Car thieves arrested
after police operation
by court reporter
A FIVE day police operation to target vehicle crime in South Warrington resulted in two men from Merseyside being arrested and charged.
One has already appeared before Warrington Magistrates, pleaded guilty to stealing from cars, and been sentenced.
The 26-year-old received a community punishment order for 18 months, with a condition of 18 months supervision and 120 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay ?40 costs.
He was charged with stealing from cars in the Walton area of Warrington.
The other man, aged 23 currently on police bail, is due to appear before the magistrates on Monday, June 13.
A police spokeswoman said the operation was mounted after police identified a trend in theft from parked vehicles in South Warrington. It was an intelligence led operation involving the Warrington South Neighbourhood Policing Unit and Community Action Team officers and an investigation team, as well as officers from the Northern Area Proactive Policing Team (PPT).
200 children in
home safety quiz
ABOUT 200 children from schools across Warrington took part in this year’s Warrington Schools Home Safety Quiz.
Held at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, the final Home Safety event saw 15 children from three schools – Bruche Primary, Bradshaw Primary, Grappenhall and Our Lady’s Catholic Primary, Latchford – competing for the top spot.
All the teams scored highly in the competition, which ended in a draw with Bruche and Bradshaw sharing the prize shield between them.
The Home Safety Quiz, organised by the borough council, is held annually as part of the council’s on-going campaign to raise young people’s awareness of accident risks and reduce the number of accidents in the home.
Those taking part in the quiz, which was this year sponsored by Unilever, were presented with a shield and individual prizes including gift tokens and miniature trophies.
The Mayor and Mayoress, councillors Hans and Karen Mundry, representatives from the council and Unilever and Ben Westwood and “Wolfie” from Warrington Wolves, joined the pupils taking part in the event.
Family escape from
smoke-filled house
by David Skentelbery
A FAMILY of three escaped from their smoke-filled home in the early hours of the morning after fire broke out in the kitchen.
The blaze was at a house in Gregory Close, Great Sankey, Warrington.
A chip pan had apparently been left unattended on the cooker and burst into flames. Fortunately the family were awakened by the smell of smoke and managed to escape.
But 40 per cent of the kitchen and contents was destroyed by fire and the rest of the property was affected by heavy smokelogging.
Fire crews wore breathing apparatus to tackle the blaze.
A Fire Service spokesman said the family were fortunate to escape as it was a severe fire and no smoke alarm was fitted in the house.
“We recommend that chip pans are replaced with deep fat fryers, which are much safer,” he said. “Obviously, smoke alarms are vital and they are available free of charge from the fire brigade. We will also soon be introducing a scheme where chip pans can be exchanged for a discounted deep fat fryer.”
No-one was hurt in the incident.
Students urged to
travel by bike
by staff reporter
STUDENTS are being encouraged to swap their steering wheels for handlebars in a drive to promote green transport.
As part of Warrington Collegiate’s Green Travel Plan, a cycling bonanza was staged at the Winwick Road campus with a range of bikes on show from three-wheelers to eight-seaters.
Staff, students and children from the Under 5s nursery at the Collegiate were able to try out the different types of bike on display in the hope they will swap car travel for something more green.
from the usual adult and children’s bikes, some more uncommon bicycles were available for people to try out – courtesy of Company of Cyclists, an organisation which promotes two-wheeled transport.
The day was funded by Warrington Borough Council which, in partnership with the Collegiate, is involved in the college’s Green Travel Plan strategy.
The plan was an integral part of the planning permission given to the Collegiate for its ?27 million new build project on Winwick Road. It was drawn up to help minimise the impact of the college’s generated travel while maximising people’s access to education and training.
The document raises awareness about environmentally-friendly transport options such as bus travel or biking to and from college.
Operations manager Karen Topping said: “The idea is to promote alternative forms of travel to and from the college, reducing car use. Some of our initiatives for staff and students include working from home, teleconferencing and car sharing. We are also looking at improved bus services, including free bus travel, secure storage for bikes and the provision of shower facilities.
“The Cycle Day helped us show students that there are alternatives to the car and we were able to demonstrate the benefits of thinking about greener forms of travel. Everyone’s had a wonderful day and it’s been great fun seeing all the different types of bikes.”
MP speaks out for
working carers
by John Hendon
WARRINGTON North MP Helen Jones will begin her support of Carers Week when she highlights the campaign by shop workers union USDAW for better rights for workers with caring responsibilities today.
The MP will be joining Dr Basma at her Thompson Avenue surgery in Culcheth to promote the “working carers” leaflet which the MP is asking all GP surgeries to have in their waiting rooms to help raise the awareness of the rights that working carers have.
She will be juggling three balls – home, work, caring – to represent how working carers have to juggle their responsibilities.
Ms Jones said: “Over 9,000 working carers in Warrington North make a massive contribution to society. It is right we give them as much support as possible.
“Working carers do a fantastic job of juggling their home life, their working life and their caring responsibilities. Many of them also have to balance their parental duties. I am campaigning with USDAW to promote the contribution that working carers make and to campaign for improved rights and benefits.
“USDAW’s ‘working carers’ leaflet details the rights carers have and how they can seek further assistance. It is an excellent publication and I am hoping that GP surgeries across the town will agree to have a stock for their waiting rooms. Many carers visit GP surgeries on a regular basis and this initiative is a great way to provide them with really useful and relevant information.”
USDAW General secretary John Hannett said: “We are delighted to have the support of Helen Jones. This campaign is very important to many of our members who find it extremely difficult to balance their different responsibilities. We know that because our members tell us that work/life balance is one of the most important issues they face.
“Having the support of MPs like Helen Jones helps when we lobby Government for a better deal. Your readers can help by writing to Helen Jones with their own experiences and support for the campaign.”
Copies of ‘working carers’ can be obtained from Helen Jones by telephoning her constituency office on 01025 232 480.
Flower festival to
mark church centenary
by staff reporter
MEMBERS of Stockton Heath Methodist Church, near Warrington, are to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the laying of the church foundation stone with a flower festival.
The church on Walton Road will be decorated with beautiful displays, all with a “foundation” theme for the weekend Friday June 17 to Sunday June 19.
Two special services to mark the laying of the foundation stone will take place amidst the floral displays o
n the Sunday at 10.30am and 4pm
Drama workshops involving the young people of the church performing three short, light hearted dramas at the church hall, adjoining the church, will take place from Thursday, June 16 through to the Saturday.
News in brief
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 2, 8, 10 and 12. The ?591 jackpot was not claimed so will be rolled over to next week when it will be about ?850. The ?25 consolation prize went to A Bebbington.
Security ban
PLANNING chiefs have refused permission for a rota-spike intruder protection device on three flat-roofed parts of Birchwood CE Primary School, Warrington and security shutters for doors and windows.
Bingo boom
WHITECROSS Community Centre, Warrington, is holding free bingo sessions on Wednesdays and Fridays. The Wednesday sessions start at 1.30pm while on Fridays they start at 2pm.
No parking
ST Albans RC Church, in Bewsey Street, Warrington, has been refused planning consent for a car park for church use.
Sunday concert
A BAND concert is to take place at Walton Hall Gardens, Warrington from 1pm until 4pm on Sunday (June 12).
