“Highly toxic” chemicals
plan for canal warehouse
by David Skentelbery
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A CHEMICAL firm is seeking planning permission to store highly toxic substances in a warehouse alongside the Manchester Ship Canal near Warrington.
TDG European Chemicals want to store 150 tonnes of “very toxic” materials and a further 500 tonnes of toxic substances at the Acton Grange distribution centre in Birchwood Lane, Moore.
Parish councillors at nearby Penketh are objecting because of the potential for fire or flooding events which could prove too severe for the proposed safety measures to contain.
But there are no objections from the Environment Agency, nor from Moore or Walton parish councils.
A spokesman for Warrington’s planning department said hazardous goods were already stored on the site and had been since the 1960s.
But the quantities now proposed required specific Hazardous Substances consent.
“A large proportion of the hazardous materials stored at the site are pesticides with a toxic component within them,” he said.
“The flammable materials present comprise industrial paints and varnishes. All products are stored in approved containers of varying sizes and there will be no processing of materials on site.”
He said goods were received from all over the world, stored and distributed to customers. The warehouse complex had 24-hour, 365-day security.
Originally, the application had been for the storage of 500 tonnes of very toxic chemicals, but the Health and Safety Executive had advised a reduction to 150 tonnes and the firm had agreed to this.
Work starts on
school “oasis”
by staff reporter
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WORK has started on a stunning “oasis” at Fox Wood Special School in Birchwood, Warrington – thanks to a unique partnership driven by high school pupils and generous organisations right across the town.
The brainchild of sixth form and Year 9 pupils at Great Sankey High School , the project is set to transform an area of derelict, waterlogged marsh land in the grounds of the special school into a beautiful nature reserve.
The high school students, together with the support and guidance of staff from the international construction company Costain Limited, have designed and project-managed the development of the land.
They have also been supported by Lever Faberge, Warrington Borough Council, Jewson, Wyevale Garden Centre, Maidenhead Aquatics, Montgomery Watson Harza and United Utilities, who have all donated vast amounts of money, resources and manpower to make the pupils dream a reality.
The new multi-sensory education area will give the children, who have severe disabilities or learning difficulties, the chance to experience the sights, sounds and smells of the environment.
A huge waterfall will be the centrepiece of the oasis, along with pond and marsh areas teeming with wildlife, with bridges and multi-sensory pathways creating an area of peace and reflection.
Bulldozers and excavators, provided by Costain Limited and about 60 employees from Lever Faberge with strimmers and wheelbarrows have started work on the project Margaret Harwood-Housley, engineering director at Great Sankey High said: “This has taken sixth months of hard work and our pupils have been an inspiration throughout the development of this project – they should be very proud.
“Gaining specialist engineering status has enabled us to forge superb links with big engineering organisations, such as Costain, and without their help there is no way we could have got this project off the ground.
Picture shows workers and children at the start of the building project.
The battle against
crime is being won
by John Hendon
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POLICE and other law enforcement agencies in Warrington are winning the battle against crime.
New figures show that number of offenders brought to justice over the last 12 months in Cheshire and Warrington rose by 16 per cent.
The Government had set a five per cent target so the local result puts the area firmly in the top 10 of the 42 across England and Wales in respect of closing the gap between crime and the numbers of offenders called to account.
Offences brought to justice are those where there is a conviction, caution or where the offence is taken into consideration by the court.
The result has been achieved by all the criminal justice agencies, police, courts, Crown Prosecution Service, probation Youth Offending Teams and prisons working more closely together to common targets.
They have concentrated on achieving more arrests, speeding up the court process and improving the quality of evidence gathering and presentation. They have also worked to reassure victims and witnesses to ensure they turn up to play their part in the court process.
Chief Constable Peter Fahy said: “Police officers have achieved a significant increase in the numbers of arrests to the extent that our cells capacity is regularly full. The crucial factor is that we work with the other agencies to ensure more of those arrests are translated into convictions. This is a real success story but there is a lot more to do.
“We have ambitious plans to improve the service given to victims in the prosecution process. We need more people willing to come forward and give evidence.”
Mr Fahy said the increase in arrests and offences detected had been achieved by improved identification and targeting of persistent offenders and increased use of forensic science. A number of significant local criminals were in prison and this had contributed to the current 20 per cent reduction in the number of house burglaries. Over the coming year the focus for all the criminal justice agencies would continue to be on the prolific local offenders who cause most harm to local people.
A chance to win a
new village hall
by David Skentelbery
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COMMUNITY groups across Warrington have only a few days left to stand a change of winning themselves a new village hall or meeting place – paid for from rubbish.
Entires for the 2004 Waste Recycling Group “Village and Community Hall Challenge” must be in by July 31.
Two communities will receive a landfill windfall of ?250,000 towards their very own hall with a further six set to receive ?50,000.
The Challenge encourages communities without their own village hall or community centre to bid for funding from the Landfill Tax credits of Waste Recycling Group.
The Landfill Tax Credit Scheme (www.ltcs.org.uk) gives waste management companies the opportunity to invest up to 6.8 per cent of their Landfill Tax bill into community and environmental projects in their immediate area.
There are almost 9800 village halls in total across England with countless community centres and community meeting places and, since 1998, the Landfill Tax credits of Waste Recycling Group have helped to renovate and refurbish nearly 500 village halls in areas where the company operates with ?7 million in funding.
Wren, the UK’s largest Environmental Body who administer and distribute the Landfill Tax credits of Waste Recycling Group, has organised the Challenge and application forms are available from Wren on 01953 717165. These will be assessed by a judging panel with a number of communities progressing to the final stage in September and an eventual decision next March.
Application forms are available from Wren on 01953 717165.
Long-serving school
caretaker retires
by Lesley Wilkinson
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A WARRINGTON school caretaker whose work haa been praised by Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education) retires tomorrow (Friday) after 28 years service.
Sheila Brown joined St Paul of the Cross Catholic Primary School in Burto
nwood as caretaker in the summer of 1976.
Her role has been to take charge of the school’s maintenance and cleanliness, and also security.
During her years at the school two Ofsted reports have praised the cleanliness at the premises.
Staff, children and parents will gather tomorrow to say goodbye to Sheila.
Andy Cocker, Head teacher said: “Sheila really will be a hard act to follow and will be greatly missed. During the last 28 years, she has worked for four head teachers and is well known by all for going well beyond the call of duty.
“Sheila takes great pride in her work and the whole school wish her all the very best for a restful future,” he added.
Pupils stage first
ever sports fair
by Emma Walker
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PUPILS at Warrington’s Sir Thomas Boteler CE High School are in training for their first ever sports fair this Friday (July 16).
A special guest star from Warrington Wolves will open the fair and get the chance to watch youngsters “tackle” even the most challenging of sports.
Football, archery, jujitsu and dance are among the many sports to be played and the surprise personality will help to encourage youngsters from across the area to participate.
The Boteler Partnership has already successfully run primary school rugby and athletics festivals, primary teacher support lessons/days and leadership courses in conjunction with Warrington Wolves and hope this will be just as successful.
The fair is one of many new activities being introduced through the School Sports Co-ordinators Scheme (SSCo) and aims to make local children aware of the sporting opportunities available to them.
Representatives from sports clubs and sports centres across the borough will be available to talk to pupils and give them detailed information about their activity. Some clubs will also be doing demonstrations, showing videos and equipment.
Head of PE Helen Wright said: “The sports fair is a fantastic opportunity for the local primary school children and Sir Thomas Boteler High School pupils to find out about activities happening in their area. It also provides them with sporting opportunities for the summer holidays and introduces them to sport for life.”
Fire engine in
collision with car
by staff reporter
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A FIRE engine on its way to deal with a house fire at Stockton Heath, Warrington, was involved with a collision with a car in Knutsford Road last night.
Fire crews helped release the woman car driver who was taken to hospital complaining of back pain.
The fire engine had its lights on and siren sounding at the time.
Hospital cuts
superbug rate
by staff reporter
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WARRINGTON Hospital is winning the battle against the hospital superbud MRSA.
Figures released by the Department of Health show that North Cheshire NHS Hospitals Trust – the body which runs both Warrington and Halton General hospitals – came 21st out of 113 acute hospitals across the country.
The number of MRSA cases per 1,000 bed days fell from 0.211 to 00.91.
A Trust spokesman said steps had been taken to control the spread of infection.
But he stressed that more than half the cases of MRSA occurred in the community, rather than in hospital.
Cricket club
fun day
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MEMBERS of Glazebury Cricket Club, near Warrington, hold their annual Fun Day on Sunday, August 1.
Highlight of the day will be a “Pooh Stick” race on the River Glaze, but there will also stalls, laser shoot, tombola and raffles at the Chat Moss pub.
The day is the club’s main fund-raising event of the year, but also provides entertainment for all the family.
