?20 million deal
to create a regional
shopping centre
by Lesley Wilkinson
A NEW ?20 million investment in Golden Square Shopping Centre, Warrington will help transform it into a major regional shopping venue.
The deal involves Lend Lease – a global real estate services business – purchasing a 50 per cent stake in the centre.
Alongside Legal and General Life Fund and clients of Arlington Property Investors, they will co-invest and manage the redevelopment.
The existing centre provides 310,000 square feet of retail space and the new extension will provide a further 330,000 square feet.
Flagship store in the new extension, which is already under way, will be a Debenham’s department store, occupying 130,000 square feet and there will be about 60 other shops.
The agreement sees a ?20 million investment from Lend Lease and the company will act as both asset and property manager.
Adrian Chamberlain, chief executive officer, Lend Lease said: “We are delighted that we can bring our retail skills to Warrington and look forward to working with Legal and General and Arlington to create a regional shopping centre which will exceed expectations.
“Lend Lease has an established track record of, developing, designing, building and managing retail assets and this investment is in line with our UK retail strategy to secure new developments and to grow our assets under management.”
Woman missing
from home
by John Hendon
POLICE at Warrington are becoming concerned for the safety of a 31-year-old woman who has been missing from home since Friday (February 11).
Elayne McWhirter was last seen near her home in Warrington at around 11.30pm that night.
She is 5 ft 4 inches tall, of slender build and has blue eyes and dark brown hair. Her family say she looks younger than her age.
She may have been wearing a black tee-shirt and dark track suit bottoms.
Police say Elayne is “vulnerable”. But it is possible she has gone away and does not wish to return home at present. They are appealing to anyone who may have seen her, or to Elayne herself, to call family, friends or the police to let them know she is all right.
Anyone who can help should call Warrington Police on 01925 652222.
Apprentice awards
are up for grabs
by Lesley Wilkinson
TOP apprentices from Warrington and their employers could be in line for an award with prizes of up to ?1,500.
The Learning and Skills Council Cheshire and Warrington is urging businesses and individuals from the area to enter this year’s national Apprenticeship Awards.
Exceptional employers and individual apprentices committed to training and development through the apprenticeship programme are recognised by the scheme.
Last year, Cheshire construction company GA Roberts and Sons, won the national Employer of the Year Award, and several local apprentices reached the final of the individual categories.
Categories include Employer of the Year, awarded to micro, small, medium and large organisations that have shown commitment to apprentices and supported their training.
The Apprentice of the Year award is in two categories, apprentice and advanced apprentice, and goes to individuals whose contribution to the workplace has exceeded expectations.
The Personal Achiever of the Year award, in age 16 to 18 and 19 to 24 categories, is awarded to those who have successfully overcome barriers to achievement.
Winning apprentices will receive prizes worth up to ?1,500 at a glittering Oscar-style awards ceremony on June 16 at The London Hilton on Park Lane.
Closing date for entries is March 10. Employers and individual apprentices can download application forms from: www.apprenticeships.org.uk/awards
“Oldest inhabitants”
finally laid to rest
by staff reporter
ANCIENT remains of some of Warrington’s oldest inhabitants dating back to between 1300 and 1750 were finally laid to rest in a special ceremony at the town’s cemetery.
Local clergymen and civic dignitaries took part in a service of reflection at the cemetery chapel.
Ancient graves – believed to contain the remains of friars who established a friary in the St Austin’s Lane area in the 13th century – were found four years ago during the excavation of the Friars Gate site as part of the development of JD Wetherspoons’ Friar Penketh pub.
A number of remains were exhumed and sent to the Department of Forensic and Investigative Science at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) where they formed part of an archaeological study.
After playing their part in piecing together some missing parts of Warrington’s history, the remains were finally laid to rest.
A Service of Reflection in the cemetery chapel, followed by a short visit to the graveside where prayers were said over the remains prior to the re-interment.
Coun John Joyce, leader of the borough council, said: “The service formally re-interred the remains with the dignity and respect they deserve. It is also a nice thought that, through the work carried out by the University of Central Lancashire, some of our oldest inhabitants are helping to piece together the history of the town.”
Dr Jennie Hawcroft, lecturer in Forensic and Investigative Sciences at UCLan, said: “The chance for students to see and work with real bone is invaluable. Students have examined the bones to see how factors such as dental health, nutrition, size, stature, gender, age and disease can be reflected in the skeleton. We have been very lucky to have been given access to this Warrington material and to work with it for the past few years.”
Representatives from JD Wetherspoons are working with the council towards placing a memorial or plaque at the graveside.
Anton Fields, the company’s area manager, said: “A number of our pubs are on historic sites and we always treat the buildings and any other items that are discovered with the utmost respect. We thought the ceremony was an appropriate way to lay these remains to rest.”
Residents fight plan
for 100 new homes
by David Skentelbery
ELEVEN nearby residents are fighting plans to build more than 100 one and two-bedroom apartments on land off Gladstone Street, Warrington.
They claim the flats, in four blocks, will lead to a loss of privacy and daylight, would increase traffic on local roads and would be out of character with the area.
In particular they are opposed to proposals to have balconies which would overlook existing homes.
The plans have been submitted by Bett Homes (North West) Ltd., and would in the main occupy an area of waste land formerly used as a tip.
Planning officers are recommending the scheme for approval. They say the proposed buildings have been designed to have an “intimate relationship” with Gladstone Street.
A proposed parking area, although fairly expansive, is deep within the site, away from the street frontage.
However, the flat-roofed blocks would inevitably create a change in the appearance and character of Gladstone Street.
The developers have agreed to make a ?30,000 contribution towards the cost of pedestrian and cyclist facilities to meet the needs arising directly from the development and this is considered sufficient.
From the high point of view, the development would be acceptable, they say.
Arson attack on
catering firm
by staff reporter
FIRE Service chiefs have issued a warning after the latest in a spate of arson attacks on business premises on Warrington’s Riverside Retail Park.
The offenders pushed a wheeled bin against the premises of Enza’s Kitchen – a mobile catering firm – and set it alight.
Fire crews were on the scene quickly and prevented serious damage to the building.
A spokesman said: “There has been a worrying series of arson inciden
ts in this area – usually involving wheelie bins or skips.
“We are advising people not to place skips or wheeled bins within three metres of property and not to overload them. Wheeled bins should be chained so they cannot be moved.
“We are also visiting local schools advising children of the dangers of starting fires. These incidents could have very serious consequences.”
Police are mounting additional patrols in the area of a night in a bid to stop the attacks.
“Speed up funding for
river crossing” – MP
by staff reporter
AN URGENT call for the Government to agree funding arrangements for the new Mersey Crossing at Widnes – which will help alleviate traffic problems in Warrington – has been made.
Warrington North MP Helen Jones has joined Merseyside MPs in asking for the funding and construction timetable for the new Mersey Gateway to be approved.
She said: “Currently the Widnes/Runcorn bridge has a capacity of 65,000 cars a day. Surveys show that on some days last year as many as 92,000 vehicles used the bridge and estimates suggest this could rise to 150,000 in 10 years time.”
She said the recently published Northern Way document, rightly recognises that current congestion is a barrier to economic growth in the area. The effects are felt particularly badly in Warrington.
“It is obvious that a new Mersey Crossing is urgently needed. I believe the Government should be committing itself to the project and should urgently agree funding and construction timetables. My colleagues and I will be pressing hard for this commitment, ” said Ms Jones.
Driver cut from
wrecked car
by staff reporter
A MAN had to be cut from his car after a two-vehicle crash in Greenwood Crescent, Warrington.
Firefighters had to cut the door and part of the roof from the car after it was involved in a “shunt” with another car.
The driver, who was disabled, suffered back injuries and could not be extricated from the damaged vehicle. He was then taken to hospital.
The driver of the second car was not seriously hurt, however.
