Thugs in savage attack
on have-a-go rescuer
by David Skentelbery
POLICE at Warrington are hunting two thugs who attacked a 60-year-old man – and then savagely beat up another man who went to his assistance.
The attack took place at around 6.30pm at the Roberts Fold subway at Birchwood, Warrington.
A 60-year-old man was approached by two youths, one of who asked him for a light. The other man then punched him in the face, splitting his lip and causing bruising.
The pair then moved away – and a 30-year-old man who had seen what had happened remonstrated with them.
They responded by attacking him, punching him to the face and knocking him to the ground where they kicked him repeatedly and stamped on his head.
Their victim suffered injuries to the top of his head, a broken nose, two fractured fingers and cuts and bruises to his body. The attack only ended when a number of other people approached. The two thugs then walked away.
One of the youths is described as 17-19, of skinny build. He was wearing a white baseball cap, white tracksuit with red stripes on it and white trainers. The second was about 18-21, stocky and darker skinned than the first. He had short dark hair and was wearing a grey baseball cap and dark blue jeans.
They were last seen walking in the direction of Padgate.
Police are appealing for witnesses. Anyone who can help should call PC Alexander Reeves on 01244 612646.
New CSOs start work –
funded by the parish
by staff reporter
TWO new police Community Support Officers have taken up their duties at Warrington – funded by a local parish council.
CSOs Colin Cheshire and Natalie Giles will patrol the Great Sankey and Whittle Hall areas and say they are looking forward to getting to grips with local issues.
Great Sankey Parish Council chairman Roy Smith said: “The parish council is pleased to welcome Colin and Natalie as Community Support Officers.
“We believe they will make an important contribution by tackling the crime and anti-social behaviour perpetrated by a ssmall minority in the parish.
Twenty seven year old Colin, born and bred in Warrington, decided to make the switch from working for a national bank to becoming a CSO.
He said: “Instead of sitting behind a desk in an office, I now have a role where I can do something to help the wider community.
“I’m looking forward to addressing the issues that cause residents problems such as underage drinking and anti-social behaviour. Hopefully people will feel reassured by seeing us out on patrol.”
Colin is playing an integral part in the newly established Great Sankey Pub Watch scheme. As the dedicated CSO for the initiative he acts as a point of contact for licensees and liaises between the landlords and the police Community Action Team (CAT).
CSO Natalie Giles previously worked part time as a doctor’s receptionist, after completing a three year course in Criminal Justice at Liverpool John Moore’s University. The 22 year old from Widnes is now enjoying being a CSO out on patrol in the local community.
She said: “I have already visited local schools and also met with business owners to introduce myself. I’m currently tackling the problem of nuisance motorbike riders around Great Sankey Leisure Centre by gathering intelligence and carrying out high visibility patrols to prevent offences from occurring.”
Fifth annual anti-
bullying programme
by John Hendon
WARRINGTON’S Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Trust is set to run its annual anti-bullying programme, “A Bit of Fun”.
Backed with a ?13,500 grant from Barclays Bank, the programme will run for a two week period, with more than 1,200 young people taking part at the Warrington Peace Centre.
Aimed at Year 6 pupils in their final year of primary school and any youngster attending a special school, the programme – now in its fifth year – is designed to equip young people with a variety of practical techniques and coping strategies with which to effectively deal with instances of bullying when they arrive in secondary school.
The fortnight kicks off on Monday June 27 and runs until July 8. Once again, the Waterfall Theatre Company will perform their play “a Bit of Fun” which deals with bullying issues and their consequences in school.
Following the play there are workshops which include poetry, posters, a bullying web-quest utilising the IT suite and the performers will talk to the young people about the issues raised in the play. Youngsters are encouraged to talk about bullying and its consequences and given ideas on how to avoid being bullied or what to do if they or someone they know is being bullied at school.
Rachel Herbinson, regional community manager for Barclays commented: “We are committed to communities and we are delighted to support the Tim Parry and Johnathan Ball Trust with their ‘A Bit of Fun’ project. The project tackles the very real and difficult issue of bullying and I am sure it will benefit many children preparing to make the transition into secondary school. This is a great opportunity for us to help make a real and lasting difference to children in the local community”
Pupils scoop “Gold Oak”
prize for recycling
by staff reporter
PUPILS at St Monica’s RC Primary School, Warrington have been celebrating scooping the top prize in the Yellow Woods Challenge.
During the last 10 weeks 11,762 pupils at 40 schools across Warrington took part in the challenge, which is an educational campaign run in partnership between Warrington Borough Council, Yellow Pages and the Woodland Trust and supported by paper supplier UPM, and have been collecting old Yellow Pages for recycling.
Pupils at St Monica’s collected the top prize, the “Gold Oak” title and received prize money of ?300 for collecting the most directories per pupil and Kirk, the recycling bug and mascot for the Yellow Woods Challenge, also popped in to congratulate the school.
Headteacher Angela Williams said: “Our pupils enjoyed this competition and worked very hard to collect directories. We also appealed to the wider community to help us with this challenge and all the pupils and staff would like to say a big thank you to everyone who supported us.”
St Andrews CE Primary School, Orford won second prize and Park Road Primary School, Great Sankey, came third. All participating schools will be entered into the UK final where they will have a chance to win ?2,000.
A total of 10.1 tonnes of directories will be recycled into corrugated cardboard as a result of the effort.
Picture shows headteacher Angela Williams, Peter Hyde, waste minimisation and recycling officer at the council and pupils celebrating their success with Kirk, the recycling bug and mascot for the Yellow Woods Challenge.
How to be cool – and
safe – in the heat
by staff reporter
AS Warrington prepares for its fourth sweltering hot day, health experts have issued a warning on how best to keep safe in hot weather.
Residents are being urged to take action to protect themselves in their homes, on the move and while enjoying themselves in the sun.
Warrington Primary Care Trust director of public health Dr Rita Robertson said: “You can’t be blas? about the weather in this country. People die in the heat and there is an onus on everyone to take sensible precautions to protect themselves and their families and to look out for welfare of older relatives and neighbours.
“Severe heat poses an immediate threat to vulnerable people and can have long-term health consequences for anyone who ignores the risks. Excessive exposure to the sun can lead to skin cancer and premature ageing.” Approximately 27,000 people died in the last heatwave to hit Europe in 2003 and 2,000 of these excess deaths were recorded in England.
Dr Robertson added: “There is also a heavy burden of responsibility on NHS and social care staff and
staff in residential homes to take care of vulnerable people who cannot fend for themselves. More than 85 per cent of the people who died in the 2003 heat wave were aged 75 or over.” To keep safe, people are urged to:
Make sure that babies and young children have plenty of fluids and to not become over-heated in the home.
Check up on the wellbeing of frail older neighbours, friends and relatives.
Avoid travelling and sun bathing in the hottest times of the day, which are usually between 11am and 3pm.
Experts advise taking drinking water if travelling by car, not leaving children in parked cars, staying in the shade at the hottest times of the day and to wear a hat and loose fitting light clothes, preferable cotton.
Other precautions include using a sunscreen with a potetion level of 15 or higher, using sunglasses that offer 100UV protection, taking cool showers or baths and eating cold food when possible, particularly salads and fruit, which contain water.
Apartments plan
gets go-ahead
by Lesley Wilkinson
AN APPLICATION to convert a house into five apartments in Grafton Street, Warrington has been approved despite planners warning that it would add to traffic problems.
Officers were concerned that the plan had no provision for off-street parking. They recommended refusal because parking was already a problem in the congested area, exacerbated by the proximity to Warrington Hospital.
Planners said it would have adverse implication for the free flow of traffic along the road and neighbouring Wardour Street.
Yet despite this the application for an end terrace house was approved by Warrington’s Development Control Committee.
Members heard it would help regenerate the site and that insulation was being to prevent noise problems.
Complaining about trains
should become easier!
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON rail passengers who have trouble with their journeys should find making a complaint easier following a re-organisation.
The Rail Passengers’ Committee for North Western England, which previously dealt with passenger issues, held its final meeting in Manchester.
Under the Railways Act 2005, the regional committees of the Rail Passengers Council are abolished. From next month a single national body, based in London and in Manchester, will champion rail user’s interests.
Passengers who wish to complain about a rail journey should contact 08453 022 022.
Man “critical”
in hospital
by staff reporter
A 22-year-old man is “critical” in hospital at Warrington after being injured in a disturbance at Longford.
Police have arrested two men, aged 41 and 44, who were due to appear before magistrates in the town today.
The disturbance was at the junction of Sinclair Avenue and Poole Avenue at about 2.15pm on Saturday (June 18).
Arson attack
on house
by staff reporter
FIRE crews wearing breathing apparatus searched a smokefilled house at Warrington during the night after reports that someone might be trapped inside.
But the house in Grasmere Avenue, Orford, turned out to be empty.
The blaze was caused by an arson attack. An external bin cupboard, attached to the house, was set alight and smoke filled the house. But firefighters managed to prevent flames from spreading inside.
