150 jobs in jeopardy
as date set for
laboratory closure
by David Skentelbery
ABOUT 150 jobs look set to go at the Daresbury Laboratory, near Warrington when a once cutting edge research facility closes three years’ time.
The 25-year-old synchrotron radiation source (SRS) will close on December 31 2008 – eight years after the Cheshire laboratory lost a battle for the more up-to-date Diamond synchrotron facility at the Rutherford Appleton laboratory in Oxfordshire.
The Diamond facility will come on stream in 2007 and Daresbury’s plant will be phased out a year later.
But a Daresbury spokesman said: “Other cutting edge initiatives will be opening up – it is a case of ‘The King is dead – long live the King.’
“We will be continuing with world-class science at Daresbury.”
Synchrotron technology carries out research into the make-up of the human genetic map and other living organisms – research that could lead to new medical breakthroughs.
A number of projects which rely on the synchrotron will also close, including a multi-million ? robot-controlled “assembly line” which helps scientists understand illnesses such as cancer and heart disease which was only unveiled at Daresbury in January last year.
But the spokesman said: “This facility has been up and running since January last year, producing world-class science. It will continue to do so until the end of 2007.”
Announcing that the government would continue to fund SRS at Daresbury until December 2008, Lord Sainsbury, Minister for Science and Innovation at the Department for Trade and Industry, said: “Daresbury and its staff have a fine record of achievement, and I am convinced that there is a real future for world-class science and innovation on the site, with all the associated opportunities.”
Daresbury director Prof Colin Whitehouse, Director Daresbury Laboratory, said, “The SRS has been a key part of the UK’s research toolkit for 25 years. I’m delighted we’ve got funding to keep it open until the end of 2008.”
However, he was keen to emphasise that there is more at Daresbury than the SRS.
“The Laboratory is home to many other important projects such as Europe’s most powerful academic research supercomputer and we’re leading the way for UK participation in particle accelerator projects on the world stage.
“Our scientists, engineers and support staff are world-class. We’re looking to build on their key skills to help us capitalise on exciting new opportunities for the laboratory, such as contributing to big international projects to probe the innermost secrets of atoms. I’m very confident about the future.”
Prof Whitehouse has also been working to develop the Daresbury International Science and Technology Park with the North West Development Agency, local universities and local industry to generate and attract high-tech businesses.
He said: “The science and technology base in the North West is very strong. This combination of major university research centres, multi-national companies and a world-renowned scientific research centre like the Daresbury Laboratory with its wealth of expertise provide the very powerful regional ingredients for an exciting future.”
In the long term scientists at Daresbury are already working on an Energy Recovery Linac project as a precursor to a Fourth Generation Light Source (4GLS). The unique expertise of the Daresbury staff will be necessary to deliver 4GLS, which represents a revolution in accelerator design. It will help develop the next generation of computers, medicines and catalysts by allowing scientists to study how atoms and molecules move within a thousandth of a millionth of a millionth of a second.
Villagers fight on
over garden centre
by John Hendon
VILLAGERS are continuing to oppose controversial re-development proposals at a major garden centre – despite amendments designed to meet their objections.
The plan at Bent’s Garden Centre, Glazebury near Warrington, originally included proposals for a miniature railway and a public address system to be used in connection with falconry exhibitions.
Both have now been dropped from the proposals – but 17 residents, the Glazebury Action Group and members of Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council are still opposing them.
The scheme includes an application to retain an existing restaurant.
There has been a long history of complaints about the garden centre from nearby residents – mainly in connection with the road safety aspects of the access arrangements from Warrington Road.
The new proposals include alterations to the access to include a mini-roundabout in Warrington Road which have been welcomed by the borough council’s highways department.
There are also proposals for additional woodland planting which have been welcomed by the Mersey Forest which sees it as a contribution to tree planting targets in the Warrington area.
Glazebury Action Group has warned of a big increase in traffic volumes.
Planning officers are recommending the scheme be approved as they claim it offers an opportunity to impose planning control over many aspects of the garden centre’s activities which have caused complaints from neighbours in recent years.
. They say although the site is on green belt land, any impact on the openness of the area will be minimised by the proposed tree planting.
Members of Warrington’s development control committee have already inspected the site and will be asked to reach a decision at their meeting tomorrow (Wednesday).
Students learn about
the problems of pain
by Lesley Wilkinson
AN INSIGHT into the problems of chronic pain was given to psychology students at Priestley College, Warrington.
Karan Brierley, a pain nurse from Warrington Hospital, delivered the guest lecture from the perspective of a health practitioner to students in the college’s conference room.
The students were interested in hearing about her experiences of working for the National Health Service at one of the largest hospitals in the North West. She gave two one-hour seminars and showed them the equipment she uses and the publicity used to highlight her role.
Students gained an insight into the management of chronic pain, which in some cases can be related to psychological causes as well as physical reasons.
Mel Jackson from the college’s Psychology Department said: “We are always keen to welcome visitors onto the site who can enrich many of the issues that we discuss in the classroom.
“In Karan’s case her visit couldn’t have been better timed and gave the students some valuable first hand experience of some of the situations that she encounters on a daily basis,” she added.
Picture shows Karan Brierley with Priestley students in the college’s conference room.
Library staff dress up
for trip round world
by Lesley Wilkinson
A TRIP around the world was created by staff at Penketh Library, near Warrington when they dressed up in authentic costumes from Ethiopia, Sri Lanka and China to publicise literature from other countries.
The celebration was to promote the joys of reading and to mark World Book Day – the country’s biggest annual celebration of books and reading.
Adults and children were invited to join in the celebrations on the theme, Spread the Word, and people were urged to recommend their favourite book to family and friends.
For two weeks prior to the event, staff at the library gave out special postcards for people to send to friends recommending their favourite read. Borrowers were also encouraged to send email cards to a friend, nominating their favourite book.
Staff organised a lucky dip, where readers chose a book from a mystery selection – to encourage people to read something different. There is also a children’s quiz running until this Thursday (March 10).
Developer wins
garage appeal
by staff reporter
AN Governme
nt inspector has allowed an appeal against Warrington Borough Council’s decision to refuse planning consent for a triple garage with a loft above it at Cross Farm, Stretton Road, Appleton Thorn.
The development was thrown out by local planners last year because it involved a Green Belt site.
But the inspector says because there were previous buildings on the site and in view of earlier planning consents to convert existing buildings and because of the scale of the proposals, they are appropriate development within the Green Belt.
A borough council spokesman said the decision related very much to the specific circumstances of the site and the fact that the impact of a group of recently converted buildings would not be great.
Police probe continues
into “suspicious death”
by David Skentelbery
POLICE investigating the death of Alan Bell, at Lymm near Warrington, have issued a picture of the dead man.
Mr Bell, of Rushgreen Road, Lymm, has been described as a recluse who kept himself to himself.
But he had lived in Lymm all his life, was often seen around the village and police hope the picture may jog someone’s memory as to where and when they last saw him alive.
Mr Bell was found dead at his home on February 21. But it is believed he had been dead for several weeks.
Police are trying to trace a couple seen loading ornaments and other goods from his house into a car on Sunday, January 2.
But they stress that Mr Bell is known to have still been alive several weeks after that date.
A spokesman said: “We are trying to piece together the last few weeks of Mr Bell’s life and this couple may well be able to help us – if it is only to rule them out of the inquiry.”
The couple were both in their late 20s or early 30s. The man was abaout 5ft 10 inches tall with short tidy dark hair and the woman was about 5ft 8 inches tall, with should length brown or ginger hair. She was wearing a denim jacket.
A post mortem examination has failed to establish how Mr Bell died. But police say the death was “suspicious” and have sealed off his house. Officers are on duty there 24 hours a day.
Anyone who can help with the inquiry is asked tocall Warrington CID on 01244 615815.
Bus station plans
may be altered
by staff reporter
PLANNING chiefs are to be asked to approve changes to the proposed new multi-million ? Warrington Bus Station.
The amendments would remove a three-storey tower close to Winwick Street which some critics felt would clash with nearby Grade 2 listed buildings.
The original scheme had concerned planning officers, who had attached a condition to the approval to minimise any problems.
But officers are happy that the new proposal involves a much simpler form of building which will sit comfortably within the existing street scene and relate well to the listed buildings.
It will also allow for a landscaped open space which could be used as a location for the historic chimney cap – originally from the old Cockhedge Mills – which is currently at the junction of Winwick Street and Golborne Street.
[ 11.03.2005, 08:30: Message edited by: DS ]
