Teenage girl dies
in canal plunge
by David Skentelbery
A 17-year-old girl died when the car she was travelling in plunged into the Bridgewater Canal at Grappenhall, near Warrington.
The driver, a 17-year-old boy, is unconscious in hospital and two other passengers, both 17-year-old boys are recovering after managing to escape from the partially submerged vehicle.
Police are investigating the incident and anyone who witnessed the car entering the water is asked to contact them on 01244 350000.
The accident occurred after the car, a red Fiat Punto, apparently went out of control while taking a left hand bend in Stockton Lane, Grappenhall.
It plunged into the canal, which runs alongside the road, and was partly submerged.
Two rear seat passengers managed to escape and police, fire crews and passers-by entered the freezing cold water to rescue the driver and the girl, who was the front seat passenger.
They were rushed to hospital by ambulance where the girl was found to be dead. The boy driver was still unconscious later this morning but was said to be in a stable condition.
Mother and daughters
saved from blaze
by John Hendon
A MOTHER and two daughters were rescued from their smoke-filled home after being trapped by vandals who started a fire on the front doorstep.
Police are investigating the arson attack on the house in Cooper Avenue, Latchford, Warrington early today.
A wheelie bin and a mattress were pushed up against the front door and set alight.
The plastic door caught alight and dense smoke poured into the house, trapped the mother and two teenage daughters upstairs.
A smoke alarm aroused the family dog which started barking and awoke the family who dialled 999.
Fire Service control room staff stayed on the line, advising the terrified family while fire engines raced to the scene.
The first fire engine was on the scene in three minutes and firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the house through an upstairs window and led or carried the occupants to safety. The two daughters were taken to hospital and the mother was treated at the scene.
All had suffered smoke inhalation.
A Fire Service spokesman said: “The smoke alarm definitely saved them. They were able to make a quick alarm call and receive advise from our control room who kept them talking, calming them down and telling them what was the best thing to do prior to the fire crews arriving.
“The incident is now being investigated by ourselves and the police.”
Could Kirsty be
the new Madonna?
by Terry Johnson
SHE’S blonde and lively, but Kirsty Wilkinson has a problem. She keeps being stopped in the street and told what a dead-ringer she is for the young Madonna.
Now the 20-year-old singer-dancer from Warrington hopes to cash in on the ‘super-star’ image.
Kirsty is cutting a CD which she believes will springboard her career as a solo singer-dancer.
The ex-pupil of Warrington’s Bridgewater High School has been dancing from the age of six and singing since she was eight.
For the past four years she has been involved in the entertainment scene in Manchester and London – latterly as a singer-dancer with the group ‘Kickstart’.
“I now feel the time is right to go solo and hope that my CD will start to open doors”, said Kirsty, of Appleton.
She added: “People keep stopping me in the street and in restaurants and saying I look remarkably like the young Madonna. The image could help boost my career prospects”.
Social Services team’s awards
A CELEBRATION lunch was held to mark the achievements of Warrington Social Services’ training centre and staff.
The event acknowledged the success of staff who have achieved various qualifications, which included Management and NVQ Levels 2 and 4 over the past year.
It was the department’s first year as an NVQ centre and Miriam Ryan, centre co-ordinator, was congratulated for the excellent results.
David Whyte, assistant director of policy, performance and review, congratulated everyone and thanked the training and development team for all their hard work and support.
Eight schools
in harmony
by John Hendon
EIGHT schools will come together to mark the end of this year’s Warrington Voices project at Penketh High School on Thursday, December 9.
The project began, in Penketh, in September last year and included pupils from Evelyn Street, Great Sankey Primary, Penketh Primary, Penketh South Primary, St Barnabas, Sankey Valley, St James’ and Westbrook Old Hall.
Each of the schools has been stretching their vocal chords ready to perform some Christmas tunes to representatives from the school and parents.
The Warrington Voices project will continue for four years, within which time the Warrington Music Service will work with all Years 5 and 7 children in Warrington. The project has provided school staff with a valuable opportunity to develop their choral skills, which can be used with other children.
Anger over business
rates “rip off”
by staff reporter
LIBERAL Democrats at Warrington are calling for action to keep money raised from business rates in the town.
At present the borough is losing ?26 million a year because the money goes straight to the Government.
Coun Peter Walker, Liberal Democrat prospective Parliamentary candidate for Warrington North said: “Rates collected from Warrington businesses should be spent on services for Warrington people.
“That’s the way it used to be but first the Conservatives and now Labour have changed all that.
“Last year ?26 million of the ?80 million collected from Warrington businesses was creamed off by Central Government instead of being spent in the local community.”
Coun Walker said: “I am writing to the town’s two MP’s to ask them to explain to the people of Warrington why they have allowed this to happen and what they are doing about it. They must know Warrington is one of the lowest funded local authorities in the country and can’t afford to lose this money.”
Coun Ian Marks, Liberal Democrat prospective Parliamentary candidate for Warrington South, added: “Liberal Democrats would return the business rate to local control. This would make a huge difference to Warrington. We would be able to reduce the Council Tax burden to local people and still improve local services.”
Smoking ban
in the market
by staff reporter
SMOKING is now banned in Warrington Market – and that’s official.
The ban kicked in earlier this month following a campaign supported by market traders and shoppers.
It means smokers will now have to use dedicated smoking areas in the two market cafes if they want to light up.
Coun John Kerr-Brown, the borough council’s executive member for Neighbourhood Services, said: “We have had an exceptionally good response from traders and customers. It’s extremely encouraging to hear some people have responded to the ban by giving up smoking altogether.”
