Date set for inquiry
into roadstone plant
by David Skentelbery
THE date has been fixed for a major public inquiry into plans for a big industrial plant less than 200 yards from a housing estate.
An appeal by Tarmac against Warrington Borough Council’s refusal to grant planning consent for a coated roadstone plant on land off Antrim Road, Longford, will be heard at the Town Hall on Tuesday, February 8.
The hearing is expected to last two days.
Nearby residents and local councillors are fiercely opposed to the scheme. They claim it will flood the already congested Hawleys Lane with an extra 100 heavy lorries a day.
Three years ago, 3,200 vehicles were using the junction of Hawleys Lane with the A49 Winwick Road and the number is believed to have increased considerably.
Children from the Bewsey and Dallam areas have to walk passed the site to get to school and already face severe traffic hazards.
Coun Mike Hannon said: “I can remember when Hawleys Lane really was a lane – but now it is a busy road, already overloaded with heavy traffic.”
Residents fear the plant will be working from early morning until late at night, damaging the quality of life for residents.
Because officers originally recommended the scheme be approved they say they would now have difficulty in presenting the council’s case, so consultants are being in to represent the authority at a cost of up to ?15,000.
Drivers pay the price
for queue jumping
by staff reporter
IMPATIENT drivers who illegally use Warrington’s bus lanes are paying the price for jumping the queue.
During a recent crack down, more than 100 motorists who tried to avoid the morning rush by driving in the bus lanes were caught in the act by Road Policing Officers.
The two week operation focused on the bus lanes on Knutsford Road and Wilderspool Causeway and was launched in response to concerns raised by Warrington Borough Transport and members of the public.
Each driver caught using the bus lanes between the restricted times of 7.30am and 9.30am received a ?30 fixed penalty fine.
Police spokesman Sgt Mike Jones: “Some motorists seem to think they are above the law when it comes to bus lanes. They use them to by-pass the traffic, whilst other law-abiding drivers wait patiently in the queue.
“Lengthy traffic queues can be frustrating but it doesn’t give people the right to break the law. You will face a fine.”
The recent police crack down has been welcomed by Nigel Featham, managing director of Warrington Borough Transport.
He said: “Bus lanes play a vital role in helping to tackle traffic congestion as long as motorists abide by the restrictions. The firm stance taken by Cheshire Police sends out a clear message that together we are determined to help keep traffic moving which benefits everyone who uses the borough’s roads. We strongly support their approach.”
Enforcement of the restrictions takes place periodically. So far this year, Warrington Police has issued 313 fixed penalty tickets to drivers who illegally use the bus ways in the borough.
Cheshire Police is urging all motorists to abide by the rules of the road to enable everyone to travel through the borough safely.
Flu jab reminder as
severe winter forecast
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON Primary Care Trust is issuing a seasonal reminder to everyone aged over 65 and people with serious medical conditions to ensure they have their free flu jab as soon as possible.
The town’s flu champion Kerry Broadhead, health improvement chief for adults, at the PCT says forecasters are predicting a very cold January, February and March so it is advisable to take every possible precaution to keep well.
She said: “Flu vaccination is such a simple way of helping to keep yourself healthy in the winter.
“For older people and those in ‘at risk’ groups, flu is a serious illness. It can put you out of action for several weeks and is also a significant cause of bronchitis, pneumonia and, unfortunately, even death.”
In the Warrington area 374 deaths were attributable to flu or pneumonia between 2001 and 2003.
People are considered “at risk” if they have lung, heart or kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, lowered immunity due to a disease (such as problems with your spleen) or medical treatment (such as chemotherapy), any other serious medical condition or live in a nursing, residential or long stay home.
Flu vaccination is available free of charge to all these people as well as the over 65s. Appointments can be made at GP surgeries. Kerry added: “Don’t forget about your free flu vaccination in the run up to Christmas. If you are not eligible yourself, please check with your elderly neighbours, parents and grandparents whether they have had their free jab.
“The vaccine is only effective for 12 months, so it is important to have a flu jab every year.
“Contrary to any myths surrounding the jab, it is safe and effective. Most people experience no or only very minor side effects and the vaccine cannot give you flu.”
For more advice or information about immunisation, contact any GP’s practice, ring NHS Direct (the 24-hour, nurse-led helpline, on 0845 4647) or visit its website at www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
Nursery expansion
given the go-ahead
by staff reporter
PLANNERS have given the go-ahead for a major expansion of a nursery school housed in a former church which is a listed building.
Members of Warrington’s development control committee visited the Safehands Day Nursery in Hollins Drive, Winwick, before reaching a decision.
Neighbours and Winwick Parish Council had lodged objections.
The scheme involves constructing a new building next to the former Roman Catholic church, which is a Grade 2 listed building and once formed part of the old Winwick Hospital site.
It will enable the number of children to increase from 75 to 100.
MP is happy with
Chancellor’s pledges
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON North MP Helen Jones sees Chancellor Gordon Brown’s pre-budget pledges on childcare and paid maternity leave as vindication of her long-running campaign on the issues.
Welcoming Mr Brown’s pre-budget report, she said: “All the evidence shows that good quality childcare and nursery education improves children’s performance when they reach school and boosts their future life chances.
“The plan to extend free, high quality childcare to 15 hours per week for all three and four year olds by 2010 is very good news indeed, as is the promise to meet up to 80 per cent of childcare costs.
“I asked the Prime Minister earlier in the year about his plans to increase the number of Children’s Centres – he promised he would and this statement from Gordon Brown ensures that this will happen.
“I also applaud the plans to extend paid maternity leave to nine months with a view to extending it to a year and giving mothers the right to transfer a proportion of this paid leave to the child’s father.”
In addition the MP welcomed the news that the guaranteed element of Pension Credit will rise in line with earnings, the continuation of the freeze on main road fuel duties, and the extra financial support for local government to help deliver public service improvement alongside lower council tax rises.
She said: “I was pleased to see fuel duty frozen and the measures for our pensioners. The extra cash for local government should mean Warrington Borough Council can improve services while at the same time keeping down council tax bills.”
Guides get a gift
from the police
by John Hendon
A GUIDE unit at Stockton Heath, Warrington has received an early Christmas present from Cheshire Police’s Community Involvement Fund.
The gift of ?150 was presented to Stockton Heath Guides by Supt Dave Booth – part of a ?500 handout to community gr
oups in Warrington and Halton.
Cheshire Police set up the Community Involvement Fund 25 years ago and since then has helped countless elderly victims of crime, people in distress, children in need and community groups.
Guide leader Katherine Harmer said: “We can now replace our camping equipment which is 25 years old and has seen better days. The guides won’t be cold anymore at camp and this money means the cost of the new equipment won’t be passed onto parents.”
Supt Booth said: “The fund helps local people in their hour of need.
“Clubs and groups such as these make a valuable contribution to their local communities as they enable young people to take part in meaningful activities.”
Local groups who would like to apply for support from the Community Involvement Fund should contact Phil Buckley c/o Runcorn Police Station, Halton Lea, Runcorn.
Former vicar
dies in Wales
by David Skentelbery
THE death has occurred of Canon Arthur Davies, former vicar of St Thomas’s Church, Stockton Heath, Warrington.
Canon Davies took over at Stockton Heath in February 1964 and remained there until his retirement in 1985.
The previous year he celebrated the 40th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood and he spent more than half of that time at Stockton Heath.
Married, with three children, he was born in Welshpool and brought up and educated in Colwyn Bay.
He graduated in history and French from Bangor University in 1941 and then studied at Well Theological College. He was ordained deacon in 1943 and year later as a priest.
Prior to moving to Stockton Heath he served in parishes in North Wales, Lincolnshire and Chester.
In 1980, in an exchange scheme, he served at a parish in New Zealand for six months. The following year he was appointed rural dean. In 1985 he was made an honorary canon of Chester Cathedral.
Since he retired, Canon Davies has lived at Penmaemawr with his wife.
