Last battle for
historic hotel
by Lesley Wilkinson
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A BATTLE to save the historic Lymm Hotel, near Warrington, made famous by Brazilian World Cup star Pele, will enter its final stages next week.
Residents are preparing to put their arguments to a public inquiry to try and stop developers Linden Homes from demolishing the hotel where Brazilian soccer legend Pele once stayed and building five four-storey blocks of flats on the site.
Members of Warrington borough council have twice refused the scheme – despite their officers recommending it be approved.
But the company has appealed against both refusals.
Campaign organiser Alan Williams said: “As the group who did much to secure the original decision we, the residents, have a vital role to play and I have asked to speak at the inquiry to spell out the residents’ case.
“The first application was rightly rejected as being out of character with the area and against the principles set out in Lymm’s Village Design Statement.” “A second reduced plan, for 54 apartments with no four-storey element, was submitted by Linden but council policy had by this time changed and this was recommended for refusal due to over-supply of housing in the borough.
“The councillors supported this reason to refuse but did not refuse on any other grounds in spite of continuous protests by residents and Lymm councillors that the development was too large,” he added.
The inquiry will be held at Warrington Town Hall on Wednesday, September 15, starting at 10am. It could last two days.
Mr Williams said the council had hired a barrister and planning consultant, who both felt there was a strong case to refuse the application on grounds of loss of character.
Residents say the development would set a precedent for the future of Lymm. They say the site needs special consideration as it is next to the Green Belt, Trans-Pennine Trail and the Bridgewater Canal towpath.
Pele and the rest of the Brazilian World Cup squad stayed at the hotel in 1956 – and complained that their sleep was disturbed by trains on the adjoining railway – now the Trans-Pennine Trail.
Five freed
on bail
by Gary Skentelbery
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THE five people arrested in connection with the murder of Warrington teenager Shafilea Ahmed have all been released on bail to return to police in Cheshire on a date in December.
The five, who are all members of her family and come from the Bradford area – were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
Today marks the first anniversary of Shafilea’s disappearance from her home in Liverpool Road, Great Sankey.
Her badly decomposed body was discovered in April at Sedgwick, near Kendal in Cumbria. Forensic tests have failed to establish the cause of death. But police are satisfied she was murdered.
The five people are a man in his sixties, three men in their thirties, and a woman in her early twenties. Inquiries are still on going but police say further arrests are not expected in the immediate future.
Turning Japanese to
boost tourism
By Lesley Wilkinson
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WARRINGTON and Cheshire may soon be busy with Japanese tourists if a promotional trip to the country is successful.
Chief executive of Cheshire and Warrington Tourism Board (CWTB) Chris Brown and Brendan Flanagan, general manager of Tatton Park, Knutsford, famous for its Japanese gardens, visited Japan this week.
The pair attended the annual travel trade mission to Tokyo, organised by VisitBritain. The visit is part of the CWTB’s drive to revitalise local tourism and build on the valuable contribution made by Japanese visitors to the local economy.
Chris said: “England’s North West is the fourth most popular UK region for the Japanese market.
“Last year, a massive ?8million was spent by Japanese visitors during 19,000 visits to the North West. We want to build on that contribution and get it back to levels of pre foot and mouth, SARS and 9/11 when the spend was over ?17 million, with twice as many visits,” he added.
He said by promoting every tourism-related business in Cheshire and Warrington, he hopes to attract more Japanese tourists and lengthen the time they stay in the sub-region.
Chris and Brendan attended a series of meetings with other organisations including RHS Japan and the VisitBritain Tokyo office. They also met a Japanese company called Memolead, who provide themed weddings in Cheshire for Japanese couples.
During the visit, Chris unveiled a new Japanese language website – www.cheshire.jp – produced by CWTB and Cheshire County Council to promote the county’s attractions to Japanese tourists.
It is designed in Japan by Iponics Japan Ltd. and gives details of more than 20 historic and horticultural destinations in the county.
It features details of 60 visitor attractions, accommodation, travel, UK laws and customs and sports including motor racing, horse racing and golf. There is also help and advice for businesses bringing Japanese visitors to Cheshire.
Chris said: “The web-site represents a major initiative and will play a key role in encouraging more business from this major market.”
Picture Chris Brown (right) and Brendan Flanagan pictured at Tatton Park’s renowned Japanese Garden on the eve of their mission to Japan.
Good and
caring school
by staff reporter
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A WARRINGTON school has been described as “a good and caring school” with high standards of learning and teaching in a report by Ofsted inspectors.
The in-depth report on Winwick CE Primary School noted its good leadership, management and governance.
Inspectors said that all pupils, regardless of capability and background, were expected to do their best and achieve well because of the “good quality of education provided.”
The school was praised for its strengths including the fact that Year Six pupils are above national expectations by educational standards with good teaching enabling them to achieve well.
Pupils’ attitudes and behaviour was noted as contributing to their learning. There was good provision for their spiritual, social, moral and cultural development. Inspectors praised the pupils for their enthusiasm and pride in their work.
One suggestion from the inspectors was that the school should improve and enhance its accommodation.
Mr Graham Martin, head teacher, said: “Winwick School has gone from strength to strength. I am pleased that in its very positive report Ofsted has recognised the teamwork that goes into making the school a success.”
Canon Bob Lewis, chair of governors, said: “The governors are thrilled with this report. The staff are to be congratulated and thanked for their very good work to make the school the success it is.”
Help Desk celebrates
first anniversary
by John Hendon
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A Help desk at Warrington police station for local people to report crime, get advice, or make an appointment to see a police officer is celebrating its first anniversary.
Since the facility went ‘live’ in September 2003, police say members of the public have received an enhanced level of service from highly trained personnel.
Karen Smethurst, the Help Desk Supervisor, together with a team of nine staff, have dealt with thousands of enquiries during the past twelve months. She said: “Approximately 50 people visit the Help Desk each day. Every day is different and enquiries can vary; people ask for directions, answer police bail, report thefts, road traffic collisions and even missing people.
“One incident which I recall involved a French lorry driver who was delivering goods to
Warrington, but his load had been stolen in Oxford on his way here. He spoke very little English, but we were able to record the crime by working together as a team to interpret what he was saying and establish what had happened.”
Reporting crime at the Help Desk can be done quickly and efficiently, relieving the current work load on call operators and freeing police officers to respond to emergencies.
Karen added: “When members of the public come into the Help Desk they realise the benefits of being seen at the police station. We offer them the chance to see an officer at a guaranteed time in privacy to discuss any issues, seek advice, or report crime. If someone chooses not to visit in person they would have to wait until an officer was free to attend their address. But, once there the officer may be required to attend an emergency and have to leave.
“The Help Desk has proven itself to be an efficient way of reducing the number of incidents waiting to be attended by an officer and also the time the public have to wait to see someone. We are also assisting our colleagues by taking on some of the work load carried out by the call handlers as well as administrative tasks.”
In addition to visiting the Help Desk on Arpley Street, anyone with information about crime can contact Cheshire Police on: 01244 350 000, or Crimestoppers, anonymously on: 0800 555 111.
Support for
pension boost
by staff reporter
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WEEKLY increases in pensions for the over 75’s – of ?25 for a single person and ?37.70 for couples – are being proposed by the Liberal Democrats and backed by a local candidate.
Coun Ian Marks, Lib Dem prospective parliamentary candidate for Warrington South is supporting the policy. He says it would lift millions of pensioners out of means-testing and be fairer to women with a “patchy” work record.
He said: “Older pensioners have had a raw deal and this policy would be much fairer. At a stroke, a million pensioners would be lifted out of means testing. This would be of great benefit to many people in Warrington.”
He said many people are missing out on a decent pension because of the complexity of the Government’s pension credit.
He said: “Our citizen’s pension would give people a decent pension as a right without needless form filling and bureaucracy.
“The current system is stacked against women who have stayed at home to look after children, who have worked part-time or who have patchy National Insurance contributions. Our new pension based on residency would be of particular benefit to women,” he added.
Police probe
shop blaze
by staff reporter
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POLICE are investigating a fire that caused damage to a row of shops in Gig Lane, Woolston, on Tuesday evening.
Fire crews attending the scene believe rubbish at the rear of the shops was gathered together and deliberately set alight.
The blaze spread and caused extensive damage to the toilets at the rear of a supermarket, dental practice and hairdressers. These three and an additional unit were also damaged by smoke and heat.
There were no injuries resulting from the blaze.
[ 20.09.2004, 08:47: Message edited by: Gary ]
