941 2350).

Welcome for “early
closing” ruling

by Lesley Wilkinson

STOCKTON Heath Parish Council has welcomed a ruling that a New Year’s Eve entertainment licence for a village bar must finish at midnight.
Members had requested that the licence for the 101 Bar, on London Road, should end at 1am. But they heard that Warrington Borough Council had, in fact, decided it should end at midnight.
Coun Sonia Boggan said: “Tha

t is jolly good – it will limit the disturbance to neighbours.”

Scholars praised for
their achievements

by staff reporter

MORE than 60 scholars, many of who have beaten the odds to reach the top of their class, have been honoured by Warrington Collegiate. Principal Paul Hafren, praised the courage and dedication of the learners during the Community Learners’ Awards at The Gateway.
“The Community College is a vibrant part of the Collegiate and we are committed to delivering the best learning opportunities to learners of all ages in Warrington,” he said.
Heads of the Collegiate’s Adult Education, Supported Learning and Skills For Life programmes paid tribute to the students and told how many of the award winners had transformed their lives through learning.
Prize winners were applauded by the Warrington South MP Helen Southworth and Wolves’ rugby stars Paul Noone and Steven Pickersgill who presented the awards.
Special Award Winners were, Adult Education: Gillian Brooks, of Weddell Close, Old Hall; Basil Newton of Westford Road, Lower Walton; and Eileen Tinker of Windmill Lane, Penketh.
Skills for Life: Iain Gorman of Arlington Drive, Penketh and Neil Parkinson of Edward Gardens, Woolston. Community Supported Learning: Paul Heaton of Woodford Avenue, Lowton and Mark O’Brien of Warrington.


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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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