Borough planning
blueprints go out
for consultation
by David Skentelbery
FIVE key planning documents have been drawn up by Town Hall planners at Warrington to offer detailed advice to anyone proposing to carry out development in the borough.
The blueprints – “Supplementary Planning documents” (SPDs) are to go out for public consultation over the next six weeks.
They come in the wake of the inspector’s report on Warrington’s unitary development plan, which has backed the borough council’s approach to planning and development.
The purpose of the documents is to build on existing planning policies and to offer more detailed advice and guidance to anyone who is proposing development in the borough.
A wide range of community and business interest groups, as well as representatives of the development industry have been invited to comment on the five SPDs.
The documents deal with open space and recreation, planning obligations to improve the quality of new development, affordable housing, travel plans and landscape.
Anyone with an interest in any of these key planning areas can see the documents at their local library, the council’s main offices in the town centre or they can obtain a copy by contacting Anne Morris at the council’s Environment Services Directorate on 01925 442839.
They are also available on the council’s website www.warrington.gov.uk/planning
All comments will be welcomed by the council and will be taken into account before the guidance is finalised.
The consultation period lasts until Monday June 13.
Junior tennis courts open
A NEW, junior tennis facility was officially opened at Stockton Heath Tennis Club, Warrington.
The innovative mini-courts, designed to enable the youngest juniors to play using small racquets, soft balls and a smaller net, were opened by Norman Nelson, chairman of the Cheshire Lawn Tennis Association, in front of an audience of club members, parents, junior players, etc.
Afterwards some of the youngsters played a demonstration match and there was a barbecue.
The brightly-coloured mini courts can be used for coaching but can also be combined to form an adult singles court.
Club chairman Jim Baron said: “We were fortunate to have an area of land which wasn’t really being used for anything which could accommodate the mini courts. The brightly coloured playing surface is attractive to children but is also used as a coaching aid, with different colours for different parts of the court.” The club received an interest-free loan from the Lawn Tennis Association to enable the scheme to go ahead.
Stockton Heath Tennis Club has a strong commitment to junior tennis and has a partnership agreement with Bridgewater High School – a five minute walk away – under which they share the use of six floodlit all-weather courts.
This makes it possible for all-year round tennis, including coaching, to take place.
Shafilea murder:
eight re-bailed
by John Hendon
EIGHT people arrested in connection with the murder of Warrington teenager Shafilea Ahmed surrendered to police bail – and have been re-bailed to appear again on August 2.
They were originally arrested and questioned on suspicious of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
All eight are believed to be members of the 17-year-old’s extended family.
Police are still investigating the death of Shafilea, whose body was found in a river in Cumbria more than 18-months ago ago.
A bilingual hotline – in Urdu and English – has been set up in case anyone has information they wish to give to the police in confidence. The freephone number is 0800 458 9701.
Shafilea disappeared from her home at Great Sankey and it was several months before her body was found in Cumbria.
Although her cause of death has never been established, police are convinced she was murdered.
Sometime before her disappearance, she had been on a holiday to Pakistan where, it is understood, she was introduced to a “suitor” with a view to an arranged marriage.
Subsequently she suffered severe throat injuries in Pakistan after apparently swallowing bleach – possibly as a protest at the marriage plan.
At the time of her disappearance she was still being treated for the injuries at Warrington Hospital.
Mother and children
escape from fire
by staff reporter
A MOTHER and two children, aged seven and eight, escaped from a first floor kitchen window after fire swept through a maisonette in Oldfield Road, Lymm, near Warrington.
They were trapped when the blaze broke out at the front of the property.
Firechiefs believe the outbreak could have been caused by a discarded cigarette on an external landing near the front door.
Three fire engines from Warrington, Stockton Heath and Birchwood were sent to the scene, off Star Lane, after reports that children were trapped in the property.
But by the time they arrived, the family had managed to escape through a kitchen window onto the external landing at first floor level.
Smoke affected a number of other properties in the three-storey building.
Firefighters used a hydraulic platform to reach the roof during the operation.
A fire service spokesman said it was believed the blaze was caused by discarded smoking materials outside the flat. The flames spread inside, trapping the occupants at the rear.
Independent candidate
targeted by vandals
by David Skentelbery
VANDALS – or pranksters – have targeted Paul Kennedy, the Independent candidate in the key Warrington South constituency.
A large campaign sign was stolen from outside his home at Appleton.
It was carefully removed from its post, the culprit going to the trouble of removing screws rather than just smashing the sign.
Later one of the Kennedy campaign team located the sign, undamaged with the screws still in their holes, at local beauty spot The Dingle.
It was returned to its original location and re-erected.
Mr Kennedy is standing as an Independent because he says he, like many other people in Warrington South, has become disillusioned with the established political party structure with its claims, counter claims, promises and broken promises.
He said: “We are being asked to vote for a ‘leader’ WHO just happens to have a party tagged on. MPs have to comply with their party leadership.
“Surely in a democracy that values freedom of speech, we should elect MPs who are able to speak freely, without fear or favour, influencing and challenging the decision making processes, to ensure we live in a society where people feel good about themselves and proud of this country.
“If elected as your Independent Member of Parliament, I will be able to do that, and will be directly answerable to you, the electorate, and will devote all of my time and effort representing you, in our Parliament. As you would expect, I have views, opinions and ideas on all of the issues and challenges of our society.
“Our democracy and the freedom to speak out are really important – it is our ancestor’s inheritance to us and we are its custodians for future generations.”
Mr Kennedy is 48, married and has two sons attending local schools. He has lived in the constituency since 1987. His background is as a senior manager and company director in the private sector.
Anglican brothers
to visit town
by Lesley Wilkinson
A GROUP from an Anglican community on a remote Pacific Island will visit Warrington to share their experiences with local people.
The Melanesian Brotherhood, who live a simple lifestyle of harvesting, fishing and building their own homes, hail from The Solomon Islands, east of Papua New Guinea.
They are supported in part by Chester Diocese and will be visiting the city’s Cathedral and while in the area will make several vi
sits in Warrington.
On Sunday (May 8) from 9.30am two of the brothers will be at St James Church, Latchford for a parish service and social meeting. They will then visit St Wilfrid’s Church, Grappenhall, from 3pm, for a presentation followed by tea, music, singing and dancing at 4.30pm.
On Tuesday May 10 at 2.30pm, they will attend the Mothers’ Union Meeting at Grappenhall. And on Friday May 13, they will return to the area to visit Latchford CE Primary School and for a youth event at Grappenhall in the evening.
The community was in the news in July last year when seven brothers in the Solomon Islands were murdered during civil conflict, and others who were taken hostage were tortured and forced to witness acts of brutality. The bodies were later recovered by the Australian Army.
Blaze hits disused
church building
by John Hendon
FIRE crews were called to a disused church building in Warrington town centre after fire broke out – believed to have been caused by vagrants.
The blaze was in a disused building adjoining Cairo Street Unitarian Chapel which was badly damaged in an earlier fire last month.
Fire chiefs say the building is in a dangerous condition, contains deadly asbestos and is obviously being used by people sleeping rough.
They say syringes have been found in the building, indicating it is being used by drug users.
