Wednesday 22nd December 2004

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Family of five rescued
from blazing house

by David Skentelbery

A FAMILY of five was rescued from the first floor of a blazing house at Warrington early today.
Fire crews wearing breathing apparatus carried the mother, father and three children aged four, five and eight to safety down ladders after smashing bedroom windows to gain entry.
The blaze involved a terraced house in Hazel Street.
A smoke alarm roused neighbours and the family but by that time they were trapped upstairs and took refuge in two bedrooms.
Fire crews used ladders to carry all five to safety and they were taken to Warrington Hospital suffering from the effects of smoke.
The blaze was caused by an unattended candle in a downstairs room which apparently fell over and set fire to a large quantity of video tapes stored on a shelf, filling the house with fumes.
The family were detained in hospital overnight but was likely to require rehousing today.
A Fire Service spokesman said: “People don’t realise what a fire hazard video tapes can be. They should always be kept in a closed cupboard, rather than on an open shelf.
“In this case a smoke alarm saved them. But because the fumes from burning cassette tapes spread very quickly the house was already smokelogged and they were trapped upstairs.
“We cannot stress too strongly the dangers of leaving candles unattended.”

Village walking day
may be called off

by Lesley Wilkinson

FEARS that next year’s Stockton Heath Walking Day, near Warrington, may not go ahead because of problems with costs and marshalling the event, were expressed at a meeting of the parish council.
Members heard that the churches taking part might have to find ?2,000 to pay for costs including traffic notices, cones and barriers. One church, Bethesda, has already pulled out of next year’s event.
They would also have to provide about 50 marshals for the day, following changes in police procedure meaning that officers will no longer be available for marshalling and leading churches – but just for crime issues.
Chairman Coun Graham Roughsedge said he had been to several meetings with the churches, police and others interested in the event.
He said the rules had changed for next year following changes in police responsibilities and the introduction of events guidelines by the Warrington Events Safety Advisory Group.
Coun Roughsedge said: “It may be that the walk does not go ahead, it would be a sad day for Stockton Heath if that was the case.”
Clerk Peter Briggs said the borough council said they may charge the ?2,000, but it was not yet definite. But he said the police will not marshal the event. Volunteer marshals would be trained for the event.
Members had previously suggested the start time or day was changed, to eliminate this year’s problem of drunken youths disrupting the parade. But the churches had not agreed to this.
Coun Sonia Boggan said: “It is crazy to start the walk when people have been drinking for a couple of hours.”

Students plan to
launch website guide

by Gary Skentelbery

TWO multi-media students are developing a website targeting 16-25-year-olds as part of their degree course work.
Kimberley Ormerod, aged 21, from Fearnhead, Warrington and Lynne Sweeney, aged 20, from Chester, who are both third year multi media journalism students at University College Chester Warrington campus, aim to provide an information guide for students in the town.
They have already started their research work and would like to receive feedback from warrington-worldwide readers on what information should be included on the site.
They plan to include a “whats on guide”, pub and club listings and ideas on places to go during leisure time, as well as listing local amenities.
In the New Year they will start to develop the website which will go live next May.
Kimberley said: “We are working on the project for Warrington-Worldwide and although it is primarily targeting the student community in the town, it will also be useful for people aged 16-25 who are not students.
Lynne added: “We would love to receive feedback from anyone who has some ideas on what they would like to see on the site. We are also looking for a name for it.”
They can be contacted by email at [email protected]

Library is first in
UK with unique videos

by David Skentelbery

A WARRINGTON library is to be the first in the UK to offer on loan a collection of unique videos produced by the Open University.
Padgate Library is to pilot a lending scheme for the 30 educational videos, currently held at the Open University Library, and produced jointly by OU and the BBC.
They are of general interest and are free to borrow.
In April, the collection will move to Warrington Central Library as the second part of the pilot project.
The Open University is very keen to improve links with libraries and hopes that this pilot will lead to similar projects in other regions.
Libraries North West initiated the project after an information session for regional agency staff run by the Open University at its new library in Milton Keynes.
There will be a strong emphasis on collecting feedback from local library users about the collection, with the incentive of a prize draw.
Further information is available from Jo Unsworth, Central Library and Archives manager, on 01925 443231.

Tories choose General
Election candidate

by John Hendon

WARRINGTON North Conservatives have chosen their Prospective Parliamentary Candidate to fight the next General Election.
He is Andrew Ferryman, aged 36, from Congleton – director of Benchill Ecumenical Service Scheme at Wythenshawe in Manchester.
He has previously worked as a social worker, as a care manager with a voluntary organisation and as director of a family support centre.
Mr Ferryman’s previously political experience includes being Conservative group leader on Tamworth Borough Council in Staffordshire, contesting Erdington ward on Birmingham City Council twice – on the second occasion turning the previously safe Labour seat into a marginal – and being chairman of Erdington Conservative Association.
He also has a long history of voluntary and community work in Staffordshire, Birmingham and Manchester.
Mr Ferryman said: “Warrington North needs a hard working, accessible and committed PPC.
“Living in Cheshire and working in Greater Manchester, I live within easy reach of the constituency which would ensure I would be committed to continued campaigning from selection to the end of the election.
“Being single and 36-years-old, I have the drive, time and energy to strike to ensure we do all we can to ensure that Warrington North gets a Conservative MP to be proud of after the next election.”
Mr Ferryman said he supported Britain retaining its identity in Europe, but with its own currency. He opposed regional government and would campaign for the abolition of tuition fees. He would be campaigning for more investment for Warrington North to tackle poverty and crime and support business to enable job creation and local prosperity.

CSO’s tackle “youth
problems” in village
by Lesley Wilkinson

COMMUNITY support officers working to assist the police say they have made a strong start in tackling the problems of youths causing a disturbance in Stockton Heath, near Warrinton.
One of the officers, Peter Crellin, told Stockton Heath Parish Council that after just two weeks in service they had made a start on tackling issues reported.
“We have targeted three nuisance youths and are looking towards an anti-social behaviour order on one of them,” he said.
“The Lower Forge Car Park seems to be the main area of difficulty,” he added. “We have not encountered any problems with people from the pubs.”
He told members that had made a st

art on tackling parking problems outside the school in Egerton Street.
He said officers were also working with shopkeepers to look as a radio system linking shops, so that a Shopwatch scheme could be operated.


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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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