Benefit cheat obtained
?13,000 from council
by court reporter
A WOMAN who falsely claimed more than ?13,000 in benefits from Warrington Borough Council and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been ordered to complete 100 hours community service and pay back the overpayment plus costs of ?75.
Lorraine Clare (34) of Chiltern Crescent, Orford, pleaded guilty at Warrington Magistrates Court to making false statements and representations by failing to declare the fact that she was living with her partner.
Between January 2002 to November 2003, Clare defrauded the council of housing and council tax benefit amounting to ?5,774.81.
She also defrauded the DWP of income support totalling ?7,715.73.
After the hearing, Adrian Webster, the council’s benefits manager, said: “Benefit cheats are not just defrauding government or the local authority, but their own neighbours and communities. They must realise that they cannot abuse the benefit system and steal from the rest of society.
“Fraud is a serious matter and this is a clear demonstration of our determination to tackle benefit theft and to reduce the amount of money lost through fraud and abuse. We are committed to ensuring that people get the benefits they are rightly entitled to.”
Roy Paul, counterfraud operations manager with the DWP, said: “This case is a good example of how our fraud detection teams, working closely with the local authority, root out benefit cheats. We are making good progress, but people in Warrington can play their part by telling us about other fraudsters free and in confidence on our National Benefit Fraud Hotline 0800 854 440.”
Improve posture to
relieve back pain
by staff reporter
PEOPLE in Warrington are being urged to have regular check ups and to improve their posture, to avoid the problem of back pain.
Warrington North MP Helen Jones attended an open day at Warrington Chiropractic Centre to promote Back Care Awareness Week. She met staff who explained the different types of care plan to alleviate back pain.
Ms Jones said: “Back pain and back ailments are very common and many of the problems are related to bad posture.
“Pain relief and reconstructive care can relieve symptoms and correct underlying problems however a maintenance plan is the best way to maximise people’s health. Regular check-ups can eliminate problems before they arise just as regular visits to the dentist avoids the effects of tooth decay,” she added.
She said the day was informative and she had enjoyed meeting staff and constituents.
Picture shows Helen Jones with Paul Henshaw and Dr Monica Nanda at the Chiropractic Centre.
Work starts on major
road improvements
by John Hendon
WORK has started on a major scheme to improve the B5207 Common Lane at Culcheth, near Warrington.
But, following consultation with local residents and businesses, the scheme will be halted to avoid disrupting the villages popular Victorian Day on November 27 and the busy Christmas shopping period.
The scheme, which involves major road maintenance works to Common Lane between Twiss Green Lane and A574 Warrington Road, will entail full reconstruction of some parts of the road, new road surfaces, kerb replacement, the re-construction of footpaths, minor drainage works and improved street lighting.
A public exhibition detailing the plans was held earlier this month and, after discussions with the contractor Bethell Construction Ltd of Manchester, work have now started on the residential section of Common Lane between Twiss Green Lane and Lawton Close.
Once this section is completed, the contractor will leave site, returning in the second or third week of January.
The aim is to continue with the section of works in the village centre between Lawton Close and A574 Warrington Road after the busy Christmas period.
Jon Plant, design consultancy manager, said: “We held discussions with the local community and businesses at the public exhibition and a number of concerns were raised, particularly about the potential affects of any works on Christmas trading. We discussed the issue with the contractor and have tried to accommodate those concerns as part of these revised plans. Although the works will inevitably cause some disruption to the village, we have tried to minimise that through our discussions and decisions.”
Although a temporary traffic regulation order is in place for the closure of Common Lane, the works are currently being carried out using traffic lights and/or manual traffic control and Common Lane is open to traffic. However, people using Common Lane should expect some delays. An alternative route for traffic is signposted for those drivers wishing to avoid the road works.
There will be periods, particularly when the contractor is resurfacing the road, when Common Lane will be closed to traffic. During these times ‘road closed’ signs will be erected and a person will be stationed at the point of closure, directing traffic to follow the signed diversion route.
Access to shops on Common Lane will be provided at all times.
Pupils to get insight
into waste recycling
by Lesley Wilkinson
SCHOOL children in Warrington will be taken out on visits to landfill sites or a recycling centre in a bid to make them more aware of the amount of waste produced each year.
Winners or Binners is a new recycling project being run through schools in the town with the opportunity for youngsters to take part in curriculum related activities around the three Rs – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
Groundwork’s sustainable development teacher Sara Irwin will develop projects to match each school’s interests.
She said: “This is an excellent opportunity for pupils to have first hand experiences of the impact of waste on the local environment. The project aims to take pupils out, on at least one visit, to a landfill site or recycling centre.
“It will help them to realise that they can make a difference to the overwhelming amount of waste we produce each year,” she added.
Many schools have already said they will join the project, and Sara is hoping to start work with the first group of schools in the next few weeks.
Sara has experience of teaching in Merseyside schools and has a keen interest in environmental education issues. He new post with Groundwork is funded by Warrington Borough Council’s Waste Management Section, and she will work closely with council officers.
Council cleared
by Ombudsman
by John Hendon
WARRINGTON Borough Council has been cleared of two allegations of maladministration arising from planning applications.
Residents had complained that the authority failed to follow its own policy when it granted consent for a telecommunications mast in Cross Lane, Risley and that the council had been at fault when it granted permission for an extension to an elderly person’s home in Porlock Close, Penketh.
The Local Government Ombudsman has ruled there was no maladministration in either case.
In the Risley case, the complainant alleged the council had approved a plan that was not in accord with the draft unitary development plan.
They claimed the views of residents had not been sought and that a report to the committee incorrectly stated the site was not overlooked by housing.
The Ombudsman found, however, that the committee had been given accurate information about surrounding property and that even if there had been maladministration there was insufficient injustice caused to warrant further investigation.
In the Penketh case, the Ombudsman ruled that the council acted in accordance with its development plan and that the comments of the highway authority carried more weight than local residents.
The Ombudsman also rejected the complainant’s view that three minutes was not long enough for an objector to address the development control committee.
Arl
ey Hall’s gardens
feature on television
by Lesley Wilkinson
CORONATION Street’s Audrey Roberts (actress Sue Nichols) spent a day at Arley Hall, near Warrington for the first of a new series of television programmes.
Food enthusiast and broadcaster Lloyd Grossman presents the ITV series, “Go North West,” featuring people’s favourite places to visit in the region. It starts on Tuesday November 9 at 7.30pm with the Arley tour.
For the programme Sue spent a day at Arley talking to Lord Ashbrook, historian Charles Foster (Lord Ashbrook’s brother-in-law) and Patrick Swan, head gardener.
Patrick said: “Sue was absolutely bowled over by the herbaceous border. She had never visited the gardens before and was truly amazed at the size and colour in them.”
Other areas filmed were the unique Ilex columns, the Rootree and the Sundial Garden.
“It was a glorious September day and the gardens looked wonderful,” added Patrick.
During the first episode on gardens, Cobblehey Garden in the Trough of Bowland, which is not normally open to the public will also be featured.
Over the next few weeks north west attractions such as the Anderton Boat Lift in Northwich and Grizedale Forest in Cumbria, will be also be featured.
Poetry – and
healthy eating
by staff reporter
POEMS and tips on healthy eating were on the menu when youngsters enjoyed a day of fun at Orford Library, Warrington to mark National Poetry Day.
Pupils and teachers from St Andrew’s, St Stephen’s and St Margaret’s primary schools attended the workshop by children’s author Jan Dean.
Warrington’s Community Food Worker Project staff were also on hand to promote healthy eating.
Jan read her own poems and then helped the youngsters to create a group poem, to take back and read to the rest of their school.
Later in the day Jan held workshops at Warrington Library to help adults improve their poetry skills.
News in brief
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 9, 10, 12 and 15. There was no winner of the ?200 jackpot. Next week’s top prize will be ?400. The ?25 consolation prize was won by Joanne Clutton.
Parking ban
WARRINGTON Borough Council proposes to make an order banning parking in Davies Way, Lymm, following complaints of obstructive parking in the road. Objections must be made in writing to the borough council to the council by November 18.
Road closures
TEMPORARY road closures are to be introduced in Crab Lane and Fearnhead Lane, Fearnhead, Warrington from Monday November 8 while road resurfacing work is carried out. It is expected the work will take about two weeks.
No loading
LOADING and unloading is to be restricted in Legh Street, Warrington from this weekend while work is carried out in connection with the re-development of Golden Square. Footpath closures will also be required.
