Monday June 15 2004
Internet CS gas
youths arrested
by Terry Johnson
THREE youths have been arrested after police in Warrington seized ‘Red Dragon’ CS gas canisters bought over the Internet.
And they warn youths purchasing the danger sprays that they could face up to 10 years in jail for possession or use of CS gas aerosols – defined as ‘prohibited weapons’ under the Firearms Act,1968.
The police purge has resulted in arrests of young people involved in incidents of spraying one another with the three-inch gas canisters, which feature a red dragon motif.
Inspector Stuart Woodcock, leading the Warrington Police Community Action team, said: “A victim sprayed with CS gas is likely to experience sickness, disorientation and incapacity.
“The greatest danger to them is if they panic and run into the road or fall into water.
“If the gas is sprayed directly into the eyes, it could cause serious damage.”
The use of CS gas on another person constituted an assault and the offender could have their home searched.
Three youths have been arrested in the Risley area of Warrington in connection with use of CS sprays and youths at Stockton Heath have been questioned.
Inspector Woodcock said that while police were issued with CS sprays, officers had comprehensive training on how to spray someone safely and how to deal with a person’s aftercare.
“The strength of police-issued CS spray is regulated. But that bought over the Internet or from abroad may vary in strength and even contain different chemicals.”
Inspector Woodcock called for parents to help police ‘by taking responsibility for reinforcing the serious nature of possessing, or using, such weapons’.
He added: “There is no excuse for carrying such a weapon – they are a prohibited firearm.”
Fire crews were called to the FX Bar in Warrington town centre after a youth discharged a CS gas spray. The premises was evacuated and no-one was hurt.
Working for peace
earns Colin OBE
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON peace campaigner Colin Parry has been awarded the OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
Mr Parry – father of Tim Parry, one of the two boys killed by the IRA in the Bridge Street bombing of 1993 – received the award for his tireless campaigning for peace since the atrocity.
He said he was “extremely pleased” to receive the award but was accepting it on behalf of his whole family – his wife Wendy and his children Abbi, 22 and Dominic, 25.
Mr Parry was the driving force behind the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Young People’s Peace Centre at Great Sankey, which is a living memorial to the two boys killed in Bridge Street.
He is chairman of the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Trust, which runs the centre.
Wendy Parry is a fundraiser for the centre.
Mr Parry said: “I am usually the spokesman for what we do and it is my name on the list, but really I am accepted the award on behalf of the whole family.
“The trauma that happened to us usually results in the disintegration of the family, but this centre has been a form of therapy for us.”
Tim Parry was 12 and Johnathan Ball three when they were killed by two bombs placed in litter bins on the Saturday before Mother’s Day, 1993.
Historic water tower
has own heating!
by Terry Johnson
A UNIQUE water tower home is using leading-edge technology to deliver free heating!
The 130-year-old redundant Lymm Water Tower, a landmark sandstone building between Warrington and Altrincham, has been converted by owner, Russell Harris, into a modern family residence.
The challenging project to transform a weather-worn, grade 11-listed castle-like tower with three-feet thick walls into a comfortable home has taken seven years to complete.
A major problem for Mr Harris was the ‘ugly skyline’ of telecom masts and satellite dishes mounted at the top of the tower, which has stunning views over the Cheshire Plain, Manchester and the Peak District.
He managed to talk the five cell-phone networks who use the tower as a base station to hide their equipment in a loft space within the tower, the antennas concealed in a stairwell extension.
Now Mr Harris expects to use waste heat from the telecom equipment to supply his total domestic needs.
The converted ‘tower house’ comprises bedrooms and an office on four levels – plus an ultra-modern two-storey ‘wrap around’ extension, providing more bedrooms and an open-plan living area.
The ‘free heat’ for Mr Harris’ controversial home will be recovered by using specially-adapted Honeywell controls for an underfloor heating zone within the 5,500 sq.ft. of living space.
Combined ‘waste energy’ from the electronics is channelled through a heat exchanger.
This provides the tower home’s heating needs, with the remaining heat put through a chiller unit.
Now Mr Harris is happy to get his heat for free and have the tower outline ‘unpolluted’ by telecom equipment.
Gold award
for school
by staff reporter
Lymm High School has scooped top national awards from the Arts Council and Sport England.
The Cheshire school’s well-balanced arts education programme gains Artsmark Gold and its out-of-school-hours PE regime and sporting links with the community takes the Sportsmark award.
Head teacher, Roger Lounds, said: “We are delighted with these awards.
” We intend to enhance our current programme of activities and provision. Students continue to participate in, and reap the benefits of, a physically active lifestyle and a wide experience of the arts.”
Art attack!
A celebration of arts is planned in Warrington on Saturday, June 26.
The town’s Arts Council turns the spotlight on widely ranging art groups in the Old Market Place, at the heart of the Golden Square shops centre.
The spectacle is aimed to inspire even greater involvement in the arts, in which thousands already take an active part.
There will be performances from groups, including Warrington Light Opera, Pyramid Community Choir, Pyramid dancers, music quartets, The Janet Messenger Singers and a guitars group.
There will also be a presentation of ‘Les Miserables’ and poetry readings from Bold Street Writers. A flute quartet from Warrington Youth Orchestra will perform.
Arts Council spokeswoman, Karen Gatley, said: “The Arts Day follows the success of our Pavement Artist Day in which 100 people took part.
“Art groups will turn the focus on their talents during Pyramid Arts’ ‘Culturefest o4’. The event will present the multiple art forms which townspeople can get involved in.”
Arts chairman, Margaret Tye, added: “The Arts Council and the Lewis Carroll Society will welcome two ‘Alice in Wonderlands’ to our arts day. They will be by the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party statue in Golden Square.”
The Arts Council’s classical music competition has proved so popular that it is now to be extended to young musicians across all the Warrington postcodes.
The arts day events are from 11.00am-4.00pm.
New event
at Arley
FROM the same stable as the highly successful Garden Festival, Arley Hall in Cheshire is now holding a brand new event at the end of July.
The Arley Country Fair, taking place on the park in front of the Hall, on July 31-August 1, will be the biggest event that Arley has ever organised.
The Estate plays host to a myriad of events throughout the year but the Country Fair will be the most challenging! Not only will all the park be taken up with activities, stalls and arenas, but the Arley Lake, drained during the Second World War due to “Digging for Victory” will be partially reinstated to allow for fishing competitions and demonstrations.
“We are all very excited here,”says Eric Ransome, Show Director. “The Country Fair was launched last year to the media and the response from both public and retailers has been very promising.”
Arena attractions
will include Falconry, Dog training, Medieval re-enactments, side saddle demonstrations, polo demonstrations, parade of hounds, working with heavy horses and of course, terrier racing, to name but a few.
Arley Hall is one of the few remaining privately owned estates in Cheshire and is well serviced by both the M6 and M56 motorways. “We are lucky,” continues Eric, “as the Estate is about 10 minutes away from the junctions, yet we are set in some of the most beautiful countryside and surrounded by agricultural land.”
Estate staff are busy beavering away getting everything organised. Long term, we see this event as one of the biggest in the county and we have been delighted by the support given to us by fellow attractions, local hotels and guest houses and of course, local retailers.”
There will be a Craft Marquee and a Food Hall specializing in all that is good in British food and drink and we shall also have specialist areas promoting the counties around us Made in Cheshire, Made In Cumbria, etc.
“We are particularly keen to encourage people who enjoy country sports and pursuits and with that in mind, we will have, Archery, !Have a Go” shooting, Dog Scurries, Dog Obedience demonstrations and Fishing demonstrations, so there will be plenty to see and do for all ages!” adds Eric.
Tickets are on sale now, with discounts for early payment. ?10 on the gate, ?8 in advance and ?6.50 for groups (minimum of 15 adults). Accompanied children under 14 are free, dogs are most welcome on a lead and there is no charge for car parking.
For further information, call 01565 777353 or the Country Fair hotline on 01565 777111.
[ 15.06.2004, 16:31: Message edited by: Gary ]
