Canal tragedy claims
second teenage victim
by David Skentelbery
A SECOND teenager has died following the tragic accident when a car plunged into the icy Bridgewater Canal at Grappenhall, near Warrington.
The car driver – believed be Steven Abbott, 18, a student at Priestley College, Warrington, has died in hospital.
Doctors fought all day yesterday (Monday) to try and save him. But he had suffered serious injuries and had been in the canal for some time before being released. It is understood he never regained consciousness.
Meanwhile the teenage girl who was the first victim of the crash has been named as Gemma Hayley Biggin.
She was a front seat passenger in a car which careered off the road in Stockton Lane, Grappenhall and plunged into the canal.
Gemma, aged 17, lived at Grappenhall and was also a student at Priestley College.
In a statement issued today, her family said she had been a pupil at St Wilfrid’s Primary School, Grappenhall before going to Lymm High School where she obtained nine good GCSEs.
She then went to Priestley College where she was studying media and film.
“She had the ambition and potential to work in television and film. She was a loving daughter and sisater and will be sorely missed.”
Rear seat passengers Jake Edwards and Anthony Bond, both 17 and also college students, managed to escape by smashing the rear window.
Police are still investigating the cause of the tragic accident which occurred on a left hand bend which, according to locals, is an accident blackspot.
The possibility of ice on the road being a contributory factor is being studied.
Passers-by, including a cab driver, entered the water to try and release the trapped front seat pair but it was only when police and fire crews reached the scene that it was possible to get them out. By that time, Gemma was dead.
Top picture shows the scene of the tragedy before the wrecked car was removed from the canal.
Ex-council chief
to lead new
political party
by David Skentelbery
FORMER council leader Mike Hughes has been elected leader of the new Warrington branch of the grassroots Community Action Party.
The branch aims to contest next year’s General Election – and to fight a number of borough council seats at the next municipal elections.
CAP was formed little more than two years ago at Wigan where, earlier this year, they rocked the ruling Labour group by snatching 18 seats and narrowly missing out in five others.
The party concentrates on grassroots issues such as traffic, parking, housing, preserving the local environment, etc.
Mr Hughes said: “I was drawn to the Community Action Party because they are a grass roots organisation, with their roots firmly in local communities.
“I believe New Labour has lost all its original ideals and is frankly institutionally corrupt. Politics needs a breath of fresh air, with people who are going to represent the views of local people up to the Town Halls and Parliament and not be merely a mouthpiece for their Party machine.
“We need to be pushing the consensus view of ordinary people, without the baggage of Party dogmas. We are prepared to welcome, and co-operate with, other Parties who share our view of putting the interests of the people first and reducing the current avarice of politicians.”
Mr Hughes was a Labour member of Warrington Borough Council for more than 20 years and was elected leader in 2002.
But after a stormy period in office there was a split in the Labour Group which resulted in national Party officials moving in to select candidates for the June council elections.
Both Mr Hughes and his immediate predecessor as leader, Mr John Gartside, were deselected.
A bitter Mr Hughes appealed against his deselection, without success, and later stood against the Party as an independent candidate, polling 561 votes in his Fairfield ward – less than half the average Labour vote in the ward.
In October he refused an invitation to become an honorary alderman, dubbing the honour a “civic bauble.”
Coun Peter Franzen, leader of the CAP in Wigan, said: “We did not set out to become a national movement, nor even a movement anywhere outside of Wigan.
“But following our success in June we have been approached by people disenchanted with the existing parties from all over the country.
“In some cases we have simply given advice on how to set up their own party, but when we had approaches from Warrington and other neighbouring districts we realised it made sense to work together.
“In Wigan we have changed the political map and I see no reason why we should not do the same in Warrington.”
Coun Franzen said there were plans to start CAP branches in Bolton and St Helens.
Mr Hughes added: “We intend to draw up a policy to put to the people. After, it is policies, not personalities, that are important.”
The CAP can be contacted through their website www.community-action.com
New health centre – but
no doctor in the house!
by David Skentelbery
PLANNERS have given the go-ahead for a controversial new health care centre at Birchwood, Warrington.
The new facility will house speech therapy, physiotherapy and ophthalmology services, a baby clinic, mid-wife, dietician and chiropodist.
It will be in a former residential home for the mentally handicapped in Delenty Drive, Birchwood – about a third of a mile from Birchwood Medical Centre where local GP services are based.
Previously all health services were under one roof at the medical centre, but Warrington Primary Care Trust applied for permission for the change of use in Delenty Drive after moving clinical services out of the medical centre following a dispute between community health staff and the GP practice.
Originally, when the PCT decided to move clinical services out of the medical centre, members of Birchwood Town Council were angry and claimed the move would involve a waste of public money.
But now the council has welcomed the return of community health facilities to Birchwood, while expressing concern about potential traffic problems in Delenty Drive.
Coun Jill Bolton said Delenty Drive was not the best available location because of traffic problems.
Part of the road was particularly dangerous because of two day nurseries catering for 50 children and the number of vehicles parked in the road.
But highways engineers said the impact of the proposed health centre would be acceptable in terms of safe access, parking, traffic and pedestrian safety – provided 30 on-site parking spaces were available.
Freemasons’ boost
for church decoration
by staff reporter
WORK on redecorating the interior of Christ Church at Padgate can now start thanks to a donation of ?1,000 by Warrington Freemasons.
Interior decorating of the church is the second phase in a ?100,000 project to safeguard the future of the grade two listed building.
The first phase, replacing the most problematic brickwork of the church which was built in 1838, has been completed.
A ?1,000 donation by Warrington Freemasons takes the total raised to restore the church to more than ?40,000 and means a start can be made on decorating the inside of the church.
When painting work is complete and more funds are raised additional work will start to replace 160-year-old stonework.
The Rev Stephen Attwater, Rector of Christ Church, said: “We are very grateful for this large donation from Warrington Freemasons which shows a real interest in the local community.”
Ian Boswell, chairman of the Warrington Group of Lodges, said: “Christ Church is a fine example of Victorian architecture and an important part of the Padgate community. We are delighted to have been able to help this worthwhile project to safeguard the future of the church.”
Christ Church is t
he second church to benefit from a ?1,000 grant from Warrington Freemasons this year as the group became the first organisation to help St Barnabas Church in its fund-raising campaign to build an extension which means that it could have its own toilet facilities for the first time in 125 years.
St Elphin’s Parish Church, Warrington, has also received a ?1,000 gift to help buy a new organ.
There are 23 Lodges in the Warrington Group who meet at the Winmarleigh Rooms, Winmarleigh Street.
Parents urged to claim
“nest egg” for children
by John Hendon
PARENTS of babies born in the last two years should not miss out on their entitlement to the new Child Trust Fund, says Warrington North MP, Helen Jones. Aimed to encourage a savings culture, the Trust pledge ensures children born after September 1, 2002, receive a nest-egg on their 18th birthday. The scheme is administered by the Inland Revenue, with automatic payments from the Government for every child subject to Child Benefit. Vouchers to parents will enable them to open Trust accounts between January-March. These become operational in April next year, when extra funds from family and friends can be made to swell child savings. Ms Jones said if information packs were not received by mid-December she would act on this. Details of the savings project are on the new website: www.childtrustfund.gov.uk
Club worker attacked
as raiders grab cash
by David Skentelbery
RAIDERS forced their way into a social club at Warrington, attacked a member of staff and made off with a quantity of cash.
The robbery was at the Pierpoint and Bryant Social Club at Latchford.
Raiders entered the club, assaulted a male member of staff and stole the money.
The injured staff member was taken to hospital with head injuries.
Police are appealing for witnesses of the raid which is understood to have involved a R registered gold Rover 620.
Anyone who has information should call either DC Ian Jones or DS Chris Barrow on 01244 613831.
Lib Dems call for
council shake-up
by Terry Johnson
A CALL has been made for a shake-up borough council procedures at Warrington to make the Town Hall “more transparent”.
Lib-Democrat leader Coun Ian Marks, stated: “We used to have full debates at council meetings. This doesn’t happen now. Debate is stifled because you have to ask a question and cannot simply make a comment.
“With the Executive Board as the key decision-making body it’s more important than ever that issues as debated at council meetings”.
Coun Marks claimed the splitting of the council’s “overview” and “scrutiny” functions had not worked well.
“Our proposal is for one combined Overview and Scrutiny Committee – just like most other authorities”, he stated.
Development agency
wins recycling bonus
by Terry Johnson
THE Warrington-based driver of the region’s development is to get ?550,000-a-year for the next three years to co-ordinate resource and waste activity.
North West Regional Development Agency will work with regional and national partners to ensure businesses benefit from re-couped “tipping tax”.
Latest funding is part of a Government programme that recycles cash from Landfill Tax.
Steven Broomhead, NWDA chief, said: “We are committed to helping businesses save money, while helping long-term protection of the natural environment”.
