Ex-council leader
spurns “civic bauble”
EXCLUSIVE by David Skentelbery
MIKE Hughes, former leader of Warrington borough council – “sacked” by the Labour Party in the run-up to June’s elections – has turned down an invitation to become an honorary alderman of the borough.
He said: “I have ignored the invitation, which I assume is one of a number sent to for councillors who either lost their seats or did not choose to seek re-election this year.
“I did not enter politics for personal gain nor for civic baubles. It is not my style to continue civic anachronisms.”
Mr Hughes and his immediate predecessor as leader of the council, John Gartside, were both de-selected by Labour following a split in local party ranks.
Mr Gartside – who accepted his de-selection without comment – has subsequently been made a Freeman of the Borough.
But Mr Hughes, who battled to be reinstated as a Labour candidate with an unsuccessful appeal against de-selection, subsequently stood against Labour as an Independent in his former Fairfield ward.
He polled 561 votes – little more than half the average Labour vote in the ward.
But he remains bitter at what he believes was a raw deal from Labour and has not given up the idea of a return to politics locally.
Town Hall plays host
to business leaders
by John Hendon
WARRINGTON Town Hall played host to the first Warrington Directors Business Lunch.
Key Directors from companies based in the Warrington area were personally invited by the council’s head of economic development, Dr Carsten Kressel.
The aim was for members of the council to meet with key players in the private sector and identify any issues and offer help/advice while promoting council services and the economic development unit.
The lunch was well attended by companies including OPAL Telecom, the Royal Bank of Scotland, UKAEA, Jungheinrich, Lever Faberge, Hyder Consulting and Morris and Spottiswood.
Dr Kressel said: “The lunch was a great success and everyone welcomed the opportunity for the private sector to meet David Whitehead, chief executive of Warrington Borough Council, to discuss key issues.
“We plan to hold two more lunches between now and next March with the aim of speaking to new start-up businesses attracted into the area.”
Fiona speaks during
key Tory debate
by our correspondent
WARRINGTON businesswoman and prospective Conservative candidate Fiona Bruce spoke in the key debate on the opening day of the Conservative Party National Conference – the economy debate.
The Warrington South prospective Parliamentary candidate told the conference: “When Labour came to power, they promised, “education, education, education.” What business actually got is “legislation, legislation, legislation.”
She went on: “Small businesses- those with less than 20 employees – account for 99 per cent of all businesses in this country. Under Labour we are deluged by one set of Government regulations after another. This holds business back. What entrepreneurs really want is to be set free to do what we do best – to build strong, innovative companies.
“We want a Government which knows that business works best when employees and employers work as a team without legislative wedges driven between them. A Government which understands that successful companies contribute to strong communities, because without profits there are no taxes and without taxes, there are no schools or hospitals. The return of a Conservative Government will be good for commerce, good for communities and good for this country.”
Mrs Bruce spoke with Shadow Chancellor Oliver Letwin during the debate, “Setting the Economy Free”.
She is a successful lawyer who has run her law firm “Fiona Bruce and Co” for 15 years.
Hotel wins top award
for access for disabled
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON’S De Vere Daresbury Park Hotel has won the AA Accessible Hotel of the Year Award 2004, ahead of the final part of the Disability Discrimination Act.
The hotel was chosen after a series of tough tests, including an assessment of accessible facilities by AA inspectors who use an 80-point checklist, an anonymous telephone survey, a questionnaire and overnight visits from an undercover judge.
The hotel beat off competition from more than 8,000 AA recognised hotels and B&Bs. It was chosen for its special attention to facilities for the disabled traveller, such as friendly deaf-aware staff, explanation of emergency and evacuation procedures including the offer of a vibrating pillow, dedicated parking for disabled, lifts, large accessible rooms and an internet phone in reception.
Mark Fuller, general manager of the hotel said: “We’re delighted to have won this award which is testament to our commitment to providing excellent facilities and an inclusive service for all. De Vere Daresbury Park prides itself on its high standards of service and through staff training and a positive ‘can-do’ attitude we provide excellent levels of customer service and attention to detail.”
Rebecca Tadman, the deaf AA judge who visited the hotel undercover, praised De Vere Daresbury Park’s service.
She said: “The employees were proactive, anticipating my needs and making me feel comfortable throughout my stay. They made me feel like any other guest.”
The hotel has rooms catering for mobility impaired guests that include special features such as wider entrance doors, large bathrooms with hand rails next to the toilet and bath and pull panic alarms next to both, lower light switches, panic buttons next to the bed, lower windowsills so guests in wheel chairs can see out, emergency lights which are activated if the fire alarm goes off for hard of hearing guests and an emergency bed which moves if the fire alarm goes off for guests who are deaf and partially sighted.
Museum and library to
host “family learning”
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON Museum and Library will be hosting a variety of free, fun-filled family activities and events to celebrate “Family Learning Week” on Saturday, 16th October.
Family Learning Week is a national campaign that raises awareness of the importance and scope of family learning and aims to create more opportunities for families to learn together.
Events planned at the Museum include the “What am I?” quiz at the Museum’s family store, model making in clay, marbles and bagatelle.
Youngsters will be able to paint animal and gnome models in Warrington Library and there will also be storytimes – a mixture of poems and stories read by a member of the library’s poetry group and don’t miss the Warrington Ranger Service who are trekking to the library to share the wonders of nature with various animals.
There will be a Family History Helpdesk at Warrington Library between 9am and 12.45pm where members of the Warrington Family History Group will be on hand to help.
In addition, the mobile library will be making a stop at the Town Hall from 10am to 3pm with a National Science touch and feel station.
Coun Maureen Banner, the borough council’s executive member for education said: “Family Learning Weekend offers the chance for everyone to discover the delights of learning. We hope families across our borough make the most of these free events. Even if you can’t manage to fit in any of these activities or events, just try to learn something new at home, together as a family.”
Three jailed on
drugs charges
by court reporter
THREE people have been sentenced to a total of 11 years at Warrington Crown Court after all three had previously pleaded guilty to drugs charges at Warrington Crown Court.
Forty eight year old Angela Wilcock was charged with conspiracy to supply and possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine.
She pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of the drugs over a one month period and was jailed for two
years.
Lee Corrigan, 29, was charged with conspiracy to supply and possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply the drugs over a three month period and was jailed for three and-a-half years.
Thirty one year old James Perry was charged with possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine and supplying heroin and cocaine, as well as conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine.
He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply the drugs, possession with intent to supply and supplying heroin and crack cocaine. He was jailed for five and-a-half years.
After the hearing, Det Cons John Hayhurst, of the Warrington Drugs Team, said: “The convictions are the culmination of a detailed investigation which goes to show that Cheshire Constabulary is committed to removing drugs and drug dealers from our streets. The sentences handed down should serve as a warning to people who commit this type of crime that they will be brought to justice.”
The court heard that Wilcock of Fairclough Street, Burtonwood, was arrested last December following the execution of a search warrant, during which heroin and crack cocaine worth about ?26,000 was seized along with ?3,000 in cash. Corrigan was arrested on the same day. Both were subsequently charged and Wilcock freed on conditional bail while Corrigan was remanded into custody.
Further investigations into the source of the drugs were then carried out. This resulted in a surveillance operation on Perry of Oak Bank, Wigan which concluded in February this year when Cheshire Police arrested Perry in Merseyside in possession of cocaine worth ?2,000 and heroin worth ?3,000 of Heroin. He was remanded into custody.
Forensic testing was undertaken which linked Perry to the Burtonwood address . He was subsequently produced from prison and arrested over the Burtonwood seizure. Further charges of conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine were implemented in March this year.
