Blueprint for historic
brewery causes a row
by David Skentelbery
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A BOLD plan to create luxury homes in a historic brewery building is to be considered by development control chiefs at Warrington.
The scheme, put forward by the De Vere hotel group, involves conversion of the Grade 2 listed clock tower building at the former Wilderspool Brewery in Warrington.
Twelve apartments would be provided in the clock tower building and a further 96 in three four-storey buildings to be erected on adjoining land.
The new apartments would be designed to reflect the industrial style of the existing brewery buildings.
Brewers Greenall Whitley closed the 200-year-old brewery 12 years ago with the loss of some 700 jobs. Since then, much of the 34-acre site has been re-developed as offices.
The distinctive Clock Tower building, formerly used for cask handling, is one of the few remaining parts of the complex.
Neighbours are objecting to the scheme on the grounds of loss of privacy, overshadowing, increased traffic, etc. But the Ancient Monuments Society supports the scheme and says the proposed work on the listed building is sensitive.
Planners say the new apartment blocks would be 54 yards away from the nearest existing dwellings so objections on the grounds of overlooking and loss of privacy could not be sustained.
The applicants have agreed to provided eight “affordable” units – six one bedroom apartments and two with two bedrooms.
Masons in walk for
hospice charity
by our correspondent
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ELEVEN Warrington Freemasons walked from Bewsey to Widnes to raise money for St Rocco?s Hospice.
Freemasons from all parts of the Masonic Province of West Lancashire took part in a charity walk in aid of hospices throughout the North West as part of their contribution towards Hospice Week 2004.
The whole walk covering more than 200 miles and visiting 15 hospices was be done by Wigan Freemason Alf Short, 62, whose long trek started in Barrow-in-Furness and ended in Prescot.
When he left St Rocco?s Hospice the Warrington contingent of Freemasons was led by 73-year-old Stan Churm of Thelwall. All 11 Warrington Freemasons completed the walk the Widnes although they could not keep pace with Alf who is an experienced long distance speed walker. The Warrington group remained together and covered the nine miles in two hours 20 minutes. All the money pledged by Warrington Freemasons to sponsor either Stan, Alf or the other 10 local walkers will be donated to St Rocco?s Hospice.
Stan said: “I do enjoy walking and St Rocco?s Hospice was one of my chosen charities while I was chairman of the Warrington Group of Lodges. With this regional venture including a visit to St Rocco?s several Warrington Freemasons thought we should take part on the leg from Warrington to Widnes Masonic Hall. The walk went very well and there were no injuries and no one dropped out.”
It is hoped that the sponsorship of Warrington Freemasons for the walkers and a recent sponsored bike ride could result in more than ?4,000 being raised for St Rocco?s.
Alf Short said: “There has been tremendous enthusiasm for the walk at all the hospices we have visited and people we have met along the way have been very supportive. The hospices do a wonderful job and we are all delighted to be able to have provided some financial support by our walk.”
During the last year Warrington Freemasons have made several donations to local and regional charities. St Rocco?s Hospice received ?2,400 and then St Barnabas Church received ?1,000 to boost its fund-raising campaign to build an extension. The Group?s annual Gentlemen?s Evening resulted in ?3,500 being raised for the benefit of the International Myeloma Foundation, Macmillan Nurses and other charities.
Squatters may have
started house fire
by John Hendon
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SQUATTERS may have started a blaze which wrecked an unoccupied terraced house being offered to let in Dickenson Street, Warrington, during the night.
The fire spread up the stairs and caused extensive damage throughout the property. Smoke also penetrated occupied houses next door.
A Fire Service spokesman said the house had been broken into at the rear and the was evidence of someone living on the premises. It was possible the fire had been started deliberately.
Fire crews had to break into the house at the front to enable the blaze to be tackled from both sides. Firefighters wore breathing apparatus to combat dense smoke. But no one was hurt.
In a separate incident, fire crews spent all day Saturday tackling a barn fire at a farm at Winwick, near Warrington.
Cycle trip will
link twin towns
by staff reporter
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WARRINGTON cyclists are certainly on the move. After a successful week of activities, rides and events during National Bike Week in June, and before the town’s own ‘Get Cycling Week’ in July, a local cyclist is linking up Warrington and its twin town, Hilden in Germany, by means of an eight day round trip by cycle.
Rod King is a member of Warrington Cycle Campaign and the borough council will be supporting his trip by arranging contact with cycling and transport staff within the Hilden local government offices.
In fact, after being seen off from the Town Hall on Tuesday 29th June by Mayor Ted Lafferty, Rod will be cycling to Hilden to meet up with the Mayor of Hilden and a group cycling from Hilden’s other twin town, Nove Mesto in the Czech Republic attend a major German Sports Festival being held in Hilden on July 3rd.
Rod will travel up to 100 miles a day in his recumbent tricycle and after crossing the Pennines to Sheffield will catch the Hull to Rotterdam ferry on Thursday night. From there he will cycle through Holland on Friday before entering Germany on the Saturday morning.
With cycling being three times more popular in Germany than Britain, Rod hopes to experience at first hand what it is that enables our European neighbours to promote cycling so successfully.
He said: “In European cities they suffer from far lower congestion levels than the UK. Much of this is due to their more tolerant attitude towards cyclists, lower vehicle speeds in towns and better cycle facilities. By experiencing their successes I hope to find real examples that we can use in Warrington to extend the council plans to encourage cycling.”
Lesley McAllister, the council’s travel plan co-ordinator said: “This trip sounds exciting and we will be interested to look at any examples of best practice Rod brings back from Hilden. Rod has spent a lot of time organising this trip and we wish him well.”
Library to open
longer hours
by John Hendon
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LITERATURE lovers will be able to stay in the library that bit longer from next Monday (July 5).
Warrington Library is introducing the new extended hours for a six-month trial period following increasing demand. The new hours will be:
Mondays and Thursdays: 9am-7pm, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays: 9am-5pm, Saturdays: 9am-1pm.
A review of the new opening times is due to take place after Christmas to discuss any comments received during the trial period.
Library users will be able to enjoy the full range of services including books, DVD’s, free internet access and access to a wealth of local and family history resources.
Martin Gaw, head of library, museum and archives services, said: “I am very pleased that we have been able to respond to this increasing demand. We intend to make libraries as accessible as possible and, as more resources become available, we hope to extend opening hours further.”
For further information on library services and details of how to become a member, which is
completely free, contact 01925 442889.
Rare photographs
sell for ?7,500
by staff reporter
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RARE photographs taken by one of Warrington’s most famous sons – Alice in Wonderland author Lewis Carroll – have been sold at auction for ?7,500.
The six pictures, taken at the home of artist Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s brother, William, in London in 1863, were sold to an unidentified buyer at an auction in Swindon, Wiltshire.
One of the most intriguing photographs is of a drawing of Rossetti’s late wife, Lizzie and the wife of William Morris, with whom Rossetti had an affair.
Rossetti was one of the founders of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, in 1848.
The group strived to produce work which emphasised pre-Renaissance qualities such as simplicity and purity.
Carroll, real name Charles Lutwidge Dudgson, was born at Daresbury, where he is said to have gained inspiration for his “Alice” books from the open fields and woodlands.
Although best known as a writer, he was also a photographer of some note.
