Greenfield sites will be
protected from developers
by David Skentelbery
GREENFIELD land around Warrington should be protected for the foreseeable future as a result of the findings of the public inquiry into the borough’s Unitary Development Plan.
Borough Council chiefs say years of uncertainty caused by the ever-present threat posed by land-hungry developers should now be ended.
The council’s proposals for the designation of a tight green belt boundary around the town and local villages such as Lymm, Culcheth, Burtonwood and Croft – outlined in the Unitary Development Plan (UDP) – have received unreserved support by the inspector who conducted the inquiry last year.
Communities at Thelwall, Penketh, Peel Hall, and throughout the borough, joined with the council to defend its green belt proposals against objections from developers – whether in the immediate future or in the longer term.
The inspector has backed their stance – and also endorsed the council’s approach to the development of the important Omega site, subject to additional safeguards to ensure minimise traffic impact.
Coun Terry O’Neill the council’s executive member for Sustainable Regeneration, said: “Such a ringing endorsement from the inspector is a fitting reward for all the time and effort put in by local communities and the council over a number of years.
“It has put an end to the uncertainty that has dogged the council’s attempts to get the security of an adopted development plan for the borough.”
The inspector supports returning thousands of acres of “safeguarded” land to the green belt – vital to protecting the open countryside.
Coun O’Neill added: “Now our countryside is protected, we can continue to concentrate on regenerating the older areas of the town and prime investment sites such as Omega, which will have huge potential to bring about greater opportunities and employment to all areas of our town, but particularly to our inner wards.
“It is vital we ensure that people in these communities, including skilled workers and businesses, are given the opportunity to reap the rewards from major schemes such as this and we are committed to ensuring they can do so.”
However, a further proposed employment site at Barleycastle Trading Estate, Appleton, does not find favour with the inspector and he recommends that it should remain in the green belt.
He also recommends that a policy to guide further development within the existing power station complex at Fiddlers Ferry should be retained in the plan.
The Inspector’s recommendations will now be considered by the council’s executive board, before final modifications to the UDP are published for consultation – the final step leading to the adoption of a statutory development plan for the borough.
Copies of the inspector’s full report and additional information will be available for inspection in town centre council offices and all libraries from next Monday (April 18).
It can also be viewed on the Council’s website at www.warrington.gov.uk/udp
Funeral of tragic PC
THE funeral has taken place of PC Kevin Brinkman, the Warrington police officer who was tragically killed in a road accident in Thailand where he was working as part of the relief effort following the Boxing Day tsunami disaster.
Colleagues of PC Brinkman carried the coffin at the service at St Mary’s Church, Weaverham near Northwich and later at Walton Lea Crematorium, Warrington.
The cortege stopped briefly at Stockton Heath Police Station, where PC Brinkman was at one time based, on its way to the crematorium.
There was a full police guard of honour, led by a piper, at the church.
During the service, the Chief Constable of Cheshire Peter Fahy addressed the mourners, paying tribute to PC Brinkman and outlining his career.
Sgt Phil Wilkinson, a colleague from the Warrington CAT, read a prayer and there were also readings by PC Mark Smith and PC Brinkman’s father, former police officer Brian Nicholson.
PC Brinkman died on March 29 when a mini bus in which he was a passenger was involved in a road accident. Two other Cheshire police officers were injured.
An officer from the Warrington Community Action Team, PC Brinkman aged 33, had previously served as a uniform patrol officer in Warrington and Stockton Heath.
He had been a police officer for 11 years and before that had served as a Special Constable. He lived with his long term partner and fianc?e Diana and their two year old daughter, Chloe, in the Northwich area. Diana and Kevin were due to be married in September this year.
In 2002 he was awarded a Chief Constable’s commendation for bravery in arresting two armed robbers who attacked a jeweller’s shop in Stockton Heath.
New support group for
“premature” parents
by John Hendon
A YOUNG Warrington mother who suffered the trauma of giving birth to a premature baby has set up a support group for parents facing similar problems.
Donna Plumb, from Gorse Covert has established Neomates – a support group for parents who have children on the Neonatal Unit at Warrington Hospital.
The group, which has the full support of the hospital, offers help to the parents of ill or pre-mature babies during what is always a testing and difficult time.
Donna?s own daughter, Cara-Lia Moran, was born 27 weeks into her pregnancy weighing just 750 grams. She spent 12 weeks in the Neonatal Unit and is now a bright and energetic two and a-half-year-old.
Said Donna: “I wanted to do something for the parents of the children on the unit. It can be a very difficult time and I hope it will be helpful for parents to discuss their problems and feelings with each other.
“I’m also hoping that we can attract parents of former patients on the unit. They have been through what the current parents are going through and their experience would be hugely beneficial.”
Sister Debbie Yates, from the unit, said: “A parent support group is a great idea. I hope it can be successful and offer parents the chance to share their thoughts with each other.
Any parents of former babies on the unit wanting to be involved in running the group can contact Donna Plumb on 01925 820824 or Debbie on 01925 445550.
Neomates is meeting every two weeks in the family room on the Neonatal Unit.
Parliamentary hopeful
“committed to Penketh”
by John Hendon
WARRINGTON South Conservative Parliamentary candidate Fiona Bruce will remain a member of the borough council if she is elected to Parliament in the General Election on May 5.
The Penketh and Cuerdley ward councillor said: “I am committed to the people of Penketh and Cuerdley.
“There is much still to be done in the Penketh area, particularly in the areas of combating anti-social behaviour, improving facilities for young people in the area and improving the cleanliness of our streets.”
Mrs Bruce, head of the Stockton Heath law firm Fiona Bruce and Co and a mother-of-two, was elected to the borough council last June for a two-year term.
She captured the seat from Labour – becoming the first Tory to win a seat in the ward for many years.
When the former leader of Warrington Borough Council, Mike Hall – now MP for Weaver Vale – won the Warrington South Parliamentary seat for Labour in 1992 he too stayed on as a borough council for a while, before relinquishing his seat to concentrate on his work as an MP.
Police shake-up: the
changes have started
by staff reporter
CHANGES which will bring a new look to policing in Warrington have begun.
The old divisions are being phased out and replaced with Neighbourhood Policing Units within three Areas which, in turn, replace six former divisions.
Warrington forms part of the Northern Area, along with neighbouring Halton.
The foundations have already been laid for
the county’s NPUs and over the next few weeks and months the inspectors who head up each of the 18 units will fine tune their unit. By mid-June, each and every NPU be fully up and running.
Each unit will have its own Investigation Team to tackle low level crimes such as burglary and theft from cars. They will be joined by Community Action Teams to provide high-profile policing and look for long-term answers to problems of disorder and local crime.
Members of the public will see more officers out on the streets and the joint approach of officers working alongside residents, local community groups and organisations will be expanded.
The changes are being phased in to make sure the switch is not only seamless but to also ensure members of the public still receive a quality police service during the transitional period.
Chief Superintendent Clive Pownall, commander of the Northern Area, said: “I have already received very positive comments that at long last the police service is listening to residents.
“The test for us will be in six to 12 months time when we ask residents if they know their local Sergeants, PCs and CSOs. My hope is that their answers will be a firm yes because they will be seeing these officers patrolling within their community on a regular basis as part of our new Neighbourhood Policing Units.”
A whole range of new units and teams will support the officers working at NPU level but unlike the NPU resources, they will cover a wider area.
Years of hard work, planning and research has gone into the Force’s restructuring programme and this will continue for many months until every change has been fully implemented. It is expected to take until the end of the year.
New shopping centre
manager arrives
by staff reporter
A NEW general manager, David Allinson, has taken up his post at Warrington’s Golden Square Shopping Centre.
He arrives as the ?120 million redevelopment of the centre gathers momentum and succeeds Andrew Ward, centre manager for the last five and-a-half years.
Mr Allinson was most recently employed by Manchester Airport as head of commercial development and has held previous roles at senior levels in commercial planning and retail operations at BAA, Gatwick and Heathrow Airport.
He also held a number of roles at Bass Leisure Retail Ltd including retail business manager.
Mathew Clements, portfolio manager for Lend Lease said: “We are delighted to welcome David to the team and he joins us at an exciting time in the transformation of Golden Square, bringing with him a wealth of retail experience in high volume, fast moving retail sites.
“As the main redevelopment works progress, the town centre and Golden Square will operate as normal and Legh Street car park remains open and operational providing 850 spaces for the town centre.
“David will be pivotal in ensuring that, as we move through the works, it is business as usual for retailers and visitors to the town centre and Golden Square.”
The ?120 million scheme will extend the shopping centre by 330,000sq ft to provide approximately 60 new shops, 1,700 car parking spaces on four levels and a new bus interchange.
The development will be anchored by a Debenhams department store comprising 115,000sq ft over 3 floors. The extension will be fashion led including an improved catering offer and it is estimated that the development will make Warrington one of the top 40 retail destinations in the UK.
Up to 1,200 jobs will be created as a result of the development: 200 in construction and 1,000 in retail.
Software company joins
health service IT project
by staff reporter
A WARRINGTON-based company is celebrating after being given the chance to take part in a major IT project with the National Health Service.
Strand Technology, based at the Xpdia Centre, in Birchwood, develops specialist computer software to help NHS staff working in mental health.
The company, headed by businessman Graham Phillips has now been selected to become part of the National Programme for IT (NPfIT) compliance programme – a major project which covers NHS hospitals throughout the country.
Mr Phillips said: “This is fantastic news for Strand Technology. By becoming part of the NPfIT programme our system becomes even more attractive to NHS hospitals across the UK.”
The NPfIT programme involves drawing together up to date computer systems across the NHS to improve the way the health service works.
Over the next 10 years, hundreds of hospitals and thousands of GP surgeries will be connected to help with the way patient records are stored and accessed.
Strand Technology already has 12 NHS Trusts across the UK using its care record system.
It is a new company formed as the result of a management buy out and is among the growing number of firms working at the cutting edge of technology that are being attracted to Warrington.
What to do about
internet abuse
by staff reporter
THE Warrington and Cheshire branch of the Chartered Management Institute is holding an event tomorrow (Thursday) highlighting the problem of employees abusing the use of the internet and email at work.
A barrister specialising in employment law and working for EEF Northwest will explain the legal and business case for employers.
Specialists from Zentek, a company specialising in forensic investigation will share their experiences and answer specific questions.
The event starts with a light buffet at EEF Northwest at Glazebrook, near Warrington at 6.30pm.
Further details are available from Cathy Blades on 01928 719139.
