Shock report condemns
town’s sunbed shops
by Terry Johnson
ENVIRONMENT watchdogs became “moles” to investigate Warrington’s 42 sun-bed operators.
As part of Britain’s first customer-safety probe of sun centres, the undercover team found that every business they went into in the borough failed to meet vital health and safety standards.
The covert study was meant to assess any risk factor.
Watchdogs expected a handful of solarium operators to fall short of the required standards.
What they found was an “alarming level” of non-compliance, which raises concerns about cases of cancers, cataracts and premature ageing.
“All of the 42 town operators visited failed to comply with the expected health and safety requirements”, said a Town Hall spokeswoman.
She added added: “Over half of those visited scored less than a third of the 100 per cent level required”.
Posing as customers, the undercover team found:
Lack of basic cleanliness and protective goggles in salons.
Poor or non-existent assessments of skin type and ultra-violet ray exposure times.
Unsafe use of sun-bed equipment, lack of warning notices and staff training.
Many operators were “failing significantly” to minimise customer risk.
Coun Mike Hannon, the borough council’s executive member for community and well-being, said: “It is very worrying. The survey results and significant failures tell us that most operators are not taking all the steps necessary to minimise risk to their customers”.
It was vital that the public was made aware of the potential dangers, he said.
The sun-bed operators will now face a second, “formal visit”, from health watchdogs. Findings of the covert operation will be discussed and improvements sought.
Andrew Gilbert, assistant director for environmental health and public protection, said: “Risks of skin cancer depend on skin type and number of exposures to ultra-violet radiation.
“Sun-bed or solarium operators who do not identify those people with the most vulnerable skin type and do not monitor the frequency people are using these facilities are failing health and safety measures”.
He added: “The scale of these results causes extreme concern.”
Those seeking a bronzed look are advised to check out their skin type, moles and freckles and medical conditions.
Iraq veteran takes
command of TA unit
by David Skentelbery
AN army officer who has just returned to Britain after helping to train Iraqui security forces in Basrah has taken over the command of the Warrington-based King’s and Cheshire Regiment (KCR).
Lt Col Peter Rafferty has joined the 510-strong Territorial Army infantry battalion, which has its headquarters at Peninsula Barracks, direct from Basrah. He plans to settle with his family at Lymm.
He has taken over from Lt Col Simon Hammond, who has moved to at the Army’s HQ in Northern Ireland.
The KCR principally provides TA support to two Regular Army regiments – The King’s Regiment and The Cheshire Regiment. Many KCR soldiers have recently deployed on high-profile operations including Iraq, Afghanistan and the Balkans.
It has four companies based in Liverpool, Widnes; Manchester; Crewe with detachments in Stockport and Northwich.
A small company is based at its HQ in Warrington.
Lt Col Rafferty, age 41, said: “It is an honour and a privilege to return* to the Territorial Army and to be given the opportunity to command such dedicated Territorial Army soldiers.
“More than any other TA infantry battalion, the KCR has come of age with its astonishing support to military operations over the last few years. The experiences that KCR soldiers have gained in places like Iraq, Afghanistan and the Balkans provides us with a solid foundation to maintain our position as one of the strongest TA infantry battalions in the country.” Lt Col Rafferty was born in Sheffield and went to St Thomas Aquinas Grammar School in Leeds. He read aeronautical engineering at Southampton University and was commissioned into The King’s Regiment in 1985.
He has held positions across the world, with spells in Germany, Northern Ireland, Zimbabwe, USA, Canada, Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
Lt Col Rafferty is married to Joanne, a teacher, and they have two daughters, Hannah and Elspeth.
While in Basrah he was responsible for the organisation, equipment and training of Iraqi security forces.
Liberal Democrats hit
out over litter bill
by David Skentelbery
LIBERAL Democrats at Warrington have slammed the Conservatives in Parliament for opposing important measures to help councils protect the local environment.
They claim the Tories are opposing the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill, which will grant tough new powers to tackle litter bugs, fly-tippers, fly-posters, abandoned cars, nuisance noise and other types of anti-social and criminal behaviour that damage the environment.
Coun Ian Marks Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary candidate for Warrington South said: “The Bill has our broad support and there will be many places in our town which can be improved as a result.
“However as its goes through the legislative process, the Government will have to sort out its jumble of pre-election populist measures to ensure we have some effective environmental legislation.
“The Tories opposed it because they claimed the Bill was unnecessary and focused predominantly on urban areas.
“What about those farmers whose land is repeatedly used for fly-tipping? The Bill has the support of the National Farmers Union. The Conservatives are rejecting an opportunity to provide much stronger environmental protection in both town and country. They do not understand the importance of a clean and safe local environment to the quality of people’s lives.
“Yet again the Government will not provide any extra resources to councils to help them meet new requirements placed on them by the Bill, such as round the clock responsibility for stray dogs, or to fund the manpower and administrative support to take advantage of new powers.”
Work resumes on
village road scheme
by John Hendon
WORK is to resume on the structural maintenance scheme on the B5207 Common Lane at Culcheth, near Warrington following a break over the Christmas and New Year period.
The work – which involves the road between Twiss Green Lane and A574 Warrington – involves areas of full reconstruction, plane and inlay of carriageway surfacing, replacement of kerbs, footway re-construction, minor drainage works and upgrade of street lighting. It will start on January 24.
Works have been completed on the residential section of Common Lane between Twiss Green Lane and Lawton Close.
It is expected that the scheme will be completed by the March 20.
A borough council spokesman said there would be periods when the contractor was re-constructing and resurfacing the road when Common Lane would be closed. During these times “road closed” signs would be erected and a person would be stationed at the point of closure, directing traffic to follow the signed diversion route.
The first section of works involves full reconstruction of the carriageway between Lawton Close and Wigshaw Lane and the road will be closed to all traffic for two weeks, although access to properties within the works will be maintained. The local diversion route for this section of work will be via Wigshaw Lane and Hob Hey Lane and vice versa. The number 19 bus service along Hob Hey Lane and on Common Lane will be diverted via Wigshaw Lane.
The works will progress in sections towards Warrington Road with Common Lane closed as required by the type of works and with signed diversion routes established. During the works access to the shopping centres on Common Lane will be provided at all times. When Common Lane is closed to the south of Wigshaw Lane, the number 19 bus service will be diverted via A574 Warrington
Road, Glaziers Lane and turning right into Wigshaw Lane and vice versa.
The bus stops on Common Lane and Hob Hey Lane to be taken out of use will have information posted stating the nearest alternative bus stop.
Change of venue
for inquiry
by staff reporter
A PUBLIC inquiry into controversial plans for a major industrial plant less than 200 yards from a housing estate to be opened on February 8 at Warrington has been switched to a new venue.
Originally the hearing was to be at Warrington Town Hall but now it has been moved to Walton Hall The scheme involves a coated roadstone plant on land off Antrim Road, Longford and the proposals have caused an uproar among by nearby residents.
Applicants Tarmac have appealed against the borough council’s refusal to grant planning consent for the development and an inspector appointed by the Government will decide the issue. The hearing at Walton Hall is expected to last two days.
Objectors claim the plant would 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.
Residents fear the plant will be working from early morning until late at night, damaging their quality of life.
Bookworms in
for a treat
by staff reporter
HUNGRY bookworms looking for a bargain are in for a treat next month.
Warrington Library and Museum is holding a sale of books, CDs and videos no longer required for the library.
The withdrawn items will be priced from 10p and will include hardbacks, paperbacks, textbooks, children’s books, CDs and videos.
The sale starts on Tuesday February 15 for three days between 9am and 4pm.
