Redundancy fears after
?119 million take-over
by David Skentelbery
WORRIED employees of the Warrington-based Burtonwood pub chain fear the New Year will bring redundancy for the entire head office workforce.
Burtonwood, with 460 pubs across the North West, Midlands and North Wales, employs about 800 people – about 200 of them at Burtonwood village.
The announcement that the company is to be sold to the Wolverhampton and Dudley Brewery in a ?119 million deal has fuelled speculation about jobs in a village which already has an unemployment rate of 3.3 per cent, compared to the Warrington average of 2.8.
Angry workers claim they are being offered “derisory” redundancy terms – despite assurances from the Midlands brewery that there will be a guaranteed minimum pay out of ?5,000.
A spokesman for Burtonwood said employees were “jumping the gun” as the take-over was still going through the legal process and no offers of redundancy had yet been made.
But Alistair Darby, managing director of Wolverhampton and Dudley’s Brands Division, and a main board member said: “We are always straight with employees.
“It would be disingenuous for us to say there will be no redundancies and we realise this is a difficult time for employees.
“We have not completed our take-over of Burtonwood yet, nor are we likely to until January, so we are not legally in control of the business nor able to communicate directly with its employees.
“But in an effort to give some reassurance to people at a worrying time, we have indicated that there will be a guaranteed minimum redundancy pay out of ?5,000, with additional money pro-rata depending on length of service.”
Mr Darby was unable to indicate how many redundancies would be involved.
Burtonwood Brewery was founded in 1867 when James and Jane Forshaw purchased land in Burtonwood for a small brewery supplying local pubs and farms. The head office still occupies the same site and the family still has strong ties with the business through share holdings and representation on the main board.
In 1998, the decision was made to separate Burtonwood’s brewing business from its pub management activities. A separate company, Thomas Hardy Burtonwood, was formed in a deal with brewers Thomas Hardy and it is this company which still operates the brewery.
The brewing operation is not involved in the Wolverhampton and Dudley take over – but locals fear it could be the next to go.
Nature reserve trees grow
from recycled aluminium
by Lesley Wilkinson
TREE saplings have been planted at Rixton Clay Pits local nature reserve, near Warrington – “paid for” by tonnes of recycled aluminium cans collected by people in the town. Each of the 11 native saplings represents a tonne of aluminium cans (alucans) and foil collected for recycling in the town in the past year, in a campaign organised by ALUPRO (Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation).
The project aims to encourage different types of recycling across the country and has donated trees to Warrington to mark the increase in recycling carried out by residents.
Coun Terry O’Neill, the borough council’s executive member for environment and regeneration, said: “Recycling is an important part of community life and it is important that we all do what we can. It has really taken off in the town and growing and planting trees gives people an idea of how energy is saved through recycling.
“We want to say a big thank you to all our recyclers, particularly those who started in the past year and to encourage them to continue. Everyone will be able to watch the two-year-old saplings grow to maturity.”
He said the council will be signing up for more trees next year, and so wants to encourage people to continue recycling.
People interested in finding out more about recycling can visit the council’s website at www.warrington.gov.uk/wastemanagement
Cafe memorial for Sandra
A CAFE named in memory of a tireless community worker, has been re-opened after extensive refurbishment at Longford, Warrington
Caf? Marriott, off Northway, Longford, was named after long-term member of the Orford Neighbourhood Project Sandra Marriott, who died several years ago.
Warrington North MP Helen Jones assisted at the re-launch of the caf? which has been renovated with new kitchen equipment and refurbished. The work was part of a general upgrade of the facility.
Connaught Contractors – who were working in the area – undertook the renovation for no charge.
The MP said: “It not only provides a marvellous community facility but represents a truly fitting memorial to Sandra Marriott who remains greatly missed by all who knew her.”
Picture shows Helen Jones with representatives of Connaught Contractors and Caf? Marriott after the re-opening ceremony.
Town centre street is
“no go” area – claim
by Lesley Wilkinson
A WARRINGTON town centre street is regarded as a “no-go” area by many people because of the numbers of youngsters binge drinking, according to Liberal Democrats.
They claim that where there is a concentration of pubs and clubs, premises compete for business by offering cheap drinks.
Opposition leader Coun Ian Marks told a special meeting of the borough council that it should toughen up one aspect of its new licensing policy.
“We support the policy but there is one area where the council has been weak. This is what is called cumulative impact,” he said.
“Where there is a concentration of licensed premises in a particular area, there can be an increase in noise, disturbance, traffic congestion and litter. The amenity of others may be affected although this cannot be attributed to any individual premises,” he added.
Coun Marks said that where there is an “excessive number” of pubs and clubs they often run “happy hours” to compete – causing binge drinking and therefore more disturbance and disorder.
“A common complaint about Warrington is that we have too many pubs and clubs. In the evenings and weekends many people regard the area around Bridge Street as a ‘no-go’ area for anyone other than young people. We need to change this,” he added.
He said that a number of organisations, including a licensed company, trade associations and Warrington Primary Care Trust, have said the council is being too passive on cumulative impact.
“I agree, which is why I have asked the council along with the police and the licensed premises operators to take a more active role in combating this social problem. We need a positive policy on cumulative impact,” he added.
Office plan causes
storm in village
by staff reporter
PLANS to convert a detached house in a quiet rural village into offices and a showroom for a sports company have attracted massive opposition.
Glazebrook Parish Council and Glazebrook Residents Action Group have objected to an application by Sportsfactory Consulting Ltd for the house Glazebrook Lane.
Letters of objection from 21 residents have also been sent to Warrington’s Development Control Committee – but planners are recommending the scheme be approved.
Objectors say the development would mean extra traffic on an already busy road, and cause a hazard on a bad bend/road junction. They say it is out of character with the area, would mean loss of amenity to neighbours and has insufficient parking for visitors to the showroom.
Neighbours were also concerned that the premises could be a target for thieves putting the area at risk and that the premises may need to expand if it is successful causing further disturbance. They were also worried about the negative impact on the community and house prices.
Planners say the building would accommodate 10 employees with parking in the yard although the company say many staff will use public transport at the nearby Glazebrook Station.
The showroom is not for sales, and any sales use must be approved by the council.
They believe the proposal would not adversely affect neighbours and that conditions can be imposed to limit the impact of traffic.
One-way traffic
scheme proposed
by staff reporter
HIGHWAYS chiefs are set to make an order introducing one-way traffic in Whitefield Road, Stockton Heath, Warrington.
The move follows complaints about motorists entering Whitefield Road from Walton Road against the flow of traffic.
A Town Hall spokesman said: “Traffic surveys have shown that motorists perform this manoeuvre on a regular basis, creating a major road safety hazard for other road users.”
A one-way traffic regulation order will be made introducing the restrictions at the junction of Whitefield Road.
South to North traffic will be banned on the eastern carriageway of Whitefield Road while on the western carriageway, South east to North west bound traffic will be prohibited.
Objections to the proposal must reach the borough council’ s solicitor, Howard Norris, by December 16, specifying the reason for the objections.
Body identified
by staff reporter
THE body of a man recovered from the River Mersey, off Chester Road, Warrington earlier this week has now been identified.
Police say he was a Manchester man reported missing from home earlier this year.
A post mortem examination has been held but the result was inconclusive.
The facts have reported to the coroner and an inquest will be held on a date to be arranged.
