“Computer intelligence”
leads to 173 arrests
by Terry Johnson
POLICE in Warrington are “feeling the collars” of an increasing number of criminals – thanks to breakthrough “computer intelligence”.
The rolling out of an ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) system is seen as the biggest crime-fighting tool since DNA detection.
Within months of its introduction, the arrest rate is soaring.
In Warrington, ANPR has resulted in 173 arrests, with the technology focused on catching vehicle thieves, disqualified drivers, drugs and possession of offensive weapons.
Police spokeswoman, Holly Simpson, said: “The equipment has a type of photo-memory linked to the police national computer, the DVLA and local police intelligence databases.”
Patrol officers who previously relied on intuition to spot a suspect vehicle now access an instant read-out as to why it is of interest to the police.
As a result 37 stolen vehicles worth ?83,000 have been recovered in Warrington.
Sgt Mike Jones, road policing safety manager, said: “Officers can scan passing registrations while carrying out normal patrols.”
The ANPR scanners have been funded by the Safer Warrington Partnership.
Oversized farm building
allowed to stay standing
by David Skentelbery
A FARM building which ended up twice as big as it should have been as a result of a planning blunder, is to be allowed to remain standing.
Planning chiefs at Warrington have decided the development at Moss Hall Farm, in Moss Lane, Lower Stretton can stay because had planning consent been applied for it would almost certainly been granted.
Traffic problems would remain the same even if the farmer demolished half the building to bring it within permitted development rights, the borough’s development control committee was told.
Seven nearby residents, the local parish council and an action group had objected to the development.
But 13 other residents supported the scheme, which they saw as necessary to safeguard local employment and retain a farming community.
The committee was told the farmer went ahead and erected the building after being told by a planning officer that he did not need planning consent. But he built it twice the size he should have done and, when the mistake was discovered, made a retrospective planning application.
Objectors claimed a nearby cottage had been struck and damaged seven times by heavy lorries servicing the building.
Two road signs and an electricity pole had also been struck by lorries using Well Lane, Stretton to collect potatoes stored in the building.
Although the council could have enforcement action, the farmer could have sought compensation from the authority.
Local residents opposed the development on the grounds that Well Lane and Moss Lane are not suitable for heavy lorries.
The committee approved the farmer’s retrospective planning application.
Top concert venue to
re-open after facelift
by Terry Johnson
WARRINGTON’s top concert spot re-opens later this month after major facelift.
Victorian Parr Hall has been given a top-to-bottom makeover, with new seating and sound systems provided for theatre-goers and new-look catering.
Built in 1895, the imposing venue in Warrington’s cultural quarter stages 320 entertainment events a year.
It was conceived as a public speaking hall with excellent acoustics, though its current role is a multi-entertainment centre.
The hall is home to Warrington Male Voice Choir, one of the finest in Europe and to the Centenary Operatic and Dramatic Society.
The choir used the building to launch its peace message to Northern Ireland, following the Warrington terror bombing.
The building’s up-date follows a canvass of public opinion in the town.
Garden lovers invited
to a stately home
by Terry Johnson
GARDEN-lovers are invited to enjoy the heritage gardens of a 600-year-old Cheshire mansion, haunt of TV moguls.
Lord Ashbrook is to lead a a guided walk of the Grade 11 listed gardens of Arley Hall, near Warrington, over the week-end September 18-19.
Members of his family have lived at Arley for six centuries. Lord Ashbrook has created The Grove and Woodland Walk over the past 30 years and his mother, Elizabeth, Viscountess Ashbrook, created the shrub rose and tea cottage gardens.
Arley Hall, where TV programmes Cluedo, The Forsyte Saga, ‘Coronation Street’s McDonald wedding and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes were filmed, has reaped two accolades.
It was voted No 3 in the Best Gardens in Europe list and the hall itself, which remains a family home, is named in the top-50 Best Stately Homes in the UK.
Pupils urged to keep
school area tidy
by Lesley Wilkinson
PUPILS at Lymm High School are to be urged to keep the area near the school tidy, following the disbanding of the Keep Lymm Tidy Group.
Coun Sheila Woodyatt said the group was wound up in August after 15 years of fighting litter in the village, because members were getting older and there was a decline in new members.
“The group was unable to get younger members and so had to close,” she said.
She said there was concern about litter, during school term time, near the closed section of Longbutt Lane and at Oughtrington Lane.
“The vast majority of students are responsible and care about the environment,” she said. “But some pupils and members of the community are dropping litter in the area.”
Representatives from Warrington Borough Council street-cleaning section, are to visit the school to give a talk on keeping the area tidy and protecting the environment.
Arsonists torch
four hay stacks
by John Hendon
POLICE are investigating a series of fires at Burtonwood, near Warrington, early today when an arsonist apparently moved from field to field setting light to stacks of bailed hay.
Firefighters were tackling fires off Hall Lane when they saw other fires start about half a mile away off Fir Tree Lane.
Four fires were started involving more than 10 tonnes of hay.
A Fire Service spokesman said: “The offender, or offenders, must have been moving from site to site just ahead of us. We could see fires breaking out between a quarter of-a- mile and a half-a-mile from us while we were tackling another fire.
“One fire was potentially dangerous as it was underneath a power line and we had to take particular care in tackling that one.
“Three of the fires were on one farm but the fourth was on a different farm.”
Four fire engines were involved in the operation, which started at around 2.30am.
