Explosion rocks factory estate
POLICE sealed off a number of streets off Wilderspool Causeway, Warrington, after an explosion on the Palatine Industrial Estate.
Nearby residents were advised to stay indoors and keep their doors and windows closed and Priestley College was forced to close.
No-one is reported injured. The explosion, which also involved a fire, is believed to have involved a gas cylinder.
Murder hunt: businessman
to be sentenced today
by David Skentelbery
BUSINESSMAN Christopher Guest More, aged 61, of Lymm, near Warrington is to appear at Chester Crown Court today for sentence after pleading guilty to assisting an offender.
A woman originally facing a similar charge has been released by police.
Police are still searching for More’s son, Christopher Guest More Jnr, aged 26, who is wanted for questioning in connection with a horrific murder at Tabley near Knutsford in June last year.
More Jnr is known to have flown to Spain shortly after the murder of drug dealer Brian Waters at Tabley more than two years ago.
A ?10,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the conviction of people wanted for questioning in connection with the murder.
Anyone with information can telephone 01244 613550 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Two men have already been given life sentences at Chester Crown Court for the murder.
James Raven, 44, of Bolton – a cousin of Christopher More jnr – and John Wilson, 54, of Glossop, were found guilty of murder and two counts of conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm. Another 30-year-old man was cleared.
The court heard how Mr Waters has tortured and killed at a farm at Tabley.
His grown up son and daughter were tied up and forced to watch as he was beaten, whipped, burned and attacked with an industrial staple gun. He was also hung upside down and sexually assaulted with an iron bar, causing fatal internal injuries.
Mr Justice Poole, recommending that the two convicted men serve a minimum of 24 years, said: “These crimes were exceptionally sadistic. The violence used was both gratuitous and extreme.”
Crematorium set to
recycle metal remains
by Lesley Wilkinson
A RECYCLING scheme for disposing of metal remains after cremations – including dental implants, replacement hips and jewellery – looks set to be introduced at Warrington.
It would replace the current arrangement, under which metals are respectfully buried in the grounds of Walton Lea Crematorium, but which, according to counsel’s advice, is unlawful in the absence of a waste management licence.
There is also concern that as the metals will not decompose they will remain in the ground forever – so taking up valuable space.
The Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management has recently changed its guidelines to allow recycling of the metal, in line with similar schemes in European countries such as Holland, Switzerland and Germany.
A report to borough council policy chiefs tonight (Wednesday) will recommend the scheme be adopted in Warrington.
The report states: “Members should be aware that this is likely to be a sensitive issue and that all steps will be taken to provide the best information to the bereaved. Where full information has been provided on the continent then the transition to recycling of metals has been very smooth.”
Members will hear that 22 local authority crematoria and 26 crematoria from two private companies have already agreed to participate in the scheme and the number is expected to increase.
The scheme will be environmentally friendly, will save valuable land, is legal and will enable funds to be raised for donations to charities connected with death and bereavement.
Angela Dunn, Warrington’s bereavement services manager said: “Recycling already takes place on the continent on a very wide scale and reduces the use of a non-renewable resource and deals with the matter in an open, honest and environmentally friendly way.”
She said any profits would be allocated to death-related charities, to help research into causes such as heart problems and cancer.
Ms Dunn explained that the current practice of burying the metals was not approved by the Environment Agency. The agency says the metal constitutes waste and therefore should not be buried in the grounds.
“The public should be reassured that recycling of metals will only be done with their consent and each applicant for cremation will be provided with information and a consent form at the time of arranging the funeral,” she added.
Kick racism out of football
YOUNGSTERS from various ethnic backgrounds have signed up for a 10-week community coaching course at Warrington which hammers home the message that racism has no placed in football.
The course is being held at Great Sankey Leisure Centre and has been initiated in partnership with the Warrington Hindu Cultural Organisation.
Coun Colin Froggatt, the borough council’s executive member for sport and leisure, helped launch the programme.
Throughout the 10 weeks all the children will be wearing T-shirts bearing the message and they will be given badges to hand to their friends. Funding for the course has come from the ‘Kick Racism Out’ campaign with a subsidy from Great Sankey Leisure Centre.
Places are still available on the course, which is free of charge to all participants and is held every Sunday morning from 11am to 12 noon.
Further details are available from Gail Wilson at Great Sankey Leisure Centre on 01925 724411.
Householders warned
about rogue traders
by staff reporter
CONSUMERS in Warrington are being warned by Trading Standards to be extra vigilant and not be conned by rogue traders this winter.
Cold weather and gales provide rogue traders with opportunities to con unsuspecting consumers from their hard-earned cash for work that is either unnecessary or over priced.
Coun Mike Hannon, the borough council’s executive member for community and well being, said: “At this time of year we tend to have a number of high winds and cold weather, which can cause damage to roofs, guttering and plumbing etc. Rogue traders exploit this opportunity to make money and will often call door to door alleging in some instances that houses are damaged when they are not.
“They will prey on the vulnerable, especially those who cannot check that their claims about the damage are false. They will also use scare tactics stating that work needs to be done straight away, in order to get the work. We are strongly advising consumers not to deal with any traders that call at the door and claim that work needs doing as sometimes this message fails to get through. We are urging relatives friends and neighbours to help spread the message to potential victims”.
Trading Standards manager Peter Astley said: “Incidents involving doorstep sellers and rogue tradesmen continue to rise in number, despite major efforts to raise public awareness. Older and more vulnerable residents are particularly at risk.
“According to a survey carried out by the Trading Standards Institute, in the UK an estimated six million people have had a ‘bad experience’ with a doorstep seller in the past two years. Of those interviewed 96 per cent want the practice of ‘cold calling’ for property repairs and maintenance to be outlawed.
“For the past two years the Trading Standards Institute has been campaigning for new legislation to ban ‘cold calling’ for property repairs and maintenance and for improvements in consumer doorstep rights generally.”
Hospital wins disability
discrimination award
by John Hendon
STAFF at North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust – the body which runs Warrington Hospital – have received an award in recognition of their achievements focusing on disability discrimination.
The award was presented to Sheila Samuels, director of human resources and
Elaine O’Brien, senior human resources adviser at a Positive Actions Awards ceremony sponsored by the North West Regional Development Agency and organised by the Warrington Disability Partnership.
Since 1999 more than 2,000 staff at the Trust have attended awareness and equality training sessions. This ensures they are aware of disability discrimination and equality of access for the services provided at Warrington and Halton General hospitals.
Sheila Samuels said: “Disability awareness sessions are mandatory for all staff in the Trust and are currently held on a monthly basis. These training sessions are very popular and always receive extremely positive feedback.”
In addition to awareness sessions, the Trust has committed to the Two Tick status – “Positive to Disabled” – which gives commitment to the employment and retention of people with disabilities.
Sheila added: “Through funding from the Trust and other external bodies, we have been able to provide support to staff with disabilities. This could be anything from making slight adjustments to their working hours right through to providing specialised equipment to improve their working environment.”
In addition to this, the Trust operates a redeployment policy for members of staff who, for whatever reason, are unable to continue in their current role. This policy will be further enhanced by recommendations at the most recent Trust board meeting, that steps be taken to engage in partnership with voluntary organisations to foster a more proactive approach.
Planners think twice
about takeaway shop
by David Skentelbery
PLANNING bosses at Warrington are to visit the site of a proposed new hot food takeaway shp after hearing that nearly 200 people have lodged objections.
The proposed takeaway would be in Orchard Street, Fearhead – but nearby residents claim it would lead to anti-social behaviour, noise, litter and cooking smells close to a residential area – and road safety hazards arising from increased traffic.
Forty seven individual letters of objection were sent to the borough council, together with two protest petitions signed by a total of 183 people.
Local councillors are also opposing the scheme because of likely traffic problems, excessive opening hours and the impact on neighbours.
As a result, members of the development control committee decided they would visit the site before making a decision.
Planning officers argue that the shop – the end unit in a small parade – adjoins a car park with adequate capacity to accommodate any traffic generated by the proposal. They are recommending the scheme be approved.
Breakdown vehicle
breaks down!
by staff reporter
THE northbound carriageway of the M6 was closed near Warrington because of a broken down vehicle on the motorway.
A minor incident became more complicated when a breakdown wagon sent to recover the broken down vehicle itself broke down!
The incident affected the M6 and M56 in the Lymm area and motorway traffic was diverted on to the A50.
