College in mourning
after canal tragedy
by David Skentelbery
STUDENTS and staff at Priestley College, Warrington have been devastated by the death of two students in a tragic car accident at Grappenhall.
The college community is in mourning, according to principal Mike Southworth.
Gemma Biggin and Stephen Abbott, both 17 died in the Sunday night tragedy when their car careered off Stockton Lane, Grappenhall and plunged into the Bridgewater Canal.
Two other students, Jake Edwards and Anthony Bond, also 17, who were rear seat passengers, managed to escape by smashing a window.
But they could not get Gemma, the front seat passenger, nor Stephen, the driver, out of the car as it sank in the icy canal.
Gemma was pronounced dead at the scene and Stephen died later in hospital.
Mr Southworth said: “It was with great sadness that we learned of Sunday evening’s tragic events that took the lives of Gemma Biggin and Stephen Abbott.
“Gemma was a bright, bubbly student with a lovely personality who got on well with both staff and peers. She had a great enthusiasm for her Art Textiles course and showed herself to be a committed student who was open to new ideas and willing to learn. She was also studying an advanced level programme in Film, Business and Media.
“Stephen was a popular member of his tutor group and was most conscientious, well motivated and organised. He had a good sense of humour, was respectful and sensitive to others as well as being keen to do well himself. At college he was studying a second year advanced programme in Geography and Information and Communication Technology.
“Both students enrolled at Priestley College in September 2003.
“As you would expect, this close-knit college community is devastated by this news and our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends at this sad time.
Business as usual as
town centre work starts
by Gary Skentelbery
AS part of the main multi-million ? redevelopment works for Golden Square, preliminary works have started around the site, including road widening, service diversions, site clearing and piling works.
These works will continue through December 2004, until the end of February 2005, when the main construction works are due to start.
The works are protected by hoardings, which have been erected at the corner of Winwick Street and Midland Way (the site of the temporary bus station) and also on Legh Street to enable service diversions and road widening.
The Town Centre will operate as usual over the busy Christmas period. During this period Legh Street Car Park will be fully operational – with access via Legh Street, off Sankey Street as well as off Midland Way.
In addition some pedestrian access routes have been redirected to allow these preliminary works to proceed. These include a section of Bewsey Street (under Midland Way) where pedestrians are asked to cross Midland Way at the pedestrian crossing with Legh Street.
At the end of February 2005, Legh Street Car Park will be partly demolished, but will continue to provide around 850 spaces for the Town Centre during the construction period. Further information will be provided in January and February 2005 about these works.
The Golden Square redevelopment will include; a new Debenhams department store, a new bus station and a new, modern car park.
Work is due to be completed in Spring 2007.
Motorway crash brings
town to standstill
by John Hendon
A WOMAN driver was trapped in her car in a four-vehicle pile-up on the M62 near Warrington – and the town was plunged into traffic chaos again.
Police reported 10-mile queues on the motorway and traffic on roads in Warrington ground to a standstill as drivers attempted to find other routes.
Emergency services struggled to release the woman from her car, one of three involved in a collision with a heavy lorry.
She was then rushed to hospital by ambulance.
The accident happened on the west bound carriageway, but a minor collision on the east bound carriageway added to the problem and traffic queues stretched back to affect the M6 and the M56.
The four-vehicle crash came just as the rush hour as starting and made many people late for work.
Teenage singer wins
musical showcase
by Gary Skentelbery
A TEENAGE singer from Dallam, Warrington was the overall winner on the year long musical showcase “Want me 2004” at a packed Cinnamon Brow Farm.
Heather Skidmore was representing Studio4Dance at the event which was supported by the Local Network Fund and the Community Lifeline Fund. The final showed a mixture of talented individuals as well as groups varying tastes from acapella and jazz to punk.
The evening was kick-started by local girl band Jademic and followed by Sam Barnett, both artists already linked with the event organisers GLR & La Kat. Strong performances were offered from all 10 of the artists which made the final decision for the judges a near impossible task. The winner of the 11 – 17 year olds was Heather while X-Factor finalists JABB won the 18 – 24 year old category.
JABB and Heather will both receive an Ultimate Prize Package financially supported by Local Network Fund (11 – 17 year old) and the Community Lifeline Fund (18 – 24 year old)
The package includes vocal coaching and a chance to cut a cd with Darkline Audio – and stage presence coaching and a pop video with GLR Productions and La Kat.
Overall winner Heather, with her version of Eva Cassidy’s Somewhere over the Rainbow, was representing Studio4Dance based in Dallam – who will now receive a cheque for ?500 to aid their continued work with youngsters – sponsored by the Local Network Fund.
Millionth tree is
planted in town
by Lesley Wilkinson
A POPULAR site in central Warrington was chosen for the ceremony to mark the planting of the millionth tree in the town – a landmark achievement by The Mersey Valley Project.
Since the scheme started 12 years ago, the town’s woodland cover has increased by 116 per cent.
Forestry Commission chairman, Lord Clarke, and Warrington South MP Helen Southworth planted the special tree, an Acer (sycamore) in Palmyra Square. Children from Sycamore Lane Primary School were on hand to help.
During 2003/4 the Mersey Forest has planted almost 50 acres of new woodland in the borough, at sites including Arpley Landfill site, Leigh Golf Club and Risley Landfill site.
More than 62 acres of existing woodland have been brought under new management, particularly woods at Lymm Dam, Gorse Covert and Fiddlers Ferry, and more than three km of hedgerows have been created at Hatton Farm.
Mersey Forest has also been helping local people to access woodland, with nearly two miles of new, multi-user routes been created on the Timberland Trail at Lymm Dam, at Grappenhall Heyes, Lumb Brook Valley, Pewterspear Wood and Upper Moss Side Farm.
Helen said: “What a landmark! It’s wonderful to be able to celebrate the continuing excellent work of the Mersey Forest in Warrington in this way.
“Every year, the Forest’s achievements in the borough make a real difference to local people, improving our environment, helping us get out and about and creating new jobs,” she added.
She said the children from Sycamore Lane have been working with the agency to improve the school grounds. During the next few weeks they will be planting an orchard, to encourage youngsters to eat more fruit and to provide a shady spot in the summer.
“We really value our environment in Warrington, and Mersey Forest and the Forestry Commission are making Warrington an even better place to live and work. I know we will treasure this tree, and all the many others planted in our town villages and green spaces, for many years to come,” said Helen.
Last surviving brewery
could be taken over
by business staff
WARRINGTON’S l
ast surviving brewery could be taken over.
Burtonwood – formerly known as the Burtonwood Brewery – has confirmed it is talks with a mystery third party about a possible bid for the company.
It is not clear whether the talks simply involves the company’s chain of 460 pubs or whether the whole brewery business is involved.
Earlier this year, Burtonwood dropped the word “brewery” from its name after selling its stake in the Thomas Hardy Burtonwood Brewery.
In a statement, Burtonwood said: “The board of Burtonwood notes the recent movement in the company’s share price and confirms that, following an approach from a third party, the company is in preliminary discussions which may or may not lead to an offer being made for the company.”
The group’s share price soared 26 per cent to 488p, valuing the company at more than ?100m.
It is not known whether the potential bidder is another major pub group or whether the prospect is for a management buy-out.
Burtonwood was founded in 1867 when James and Jane Forshaw set up a small brewery supplying local pubs. Its beers include Burtonwood Top Hat Premium Bitter and James Forshaw’s Bitter.
Demand for council
housing soars
by Terry Johnson
PROPERTY hot-spot Warrington, where home prices have doubled in eight years, has also seen soaring demand for council houses.
A 300 per cent increase in waiting lists for re-housing, to 6,900 tenants, is reported by Golden Gates Housing Ltd, the housing arm of the borough council The scramble for home re-lets and stepped up demand by the homeless means there are just 148 empty council properties across Warrington.
Housing spokesman, Peter Mercer, who oversees 9,500 homes, said: “Demand for council housing has gone through the roof”.
Growing numbers of homeless people and increased housing pressures generally had put the squeeze on supply.
“Escalating demand and shortage of properties means most waiting list applicants will not be housed in the near future”, said Mr Mercer.
Only the homeless and those with urgent medical and social needs would be placed.
“We are working hard with partners to address the shortage”, said Mr Mercer, who added: “Warrington is unable to build new homes to meet demand and have lost homes through ‘Right to Buy’.
“We are working with housing associations in Warrington and also changing the way in which home-swaps are promoted to increase opportunities for housing”.
Kitchen hit
by blaze
by staff reporter
FIRE crews were called to Betjeman Close, Latchford, Warrington when fire broke out in the kitchen.
The blaze involved the cooker, which had been left unattended with a pan of food on it.
By the time firefighters reached the scene the fire had been extinguished by the occupier. Extensive smoke damage was caused in the kitchen.
But no-one was hurt.
MP backs new drive
against world poverty
by Terry Johnson
WARRINGTON South MP Helen Southworth, is backing a new thrust against world poverty.
The ‘Rough Guide to a Better World’ shows how local people can make a difference and how perceptions that ‘the problem is too big’ or ‘too distant’ are wrong.
Said Helen: “This guide proves that we can make a difference. It gives practical examples of what can be done in our everyday lives”.
Two million copies of the guide will be available from UK post offices next week.
Labour’s International Development Secretary, Hilary Benn, said: “It shows how individuals can help the fight against world poverty”.
[ 03.12.2004, 09:09: Message edited by: DS ]
