End of the road for
canal tragedy lane?
by Gary Skentelbery
A COUNTRY lane which tragically claimed the lives of two Warrington teenagers when the car they were travelling in plunged into the Bridgewater Canal, may be closed permanently.
Following a joint decision by Warrington Borough Council and Cheshire Police, Stockton Lane, Grappenhall has been closed since the turn of the year. It follows the accident which claimed the lives of 17-year-olds Gemma Biggin from Grappenhall and Stephen Abbott, from Orford. Stephen was driving the car when it left the road on a bend and plunged into the canal.
Two other teenagers, Jake Edwards and Anthony Bond managed to escape from the submerged vehicle by smashing the rear windscreen and have since presented a 1,000 name petition to the town hall, urging action to prevent another tragedy.
The temporary closure came in advance of possible recommendations to eliminate the risk of a similar accident in the future.
Gemma’s father, Grappenhall and Thelwall parish councillor Mike Biggin, has welcomed the closure. He has pledged to make it is his life’s work, if necessary, to have adequate safety measures introduced at the scene of the accident.
Signs are displayed at both ends of Stockton Lane to inform drivers that it is no longer a through road. However, residents and business users are still allowed to access their properties.
Phil Johnson, the borough council’s transport chief, said: “The police, in discussion with the Council, have requested that the closure of Stockton Lane is maintained until the inquest into the tragic deaths of the two young people is concluded, as they believe retaining the closure is a failsafe and supports the immediate families of those who lost their lives. This is also the view of the council and the closure will, therefore, be maintained until at least the end of April.
“Although we cannot pre-judge the outcome of the coroner’s inquest, an option open to us, following receipt of the findings of the inquest and conclusions of the coroner, would be to progress a permanent closure order through its stages, or act in some other way which is much less obvious, to give effect to the coroner’s recommendations.
“At the moment, the closure is being changed from large concrete blocks to a farm gate with signs and a pedestrian gate. We are also consulting with English Partnerships on the practicality of providing ‘turning heads’ if the road was to be proposed for closed permanent closure. Residents who would be affected will be fully consulted on their views if a permanent closure was to be considered.”
Residents evacuated
from flood-hit home
by David Skentelbery
A NUMBER of residents had to be evacuated from an elderly person’s home at Croft, near Warrington, after heavy rain caused widespread flooding.
The ground floor and grounds of the Kingsmead Court home in Lord Street were inundated when a deluge of floodwater overflowed from a nearby field.
Lord Street itself was flooded, although remained open to traffic.
Fire crews from Birchwood went to the scene to pump the water away.
A spokesman said: “Fortunately, only a few residents with ground floor flats had to be evacuated from the home. It was mostly common areas of the building that were affected.
“The flooding appears to have occurred because storm drains could not cope with the amount of rain coming down.
“There was also flooding at a property in Mustard Lane, about half-a-mile away – again apparently because the storm drains could not cope.”
Police issued a general flood warning to motorists in the Warrington area as a number of roads were covered in more than a foot of water following a sustained period of rain.
There was also flooding in parts of the Runcorn and Widnes areas and elsewhere in North Cheshire.
Ex-bobby behind
bars at last!
by Gary Skentelbery
WARRINGTON’S well known former crime prevention officer is set to spend time behind bars – in aid of charity.
Retired police sergeant Dave Betts, Warrington’s former crime prevention officer has decied to raise funds for St Rocco’s Hospice in the town, by spending time in the cells at Stockton Heath Police station. The event takes place on March 11 and now Dave is looking for sponsorship to aid his release.
He said: “I am going to be locked up. Some will no doubt say, ‘It’s about time. It should have happened years ago!’
“Instead of being the Custody Sergeant, I’ll be doing porridge. Certain others jailbirds will be joining me on the day, locked up in a cell at Stockton Heath Police Station. We will subsequently appear in court to plead for bail.
“But I need help to raise the bail fee. I have to raise a minimum of ?500 if I hope to be free, but I am aimimg for ?1,000.”
All money raised will be donated to St Rocco’s Hospice.
Awards for hospital
radio stalwarts
by Terry Johnson
A HOSPITAL radio station which has linked hundreds of thousands of patients with the ‘outside world’ has been honoured by its NHS Trust bosses.
The team of seven volunteers at Warrington’s ‘Radio General’ has received certificates marking a combined 100 years service.
The station was launched in 1953, providing round-the-clock broadcasts to patients.
Service certificates go to Keith Inman, station engineer and secretary for 31 years; Paul Leeming, presenter for 31 years; Ed Nurse, presenter and record librarian(11 years); Michael Taylor, presenter and roadshow co-ordinator(10 years); Mark Snowdon, presenter(seven years); Kay Hitchcock and Richard Ward, presenters for six years.
The Hospital Trust’s Mike Atkinson said: “As well as keeping patients entertained, the station is a vital link to what’s going on in the outside world for both patients and staff”.
‘Radio General’s’ programme includes record requests, easy listening and chat shows, specialist music and relaxation music.
The station also undertakes live outside broadcasts from concerts, the rugby league ground and other major town events.
Restaurant plan
is resurrected
by John Hendon
A NEW plan to convert a former bank into a 72-seater restaurant at Culcheth, near Warrington, is to be considered by the borough’s development control committee.
The scheme involves the former Lloyds-TSB bank in Warrington Road and has sparked strong opposition from neighbours and Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council.
An earlier proposal was thrown out by planners on the grounds that residents of Newsholme Close would suffer a loss of amenity due to noise and other increase activity. This is currently subject to an appeal.
The new scheme proposes an extra six car parking spaces to allay fears of on-street parking and a brick wall and acoustic timber panel fence to reduce any impact on the nearby houses.
But the objectors are maintaining their opposition to the scheme. They say there will still be a loss of residential amenity, inadequate parking space and increases in traffic and anti-social behaviour.
They say the site is more suitable for housing or offices and that there is already an adequate number of restaurants and eating places in the village.
Controversy over
squash courts plan
by David Skentelbery
CONTROVERSIAL proposals to convert squash courts into offices at Lymm Rugby Union Club are to come before Warrington’s development control committee for a second time.
Committee members have already paid visit the club to examine the proposals before reaching a decision, after hearing of objections from Lymm Parish Council.
The parish council says the club site, in Crouchley Lane, is not a suitable location for a commercial development.
Planning officers are recommending the scheme be approved and suggest that the change of use will have no more impact on the openness of the Gr
een Belt than the present situation.
In fact, they believe offices could cause less disturbance for nearby residents as they will result in less evening use of the clubhouse.
The squash courts were built to cater for the “squash boom” of the 1970s, but in recent years use has declined, with the club claiming its squash membership has dropped to less than 40.
Nearby residents are not objecting to the change of use although they say the club should be required to repair a wall between their car park and Crouchley Lane before providing any additional car parking.
They also say the entrance to the site should be moved to the corner of Crouchley Lane to improve road safety.
News in brief
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 4, 7, 8 and 15. There was no winner of the ?269 jackpot. The ?25 consolation prize was won by L. O’Neill.
One-way street
WARRINGTON Borough Council is to make an order making Buttermarket Street a temporary one-way street between its junction with Orford Street and Scotland Road. It is expected the order will be in force for about one week. An alternative route will be signposted.
Studio plan
PLANS to convert offices at Friars Court, Barbauld Street, Warrington into photography studios have been submitted to the borough council.
Air conditioning
ASDA Stores are seeking planning consent for replacement air condition units on the roof at the store in Dewhurst Road, Birchwood, Warrington.
[ 25.01.2005, 09:18: Message edited by: DS ]
