?5.4 million casualty
department closed
as fire breaks out
by David Skentelbery
THE new ?5.4 million accident and emergency department at Warrington Hospital was closed after a fire crippled its power supply.
Patients were evacuated to other parts of the hospital – and emergency cases were transferred to other hospitals.
Emergency generators supplied basic power needs, but the hospital urged all patients and relatives who did not need to attend the site to stay away until further notice.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus tackled the blaze, in an electricity sub-station. Extensive damage was caused to 415 volt cabling.
An alternative venue for non-urgent care and treatment for minor injuries was set up at the Garven Place Health Centre in town centre Sankey Street.
Patients were also being reminded that the minor injuries unit at Halton Hospital, Runcorn, was available for non-urgent conditions such as sprains.
The alarm was raised when smoke was seen pouring from a generator room. Fire crews found the blaze involved cabling in an underground duct beneath a sub-station.
Emergency generators supplied power to Appleton Wing from where 40 surgical patients were transferred to other, unaffected parts of the hospital.
Seven patients were transferred from the intensive care unit and high dependency unit to theatres in other parts of the hospital.
Kathryn Holbourn, director of nursing and service development, said: “The situation is well under control. Patient safety is not compromised in any way and the staff are coping magnificently, as is the fire service.
“We would urge those relatives and patients with non-urgent conditions not to attend the hospital at the current time. Further information updates will be provided throughout the day.”
A helpline was established for inquiries from relatives of patients on 01925 662866.
Information about alternative local services is available from NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.
Fire Service experts are investigating the cause of the outbreak and today (Saturday) hospital officials were reviewing the situation with a view to returning to normal operations. Patients who had been moved out of Appleton wing were moved back.
Victim sprayed with
CS gas as he slept
by John Hendon
TWO young thugs broke into a flat at Warrington in the early hours of the morning, sprayed the occupant with CS gas and then robbed him.
The victim, a 23-year-old man, was asleep in bed at the time and was only awoken when his bedroom window was smashed.
Police are appealing for witnesses of the incident at Orford or any other information leading to the arrest of the offenders.
The two men entered the bedroom through the smashed window and sprayed the occupant with CS gas before stealing his wallet and mobile phone.
Both were aged about 16 or 17, between 5ft 8 and 5ft 10 tall and of medium build.
One was wearing a cream or white baseball cap, a cream track suit top and black pants. There is no description of his accomplice.
The victim was not seriously injured but was badly shaken by the attack.
Anyone who can help is asked to call Det Cons Nick Gee at Warrington CID on 01244 613884.
Police probe after
blast rocks homes
by David Skentelbery
POLICE are investigating after a lorry laden with diesel fuel was driven into a bus depot at Warrington and set alight.
A loud explosion rocked nearby homes shortly after the blaze at the Mayne coach depot off Battersby Lane.
Fire crews managed to contain the blaze, which badly damaged the lorry and caused heat damage to a number of coaches parked nearby.
They also played hoses on a large diesel storage tank adjacent to the lorry to cool it down.
A fire service spokesman said: “The explosion was heard up to two miles away. “The lorry was apparently driven into the depot, parked near the diesel storage tank and set alight. It was a spectacular blaze, with smoke and flames leaping into the sky.
“Fortunately we were able to prevent the main storage tank from going up.”
Detectives are now investigating the incident.
Students get down
to some business
by staff reporter
MORE than 80 students from Warrington’s Priestley College were involved in a business awareness programme run in association with British Nuclear Fuels, Risley.
The ideology behind the action packed two-days on the Loushers Lane campus was for students to be made aware of the wider world of business through a hands-on interactive approach.
The college secured a range of guests from a number of blue chip companies in the town with representatives from BNFL, Business Dynamics, Tessenderlo, Barclays Bank, O2, Urenco, Ineos Chlor, CITB and Chance and Hunt all leading workshops with the students.
A number of business seminars took place covering all aspects of modern day business practices including core subjects such as Human Resources, Design and Development, Design and Innovation, Finance and Management with the emphasis on student input.
Senior tutor Tracie Gibbons who oversaw the events was thrilled with the way both days unfolded.
She said: “It was very special to welcome so many well known names into college from the wider world of business within Warrington.
“The students were able to learn much from the speakers and then also put their own ideas into practice during the course of practical workshops. As an event we couldn’t have hoped for a better success.”
Residents in new
“takeaway” battle
by David Skentelbery
A STORM has broken over plans for a hot food takeaway shop at Fearnhead, Warrington – only three months after a similar scheme involving the same premises was thrown out.
Residents of the Orchard Street area are organising a new campaign involving a protest petition and letters of objection.
Spokesman John Roe said: “The plan is from a different applicant but involves the same premises as the previous application.
“Residents fought and eventually won a planning battle over the first one and, needless to say, are fighting this one too.” More than 200 people signed protest petitions or wrote letters of objection to the earlier scheme.
They warned of litter, smells, noise, unsocial behaviour and traffic and parking problems.
Borough and parish councillors and Warrington North MP Helen Jones also opposed the scheme.
Orchard Street is the only access for about 350 homes. There is only a small car park for existing shops and there were parking problems earlier when there was an off-licence in the road.
Five previous planning applications, four of them for takeaway food shops, have been refused because of likely traffic problems.
Mortgage company
sponsors Wolves
WARRINGTON-based mortgage company TFC are major new sponsors of Warrington Wolves Rugby League club for the new Super League season.
It is the first time the firm, which employs 150 people on two sites in the town, have been involved in sports sponsorship.
Partner Ron Taylor said: “We decided to get involved because we were impressed by the Wolves’ community relations track record, which matches TFC’s own goal of ‘putting something back’ into the local community.
“The club lies at the very heart of the Warrington community and these are exciting times in its long and distinguished history. We are delighted to become part of this.”
TFC has been in Warrington since 1991 and has its headquarters in Haydock Street.
Man rescued from
smoke-filled flat
by David Skentelbery
A MAN was rescued from a smoke-filled flat at Warrington after fire broke out in the kitchen.
Fire crews raced to the ground floor flat in Boydell Avenue, Latchford after a neighbour heard a smoke-alarm sounding and dialled 999.
The occupant was asleep in bed, unaware his flat was fillin
g with smoke. The fire involved a grill-pan in the kitchen.
Extensive damage was caused in the kitchen and there was smoke damage to a number of other rooms. The man was treated for smoke inhalation but declined hospital treatment.
News in brief
Comedy hit
THE award winning comedy “Stones in his Pockets” which ran for five years in the West End is to be staged at the Parr Hall, Warrington on Thursday, February 17.
Flats veto
A PLAN to convert a house in Mason Street, Warrington with a two-storey rear extension to form three flats has been thrown out by borough planners.
Speed limits
WARRINGTON Borough Council is proposing to reduce the speed limit on roads in Walton Village from 40mph to 30mph, following concerns raised about speeding traffic by Walton Parish Council. Objections must be received by the borough council by Thursdy, February 17.
Appeal withdrawn
AN appeal against Warrington Borough Council’s refusal to grant planning permission for the demolition of two bungalows to make way for 15 flats in Warrington Road, Glazebury, has been withdrawn.
Road closure
WINWICK Road, Warrington will be closed to traffic for a distance of 90 metres northwards from its junction with Scotland Road and Golborne Street from Monday, February 14, to allow construction work to go on in connection with the redevelopment of Golden Square.
