Planners think twice
about lake scheme
by John Hendon
PLANNING chiefs are to visit the site of a proposed new fishing lake at Culcheth, near Warrington after hearing of furious objections from nearby residents.
Members of the borough council’s development control committee will study the area at Ratcliffe House Farm, in Bent Lane, before deciding if the scheme can go ahead.
The scheme is on Green Belt Lane and involves transforming a flat area of farm land into a lake, with landscaping, woodland and car park for 45 vehicles. There would be facilities for 100 anglers.
Applicant Graham Unsworth has scaled down an original development of 120 fishing pegs and 60 parking spaces close to Newchurch Parish Church.
But Culcheth Parish Council objects to the latest project. Councillors feel the lake would be too close to homes, there is no provision for cyclists and area traffic would increase.
Protests about traffic volume on congested Bent Lane also come from neighbours.
The local branch of the Council for the Protection of Rural England, the Peak and Northern Footpaths Society and the Ramblers’ Association have also expressed concern.
Planning officers are recommending the scheme be approved and claim there would be benefits for wildlife. They say the development would be “countryside character” and would cause no significant damage to the local environment.
Wildlife on the
menu at local hotel
by staff reporter
THE Cheshire Wildlife Trust is to host a special evening for wildlife lovers at Lymm, near Warrington.
Lee Greenhough and Sue Tatman, two members of the Trust, will give a presentation on birds and small mammals indigenous to the area.
The event will be held at The Lymm Hotel on Thursday (June 16).
Hotel general manager Philip Pasteiner said: “The Lymm Hotel is well placed to host such an event. We are lucky to see so much wildlife in the hotel’s gardens and grounds and it is fascinating to learn more about it.”
Later in the year, the Trust is planning to hold a family fun day in the grounds of the hotel, with bird box making and many other activities for adults and children.
The Cheshire Wildlife Trust is a charity that works to protect and enhance wildlife in the county. It manages 45 nature reserves which help to protect endangered species, rare plants and threatened habitats.
A spokesman for the Trust said: “As the natural environment, including ponds, woodland, grasslands and peatlands, is disappearing and wildlife heritage is being lost to development, pollution and intensive farming, it is all the more important to preserve the unique local area and its wildlife to help maintain the balance of nature.
“We are taking on a broader role in the region in the light of the increasingly important environmental agenda.”
Choir’s music uplifted
expatriate’s last days
by Terry Johnson
A MUSICAL medley by Warrington Male Voice Choir uplifted the last days of ex-Warringtonian Barris Liptrott, who has died in hospital in New South Wales.
Barris, whose father, James, was for many years a member of the 100-strong choir, was taken ill quite suddenly.
His daughter, Kay, who e-mailed the choir from Australia, said: “I took a tape of the choir’s music to the hospital. It included my father’s opera favourite, ‘Nessun Dorma’. He really loved it.
“The songs now have a place in my heart, as we shared such close and special times listening to the music.”
Barris asked for the song to be played at his funeral in Gosford, New South Wales.
Ian Scholes, secretary of the national award-winning choir, said: “The choristers here were moved at the thought they were being heard so far away, at such an emotion-filled moment”.
A Spanish festival – in
Warrington town centre!
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON’S two town centre entertainment venues – Pyramid and Parr Hall – are gearing up for a weekend with a Spanish flavour.
CultureFest will take place in the newly restored Queens Gardens between Friday July 1 and Sunday July 3 and will showcase the best of Spanish culture from world-class flamenco guitar to other-worldly street theatre.
Jetting over from sunny Malaga, Tanit Teatro kickstarts the weekend’s activity at midday on Friday. Their compelling fusion of dance, puppetry and Spanish song has won them acclaim both at home and abroad.
Juan Martin is a top guitarist and will be performing on the Saturday with his band.
Also on Friday, look out for Dali Painting – an interactive piece of theatre that allows people to create the art.
Saturday will see the festival start in earnest. There will be Spanish artwork, giant puppets Spanish soundscapes created by local schools and the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
There will be a drama production by St Barnabas, three celebrated Spanish pieces performed by the Northern Chamber Orchestra and dancing by the Yerba Group.
On the Sunday, the grand finale will be by BBC World Music Grammy nominees – Radio Tarifa, mixing acoustic rhythms with electrifying sounds to create a blend of Spanish and Arabic styles.
Visitors can also enter a competition to win a family holiday to Majorca.
Youth orchestra to
get adventurous
by Terry Johnson
A TALENTED youth orchestra which blends serious music with a “fun philosophy” plans to take its members canoeing, climbing and orienteering.
Warrington Youth Orchestra’s autumn course at Bala, North Wales, will see members practising their music during mornings and evenings….and engaged in adventure pursuits in the afternoons.
Said orchestra chairman, Roy Green: “This will be a fantastic experience for orchestra members and new starters. While our main objective is to make good music, we also want our members to have fun.”
The orchestra’s late spring concert was the last for 20 young musicians with a combined total of 170 years service.
Many leavers will be taking up university places, from Edinburgh to York.
“The loss of such a large number of members is sad – but I wish them luck in their developing futures”, stated Mr Green.
He paid tribute to first orchestra conductor and musical director, Mr Ridley, who has given 30 years service.
The youth orchestra has carried the town’s musical colours to Prague, the Czech Republic region of Nachod, the Stadt Halle in Hilden, Germany, and many British venues.
The orchestra has rental instruments available (bassoons, oboes, cellos and horns) and also arranges beginner lessons in woodwind, brass and strings.
New players are welcomed on Saturday mornings (term-time) at the Bridgewater High School venue, Stockton Heath.
Further details: Roy Green, 01925-490527, or Kath Whyte, 0161-941-2350.
Electric iron
starts fire
by staff reporter
FIRE crews were called to a house in Watkins Street, Warrington when fire broke out in the living room.
The blaze was started by an electric iron left plugged in on an ironing board.
A Fire Service spokesman said it was important to remember to switch off electrical appliances before leaving them – particularly if going out.
He said a help line giving advice on fire safety measures, free smoke alarms, etc was available on 0800 389 0053.
