NEWSFLASH
School bus in crash
A BUS carrying pupils to Cardinal Newman High School, Latchford, Warrington, was involved in a hit-and-run accident with a red Rover 414 today. One 13-year-old boy suffered a minor head injury. Witnesses are asked to contact police on 01244 350000.
Rescue plan for landmark
angers nearby residents
by David Skentelbery
A “RESCUE plan” for one of Warrington’s most historic landmark buildings has been given the go-ahead – despite opposition from more than 170 nearby residents.
People living in St Peter’s Way claim the scheme to preserve the Grade 2 listed Cheshire Lines railway warehouse would leave them living in the shadow of seven storey apartment blocks.
A residents’ spokesman said: “These flats will blight our lives forever.
“The sheer size of this development shows no respect for the setting of this historic site.”
The Cheshire Lines Warehouse was built in the 1870s. It has stood empty for years, is rapidly deteriorating and has been described by English Heritage as a building “at risk.”
David Mclean Homes proposed to restore the warehouse itself by converting it into apartments. But the controversial aspect of the scheme is four additional apartment blocks on adjoining land – some seven storeys high. A total of 157 dwellings are involved.
Access to the development will be via Central Way – the approach to Central Station.
Planning consultant Alison Freeman, representing the developers, said it was the most important privately funded regeneration scheme in Warrington for many year and had the full support of English Heritage.
She pointed out that outline planning consent for residential development had already been approved for an even higher number of apartments. This would involve even higher buildings – perhaps of nine storeys.
The nearest homes to the site would be not see the new blocks as they had no windows facing them.
Planning officer John Groves said the scheme would involve a “dramatic change” of the landscape. But the nearest existing homes would be at least 40 yards away and would suffer no loss of sunlight on summer afternoons.
Curtain up on campaign
to promote languages
by staff reporter
YEAR Nine pupils from schools all over Warrington converged on the Pyramid Arts Centre for a languages event organised by Priestley College and run in association with a cross-town partnership recently created to promote foreign languages in the borough.
More than 350 pupils from Lymm, Culcheth, Bridgewater, William Beamont, Cardinal Newman, Sir Thomas Boteler, Woolston, Penketh and Birchwood secondary schools attended a play entitled “Le Nouveau Voisin”.
The hour-long play was performed completely in French and told the story of two young neighbours who were complete opposites.
So big had been the interest in the performance that the play which was performed by the Warwick based Onatti Theatre Group had to be pencilled in for two dates.
It was entirely devised for teenagers and was packed full of useful vocabulary which was backed up by visual humour ensuring that the audience were kept interested.
Carol Mtitimila who organised the trip was full of praise and enthusiasm for the production and the impact it had on the school pupils.
She said: “It was a great delight to welcome so many different schools to one event and the results couldn’t have been any better.
“The pupils are at a key time in their education where they are about to make choices about which subjects to study further. Even those with only a mild interest in languages couldn’t have helped but be enthralled by what they saw at the Pyramid.”
Family of seven
flee house fire
by John Hendon
A FAMILY of seven escaped unhurt after fire broke out at their home at Warrington in the early hours of today.
The occupants of the house in Grange Avenue, Latchford, were alerted by a smoke alarm.
Extensive damage was caused in a bedroom, with joists and floorboards set alight.
The cause remains a mystery, and fire experts are investigating.
A spokesman for the Fire Service said: “This is another case where the occupants have been saved by having a smoke alarm. They were aroused by the alarm and managed to raise the alarm and get out of the house.
“It could have been very different had there been no alarm.”
Firefighters were also called out several times during the night to deal with arson incidents involving wheelie bins.
A spokesman said: “We would appeal to people to try and keep their bins secure. They should not be left near buildings or in a position where they can be pushed against buildings. Often a nuisance fire can become a serious incident if the flames spread to property.”
Town takes lead in new
memorial masons scheme
by staff reporter
A SEMINAR bringing together a number of local authorities and memorial masons to discuss a national registration scheme has taken place in Warrington.
The seminar at Walton Hallwas organised by the borough council’s bereavement services manager, Angela Dunn to discuss how local authorities and memorial masons could work more closely to improve the standards of service provided to the bereaved.
The day also saw the official launch of the new British Register of Accredited Memorial Masons, BRAMM.
BRAMM was set up last year to establish a network of nationally accredited businesses with the aim of establishing a recognised standard of workmanship among memorial masons throughout the UK.
The scheme is designed to protect the public by ensuring that all its members provide public liability insurance.
The 25 local authorities and 29 memorial masons attending the conference were told about the scheme and its benefits to encourage them to register.
The council has been actively promoting the register and Fox Covert Cemetery became the first regional assessment centre for the scheme in the country last month.
Coun John Kerr-Brown, the borough council’s executive member for Neighbourhood Services, said: “The council has been at the forefront of promoting this scheme and we are delighted that so many memorial masons and local authorities have taken such an interest and attended the conference.
“It is good news that Fox Covert Cemetery has become the first assessment centre in the country and I hope that many other local authorities and memorial masons follow suit and join the register.”
Angela Dunn said: “This scheme is important because it ensures high standards of installation are provided by all businesses on the register, together with guarantees on the workmanship and this gives people peace of mind. We organised the day to encourage closer working between local authorities and memorial masons to improve the standards of service provided to the bereaved.”
Minister to open
new sports centre
by John Hendon
SECRETARY of State for Culture, Media and Sport Tessa Jowell is to officially open the ?1.25m multi-purpose community sports centre at Sir Thomas Boteler Church of England High School in Warrington on Monday March 14.
She will be given a tour of the new facility while taking the opportunity to meet the people who made it possible, and look in on some of the sporting activities it will be home to.
The state-of-the-art sports facility has been made possible thanks, largely, to investment by the Big Lottery Fund.
A borough council spokesman said: “The investment has transformed the school’s sports facilities and pupils will now be able to play a whole host of games including net ball, basketball and badminton – the national governing bodies of all these sports have endorsed the design of the centre.”
The centre is a joint partnership between the school and ‘Ball Hall’, which specialises in the provision of sports such as basketball, netball and badminton. The community sports centre will
be available for use by the school during the day and by the local community in the evenings, at weekends and during school holidays.
Libraries join forces
for “science week”
by staff reporter
LIBRARIES across Warrington are joining forces to celebrate National Science Week.
They are offering children aged seven and over to pop along to one of four libraries to create their own monster robot.
The robot making events are at Padgate Library on Tuesday (March 15) and at Warrington, Birchwood and Burtonwood libraries on Saturday (March 19).
A borough council spokeswoman said: “The robot events are a great way for families, suitable for children aged seven plus, to have fun with electronics. Places are limited to ten, so you are advised to contact the individual library to book your place. Please note that except for at Padgate Library, an adult must accompany children.”
News in brief
Road closure
HIGHWAYS chiefs have issued a reminder that the southbound carriageway of Warrington’s Wilderspool Causeway is to be closed this week while road works are carried out.
The closure takes place from 8pm Saturday evening and could continue until 6am on Monday. Hopefully, however, the work will be completed in time for the road to be re-opened by 7pm on Sunday.
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 8, 9, 10 and 15. No-one claimed the ?200 jackpot which will be rolled over to the following week. The ?25 consolation prize was won by L Vincent.
Footbridge
WARRINGTON Borough Council is seeking planning consent for a pedestrian footbridge in Walton Hall Gardens.
Foundation stone
PLANNING approval has been given for a foundation stone, arch and iron cross in front of Parochial School, in Church Street, Howley, Warrington.
