Survey shows town
supports ID cards
by David Skentelbery
A SURVEY carried out in Warrington has shown overwhelming support for the introduction of identity cards.
The results showed 82 per cent of respondents supported the introduction of ID-cards – with 75 per cent in favour of them being compulsory rather than voluntary.
A slightly smaller number – 71 per cent – felt ID-cards should be used for access to public services and 72 per cent believed they would have no impact on civil liberties.
The survey was carried out by Warrington North MP Helen Jones,(pictured) who quizzed hundreds of people in her constituency, including many readers of Warrington-Worldwide.
People were asked four specific questions – and also asked to make comments.
The questions were:
Do you support the proposal to introduce National Identity Cards?
Do you think that the proposed ID cards should be voluntary or compulsory?
Do you think ID cards should be needed to gain public services (for example, to claim benefits or to register for a doctor)?
Do you think ID cards would make society safer without infringing privacy?
Those making comments highlighted a number of issues but the two most significant were the cost of an ID-card to the public, raised by 10 per cent, and the possibility of forgery and technological failure of the card, raised by eight per cent.
Helen Jones said: “I received responses from individuals and from resident and voluntary groups as well as from readers of Warrington-Worldwide. I would like to thank everyone who took the trouble to respond. The results have certainly proved to be both interesting and decisive.
“The results show clear support for ID-cards amongst those of my constituents who replied. I will present the findings to the Home Secretary and all comments will be fed into the consultation process.”
Helicopter and boat
in river rescue
by John Hendon
A POLICE helicopter and fire crews using an inflatable boat took part in a rescue operation after a teenage boy plunged into the Mersey at Kingsway Bridge, Warrington.
The youth was eventually pulled to safety unharmed and it is not clear how he entered the water.
Fire crews were called to the scene after police were informed a youth had gone into the river near the bridge. Traffic was held up for a while.
The police helicopter, using a searchlight, scoured the river and its banks and fire crews launched their rescue boat.
But eventually the youth was found unharmed and was questioned by police.
Woman saved by
smoke alarm
by David Skentelbery
A WOMAN escaped from her blazing home at Risley, near Warrington during the night after being alerted by a smoke alarm.
The semi-detached house in Warrington Road was almost completely destroyed, with flames spreading through the ground and first floors and the roof space before fire crews were able to extinguish them.
Five fire appliances, including a hydraulic platform were involved in the operation.
A fire service spokesman said the woman ran from the house after being alerted by the alarm and went to a neighbour to telephone for help.
No-one was hurt but the woman required re-housing as the property was completed wrecked. The cause of the outbreak is now under investigation.
Host college wins
soccer contest
by staff reporter
HIGH schools from across Warrington and beyond descended on Priestley College for the annual Warrington and District U19s football competition.
Teams from Woolston, Great Sankey, Knutsford and Culcheth, took part while Priestley entered two teams in the event.
After the tense pool stages had been completed in which three games had been decided by penalties, Priestley A and Knutsford – the holders – went head to head in the final showdown.
Priestley came out on top with a 2-0 win following goals from John Barrett and Andy Longdon. It was the first time in five years that Priestley had finished top dog in the annual event as the team transferred their good start to the league campaign into cup football.
Culcheth defeated Woolston 1-0 to land third place on the day.
Rich Donnelly from Priestley’s Sports Science department, who helped organise the event, said: “It was really good to see so many schools take up the challenge this year and enjoy the day, which is always the main reason behind events like this.
“I congratulate all of the participants and in particular our own team who showed all the correct ingredients to make them worthy of the winners trophy.”
Campaign to reduce
pressure on A&E
by John Hendon
A MAJOR campaign has been launched to reduce unnecessary pressure on Warrington Hospital’s accident and emergency department and help patients to get the right treatment at the right time in the right place.
According to a new study, more than 10 per cent of patients who attend A&E in Warrington could be treated more appropriately elsewhere.
Shirley Brady, Directorate Manager for Emergency Care at North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “All too often people come into our A&E department with minor ailments which can usually be treated elsewhere.
“We want to encourage local people to think about the best place to receive the right treatment. A&E departments are for serious injuries and illnesses. Minor ailments can be treated either at home, or by health professionals in the community. By choosing the right treatment patients can help us to reduce the queues in A&E which benefits everyone.”
Over the past month people have inappropriately attended Warrington Hospital with conditions such as cysts, headaches, earache, chest infections, minor cuts, sore throat, constipation, coughs and colds.
The range of alternatives to A&E include self-care, pharmacies, NHS Direct, GP surgeries and Warrington Out-of-Hours Healthcare Service.
Chris Webb, Warrington Primary Care Trust’s Unplanned and Specialist Care Manager, said: “There are many alternatives in Warrington for patients who need urgent treatment or advice. Patients using these will often get faster treatment than if they had gone to the A&E department, particularly in winter when it’s even busier than normal.
“A wider range of health professionals than ever before are available to help around the clock. This is because staff like practice nurses, pharmacists and paramedics are being trained in a range of extra skills to make sure people across the town receive the best care possible.”
Food colouring link
to child tantrums
by staff reporter
PARENTS whose children are subject to bad temper and tantrums should consider if food could be playing a part – and warn Warrington Trading Standards.
A government-funded survey has revealed a link between food colourings and behavioural problems in young children.
The survey reveals that food colourings, which are added to food to make its appearance more appealing, may be responsible for one in four temper tantrums.
The affect of food additives was tested on 277 three-year olds over the course of a month. For two weeks the children drank fruit juice dosed with artificial food colourings Tartrazine (E102), Sunset Yellow (E110), Camoisine (E122) and Ponceau 4R (E124), and the preservative Sodium Benzoate (E211) – ingredients that are commonplace in food and drink.
Another group of children were given a placebo to compare the affects. Researchers concluded that there were ‘significant changes in children’s hyperactive behaviour’.
Coun Mike Hannon, the borough council’s executive member for Community and Wellbeing, said: “The irony is that it is perfectly legal to supply these foods as long as they are properly labelled. Trading Standards are therefore urging consumers to always read the label to avoid such additives. As well as working towards better labelling, Trading Standards will be
urging local food producers to avoid using such additives. This is the only way to ensure the effective protection of the community.”
The Food Commission have put together a list of more than 200 products containing additives which can be seen at http://www.foodcomm.org.uk/additives%20images/Additive.PDF
Parr Hall losing
?136,980-a-year
by John Hendon
WARRINGTON’S best-loved entertainment venue, the Parr Hall, is losing about ?136.980 a year, the borough council has revealed.
The figure has been released following claims at a recent meeting of the borough council that the hall was incurring losses of more than ?800,000 a year.
Town Hall scrutiny chiefs have studied options for the future of the hall and have agreed to carry on supporting it in its present form, maintaining budgets and funding and carrying out repairs or updating as and when necessary.
The council spends ?4.22 a year per head of population on the arts, compared to ?5 on sport and leisure. Compared with many comparable boroughs, this is very low.
But over the past two years the Parr Hall has seen more than 30,000 people visit the venue – a figure which is rising year on year.
Coun Maureen Banner, the council’s executive member for culture, said: “We’re delighted with the new look recently carried out at Parr Hall and I’m sure audiences will agree that it is a venue with a tremendous tradition and something of real value to our community. Many people will be able to benefit from the improved technical facilities and surroundings and of course an exciting new season ahead.”
Lions get ready for
festive season
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON Lions are preparing for their annual festive tour of the town to raise money for good causes.
Father Christmas will tour the town’s streets on a decorated sleigh from December 2.
The first four nights will be in the Martinscroft and Woolston areas but there will be a break on Sunday, December 5, for the Lions carol concert involving children from local schools at St Mary’s Church, Buttermarket Street at 7pm.
After that the Lions’ sleigh will be visiting the Latchford and Hulme areas, Orford and Winwick and various supermarkets at weekends. Saturday, December 18 will see the sleigh at Warrington Market and the following day it will be in the Gainsborough Road area.
