Town faces ?1 million
bill for gypsy sites
by Terry Johnson
WARRINGTON, which has repelled “gypsy invasions” for years now faces a whopping ?1m-plus bill to provide the travellers with permanent sites for their caravans. Pressure from Ministers underlines the need to develop “expensive sites” in urban areas, says a strategy report to the borough council.
The borough has suffered years of roadside blight from travellers pitching their vans on landscaped verges, parkland areas and car parks.
Clean-up costs, protective fencing and earth mounding and officer time has reached ?65,000-a-year.
Over a 21-month period there were 54 violations of land – costing the council, landowners and businesses a total ?240,000.
Now Warrington is looking at a ?1m-plus bill to provide proper sites for the travellers, so the authority can effectively manage the problem.
The council has just seven weeks to put its gypsy and travellers strategy to Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott.
Warrington has two permanent sites at Padgate and Glazebury for just nine caravans. A temporary site at Two Acre Park, Walton, houses 22 vans.
A list of 21 possible sites across the borough has been drawn up. But traffic and safety problems exclude all but five of these.
Sites to be investigated further are at Thewlis Street, Calver Road, Monks Hall, Bewsey New Hall and Farrell Street.
Most of these potential sites are on the edge of employment zones, which would minimise outcry from residents.
Win a ?50 voucher to
spend at Hatters Row
by Gary Skentelbery
TO celebrate the launch of the new web site the shop keepers at Hatters Row are offering Warrington-Worldwide readers the chance to win a ?50 voucher to spend in any of the 15 shops in Hatters Row.
The first entry picked out of the hat will receive a ?50 voucher, and two runners-up will each receive a ?10 voucher.
To enter this free competition all you have to do is log on to the new web site at www.hattersrow.co.uk and send an e-mail to the Centre Manager completing the phrase “I like Hatters Row because…” (in not more than 25 words).
Alternatively just put your name and address on the back of a blank postcard together with the reasons why you like Hatters Row (in not more than 25 words) and post it to:
Stephen Pickering
c/o Warrington Market Office
Bank Street
Warrington WA1 2EN.
Closing date for entries is February 28, 2005.
Usual competition rules apply.
Winners will be notified within 10 days.
The managers decision is final.
Salt – warning over
a stealthy killer
HEALTH workshops at Warrington have put the focus on a stealthy killer – SALT.
The special presentations by health experts, Trading Standards, the Stroke Association and other agencies, were aimed at raising awareness of salt-intake risks.
These include elevated blood pressure, leading to strokes and heart attacks, osteoporosis, stomach cancer, asthma and kidney disease.
The awareness events included dietary advice, quizzes and blood pressure tests.
A spokesman said: “Salt is a vital ingredient in any healthy diet. But many of us are guilty of having more salt than our bodies actually need.
“Most of our salt intake is hidden in processed foods and accounts for more than three-quarters of our intake”.
Rugby club’s office
plan is “squashed”
by David Skentelbery
RUGBY players have had bold plans to re-develop their clubhouse booted out – thanks to members of their own squash section.
Members of Lymm Rugby Union Club’s squash section opposed the club’s plan to convert their squash courts into offices and persuaded planning chiefs at Warrington to refuse the scheme.
Squash player Mike Matthews told the committee: “Lymm without a tennis club would unthinkable. Lymm without a rugby club would be unthinkable.
“Why should it not be unthinkable for Lymm to be without a squash club.”
He said the loss of the squash courts would rob the village of a leisure facility and would be contrary to the borough council’s policy of promoting health and well-being through sport.
The conversion was also opposed by Lymm Parish Council and by Sport England, who claimed it would result in a reduction in the level of sport provision on the site and also the loss of changing rooms used by the women’s rugby team.
The committee was told the squash section had declined in recent years and the club’s plan was to convert them to offices which could be let to provide additional income to ensure the club remained viable.
But Coun Sheila Woodyatt said the club was on the fringe of open countryside and the offices would represent commercial development. The squash section had at least 40 members and was an asset to the village.
Coun Ian Marks said if the squash section was allowed to promote and market itself it could attract more members and continue on a viable basis.
Residents join
police patrols
by Terry Johnson
COMMUNITY volunteers at Warrington have joined police night patrols of a crime-plagued area.
The new partnership is already paying dividends in the Whitecross area of the town, where incidents of youth nuisance, vandalism and anti-social behaviour have sharply declined.
Nine residents joined the police patrols to “beef up” the anti-crime presence.
The volunteers also gave police “intelligence” relating to trouble hot-spots.
PC Tony Davidson said: “Our priority is youth nuisance and anti-social behaviour. We are making good progress in dealing with these problems”.
Intelligence-led operations with local residents are being backed by work in schools and youth clubs.
One of the community volunteers said: “This partnership scheme has given us the confidence that has been lacking in the area.”
A further seven residents have now volunteered to patrol with the Community Action Team.
News in brief
Housing plan
BELLWAY Homes are seeking planning consent to make changes to 26 houses for which they already have permission on the site of the former Tinsley Wire Works at Dalton Bank, Warrington.
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 2,3,9 and 10. There was one winner for the ?417 jackpot and the ?25 consolation prize went to L Goss.
Car park
PLANS for a short term car park, surrounded by a 1.8m palisade fence, on land bounded by Foundry Street, Tanners Lane and Winwick Street, Warrington, have been approved by the borough council.
Home approval
BOROUGH Council planners have given the green light for a development of five detached four-bedroomed houses in Manchester Road, Woolston, Warrington.
[ 01.02.2005, 09:48: Message edited by: DS ]
