Casualty department closed
THE new ?5.4 million accident and emergency department at Warrington Hospital was closed today after a mystery fire affected the power supply. Emergency cases were being transferred to other nearby hospitals. Fire crews were at the scene.
A hospital spokeswoman said the situation was under control. A helpline has been established by the hospital for inquiries for the relatives of patients on 01925 662866.
Shoppers threaten
boycott over
car clamping
by David Skentelbery
SHOPPERS are threatening a boycott of shops at Culcheth, near Warrington, as a result of aggressive clamping of cars on a privately owned car park.
A number of people have left their cars to shop at The Parade, in Lodge Drive to find them clamped a few minutes later – and have then been forced to pay ?70 to be released.
The clamping is being carried out by Preston-based National Clamps – a firm which has attracted complaints from motorists all over the country.
Warrington North MP Helen Jones has stepped into the row after receiving a number of complaints from residents.
She has written to the company and to the landlord calling for a review of the situation.
The MP said: “I believe if people have shopped in Lodge Drive and can prove they have done so they should be released from the clamps without payment.” One shopper, Joyce Daniels, from Glazebury, bought items at two shops on Lodge Drive but, because she had run out of cash, went across the road to the nearby post office to get more. When she returned she had been clamped.
A representative of the clamping firm was abusive, refused to release her and she had to pay ?70.
Mrs Daniels had since written to shopkeepers informing them she will not be using the shops again.
Another resident had to wait in a chemists’ shop for a prescription and found she had been clamped. She was also forced to pay ?70.
Signs say that the car park is for customers using the Lodge Drive shops only and warn that motorists will be clamped.
Helen Jones said: “I live in the village and know that parking can, at times, be difficult. The car parks on Lodge Drive are private land and the owner has the right to impose restrictions. Notices concerning clamping have been displayed.
“However, I really do think the actions of the clampers are unacceptable. If people have shopped at the Parade, and can prove they have, they should not expect to have to pay ?70 to have their car released.
“My fear is that if indiscriminate clamping continues the village community will suffer. People are already telling me, and I believe they have told the shopkeepers, that they are not going to shop at the Parade any more because of clamping. That will have a detrimental effect on the small businesses that operate there and ultimately on the land owner. On top of that there is a considerable amount of ill feeling surrounding the whole issue.
“It is in everyone’s interest that common sense prevails. Ideally, I believe the clamping should stop completely but that is a matter for the land owner.”
Coun Keith Bland, who represents the area on both Warrington Borough and Culcheth parish councils, said: “A number of people have complained to me and I am taking the matter up. But as it is private land it is difficult to do anything if the landowner refuses to compromise.”
It is understood the majority of shopkeepers in Lodge Drive are opposed to the clamping policy which was introduced to prevent residents of nearby flats from using the car park.
Fury over plans
for tower blocks
by David Skentelbery
FURIOUS residents are opposing a plan to convert one of Warrington’s landmark historic buildings into flats – but planning officers are recommending it be approved. Twenty one residents have written letters of objection and 36 have signed a protest petition opposing conversion plans for the old Cheshire Lines railway warehouse, off Winwick Street. English Heritage has expressed concern at proposals – forming part of the same application – for new seven storey tower blocks which, they claim, will obscure the Grade 2 listed warehouse. Residents of St Peter’s Way claim their homes will be overshadowed by the tower blocks, some of which will be built next to bungalows. They say they will suffer a loss of privacy and that the new blocks will restrict views of the Cheshire Lines building. They are concerned at the flat-roofed design of the blocks which will be in a conservation area and next to a listed building and they say there will be increased noise, air pollution and traffic. The Cheshire Lines warehouse dates from the 1870s and has been standing empty for year. English Heritage have previously designated it as a building “at risk” due to its deteriorating condition. They support the proposals to convert the warehouse, subject to repair work being satisfactory.
But two of the proposed new blocks would obscure the view of the listed building and they suggest they should be reduced in size or removed from the plan.
Planners say they have no objections to the scheme in principle but accept that it will have some impact on views from properties on St Peter’s Way, but not sufficiently to justify refusing the scheme.
They suggest the developers, David McLean Homes Ltd, should make a contribution of ?50,000 towards providing public open space in the Winwick Street area.
High development costs on the site will make the provision of affordable housing difficult, they said.
“Year of the Rooster”
sets students crowing!
by staff reporter
STUDENTS at Warrington’s Priestley College celebrated in style with a range of activities to usher in the Chinese New Year.
It’s the Year of the Rooster – and students soon had something to crow about.
They learned about the culture of the country, the theory behind “A Chinese New Year” and why animals are used to represent a particular year.
Students created Chinese lanterns, sampled food and also created a colourful display in the Learning Resource Centre.
The Chinese celebration was just the first of many events that will take place throughout the year under the banner of “Worldfest” – a year-long activity in which students are encouraged to sample other cultures at every possible opportunity.
Rachel Walsh who oversaw most of the celebrations commented: “It is great for the students to sample other cultures as it gives them a more rounded look on the world, which is an essential part of their 16-19 education at Priestley.”
New centre will boost
learning opportunities
A NEW centre aimed at boosting learning opportunities for Town Hall staff – and to the wider community in the near future – has been unveiled at Warrington Borough Council’s Woolston headquarters in Hawthorn Avenue.
The Skills for Life Learning Centre has been developed as part of a partnership between the council, the GMB and UNISON unions, the TUC, Learning and Skills Council, Learn Direct, Warrington Collegiate and the Campaign for Learning.
It will enable council employees to access information about a vast number of services, support and education possibilities.
Coun John Kerr-Brown, the council’s executive member for Neighbourhood Services, said: “The Learning Centre is the result of months of careful planning, joint partnership working and the dedicated enthusiasm of all concerned. It will give more people the opportunity to access education and training on existing skills or learn new ones. We hope it be a valuable asset not only to our staff but, in time, the wider community.” The centre offers a range of courses in IT as well as other subjects and free tutor-led courses. Alternatively, people can simply drop into the centre after work to teach themselves.
It provides computers, the internet and email to help people of all ages and abilities develop their computer skills, providing flexible and accessible lear
ning opportunities. Staff are on hand to give advice and support.
The centre is also a Learndirect Centre, offering a vast range of online courses up to GCSE level – with learning materials delivered over the internet.
Courses in skills for life, such as literacy and numeracy, Spanish, HGV training will continue alongside new courses on employment law, basic and advanced computing and aromatherapy.
All skills for life courses are free.
Town in bid to gain
“Fairtrade” status
by John Hendon
RETAILERS, cafe proprietors and others have been invited to the launch of a campaign to win “Fairtrade town” status for Warrington.
The launch will take place at the Town Hall on Tuesday, February 22 and the meeting will include an opportunity to sample Fairtrade produce and an introduction to the Fairtrade Town Concept by Bruce Crowther from the Fairtrade Foundation.
The local Fairtrade Steering Group is seeking support from the people of Warrington by asking them to buy fairly traded goods. This helps those hit by trading methods that unfairly benefit rich countries.
A Fairtrade town is a community, which has made a commitment to Fairtrade and, through its support, benefits will be passed on to disadvantaged farmers and workers in developing countries.
The movement was born in 1999 and already large cities such as Liverpool, Preston and Chester have achieved Fairtrade City status.
Countries, which benefit from Fairtrade, include those in South Asia, Africa and South America. Given a fair chance, these producers can develop their businesses and local communities and become self-supporting.
A Borough Council spokesman said: “There is increasing public demand for goods showing the Fairtrade mark. In fact Fairtrade goods are the fastest growing sector in the UK, and can be found in most national supermarkets.”
In Warrington, the Fair4All stall in the town’s market sells a wide range of Fairtrade goods and The White Apron restaurant is the town’s first to have Fairtrade products on their menu.
But many small retailers and cafes have still to consider a move to Fairtrade.
The borough council agreed last year to promote Fairtrade and to use Fairtrade tea and coffee at its meetings and in its offices – one of the major milestones in achieving Fairtrade town status.
Mark Floyd, Policy Adviser for Sustainability, said: “The next major target is to see Fairtrade products sold in more of Warrington’s smaller shops and cafes.
“One way we can influence local shops to stock Fairtrade products is for more shoppers to ask for Fairtrade goods at their local shops.”
News in brief
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 1, 5, 11 and 16. The ?261 jackpot was not claimed but the ?25 consolation prize was won by “Jo”.
Church bar
PLANS to convert the former Emanuel Church in Bold Street, Warrington, into a bar and restaurant, including the construction of a mezzanine floor, have been given the go-ahead.
Barn plan
A COOPER and Son, of Clayton House Farm, Alder Lane, Burtonwood near Warrington have won planning consent to build a new agricultural building to replace an existing Dutch barn.
Bus lane
WARRINGTON Borough Council is to make an order temporarily suspending the bus and cycle lane in Golborne Street while work goes on in connection with the Golden Square re-development. The closure will come into effect from March 4 and is expected to last for about six weeks.
