Police step up hunt
for triple-robbery thug
by David Skentelbery
DETECTIVES in Warrington have stepped up the hunt for a man they believe was responsible for three attempted robberies.
They have issued an e-fit picture of the offender who, as reported in Warrington-Worldwide last week is alleged to have used an incapacitating spray twice during attempted robberies.
In the first incident, on April 2, a 47-year-old man was approached on the footpath adjacent to Birchwood Expressway over the M6 motorway.
The offender threatened him, attempted to steal cash and used the spray before running off empty handed.
About 15 minutes later a man of similar description approached a 51-year-old man who was withdrawing cash from a cash machine at the Birchwood Centre. He again used the spray and demanded cash before running off.
A short time later a man was discovered in the kitchen of a house in Old Warrington Road, Risley. The occupants challenged the man who ran off.
Police say the offender in each case was described as being in his late teens to early 20s, of heavy build with short dark brown or black hair. He was wearing a long sleeved horizontal striped top and was riding a small bike.
Anyone who can help police should contact DC Jackie Daniels or DS Chris Barrow at Warrington CID on 01244 613836.
Residents given their
“dream” woodland
by Lesley Wilkinson
IN A project known locally as “Our Wood” residents of Whittle Hall, Warrington, have been given their own patch of woodland that they will transform over the next few years.
Great Sankey North Residents Association, local schools and other interested groups now have a fundraising target of ?50,000 for the project.
They have been given a site of derelict woodland off Whittle Avenue and Malvern Close and aim to create a haven with hundreds of trees, flowers, footpaths and benches.
Chairman of the association Brenda Bradley, 63, said: “Kids get a lot of bad press. They swing on trees not realising they will cause damage and break them. We hope the project will promote understanding and help them to appreciate the environment and so prevent vandalism.”
Brenda said that residents have been working for six years to try to get the plot of land, previously owned by the Ministry of Defence as part of the Burtonwood Base. They were thrilled to be told they could use the land and delighted when Warrington Borough Council said it would support the project and maintain the land when completed.
“We called the project Our Wood,” said Brenda, “and aimed to involve all the young people in the area to regenerate the wood. We will all work together to regenerate and look after it.”
Local schools are involved in the project and a Kids Committee had been set up to help with fundraising. Youngsters have been making presentations to organisations to attract funds.
They have made a “Dream Tree” out of copper, and added to it as offers of help came in.
A series of public bodies and organisations have agreed to help, with grants so far including ?10,000 from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and more than ?7,500 from David Wilson Homes, which is developing the base site.
The project will be officially launched on May 26 at Whittle Hall Community Centre. It will be open to local people interested in finding out more between 1.30pm and 3.30pm.
Public views sought on
major planning issues
by John Hendon
PEOPLE across Warrington are being asked to come forward with their views on the ways Warrington Borough Council keeps them updated and informed on major planning issues.
The aim is to ensure that individuals, groups, communities, organisations and businesses are fully informed and consulted when important planning matters or significant planning applications are under consideration.
The council has set out its intentions in a draft “Statement of Community Involvement”, as required by changes to the planning system introduced by the government last year.
The aim of the statement is to enable communities to:
Know exactly how and when they will be involved in the preparation of local planning documents
Know how they will be consulted on planning applications
Enable local communities to say what sort of place they want to live in at a stage when it can be more influential.
In particular, the council is aiming to target more “hard to reach” groups which have not historically engaged with the planning process such as young people, ethnic minorities and disabled people.
Coun Terry O’Neill, executive member for Sustainable Regeneration, said: “We hope that by achieving greater community involvement in the planning process we can ensure local communities, stakeholders and other organisations can have an even more active influence in identifying and addressing the main planning issues in their areas. It will also give people greater involvement in the development of planning policies and proposals.”
Copies of the statement are being sent to many local groups and organisations across the borough, as well as other agencies that have an interest in planning matters.
Copies will be placed in all libraries in the borough for a six-week period starting on Monday (PRIL 18). It will also be available at the Town Hall, New Town House and the Tourist Information Centre in Warrington Market.
During this six-week period, comments are being invited and a brief questionnaire has been issued to assist those who wish to respond.
All comments should be returned to the council by 5pm on Friday 27th May.
The documents are also available at the council’s website www.warrington.gov.uk/planning
Market in search for
photos of its past
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON Market, celebrating its 750th year in service to the town this year, is issuing a plea to anyone who may have old photographs of life as it used to be for stallholders.
The pictures will be displayed around the walls in the market and will also be included in a one-off commemorative publication to celebrate the anniversary.
Whatever the quality, shape, size or subject, as long as they feature the market, professionally copied versions of old photographs could help to build up a valuable pictorial history of the market down the years.
Market manager Stephen Pickering said: “We need you to check your lofts, backrooms and garages and help create a moment in history for Warrington today.
“Through old photos, visitors to the halls and hand-me-down stories, we are really beginning to create a rich tapestry of history and we want to share that with others.
“We understand how precious photos can be and, therefore, will copy your images and give them straight back to you. If you think you may be able to help in our quest, feel free to contact us.”
The 750th anniversary celebrations get under may on May 9 with the return of the Staffordshire Pot Fair.
Further information is available from Mr Pickering on 01925 632571.
Breathing new life
into blighted site
by staff reporter
PLANS to breath new life into a sprawling, rundown site, blighted by years of industrial use, are to come before Warrington planners for a second time.
Members of the borough council’s development control committee will consider the scheme for the 10-acre site off Bewsey Road and Dallam Lane on Wednesday, April 20.
The site adjoins the new ?12 million Warrington Wolves Rugby League stadium and is currently accessed from Bewsey Road and Dallam Lane.
It is occupied by a range of industrial buildings, some dilapidated and disused and others inefficiently used.
The first time the scheme went before the committee it was adjourned for further information to be obtained.
Developers Morley Pooled Pensions are seeking permission for 123 dwelling
s occupying 65 per cent of the site with small business workshops on the rest, forming a “buffer zone” between the homes and an existing concrete batching plant in Dallam Lane.
The dwellings, a mix of two bedroom, three-storey apartments and three and four bedroom town houses of two and three storeys, would range along Bewsey Road and around courtyards. About five per cent of them would be classed as “affordable homes.”
There would be landscaping and tree planting to protect the amenity of the new residents and an area of public open space, including a children’s play area.
Planning officers say the development would contribute to the economic and environmental regeneration of a rundown area and could provide a stimulus for further development on the northern edge of the town centre.
But neighbours say new residents will have to endure noisy, aggressive rugby supporters, rowdyism, fighting, car parking and alcohol related problems.
