Former MP to be
honoured by town
by David Skentelbery
LORD Hoyle – the former Warrington MP who was elevated to the peerage in 1997 – is to be honoured by the town he has served for the past 24 years.
Warrington Borough Council will be asked at its meeting on Monday, July 11, to approve his appointment as a Freeman of the Borough.
The honour will come eight years after he ceased to be the Labour MP for Warrington North, became Lord Hoyle of Warrington but confidently predicted: “People will still call me Doug.”
Doug Hoyle was MP for Nelson and Colne from 1974 to 1979 before he came to Warrington – before the town was split into two constituencies – and narrowly won the famous 1981 by-election contested by the new Social Democrat Party.
He defeated Roy Jenkins, the former Labour Home Secretary who defected to become one of the founders of the SDP – but only by 1,759 votes.
Three years earlier the Labour majority had been well over 10,000.
But from such an unpromising start, Doug Hoyle quickly earned the respect and affection of Warrington people.
In 1992 – by now the MP for Warrington North – he swept back for his fourth term as a Warrington MP with 33,019 votes – an increase of almost 4,000 on the 1987 election.
On the national stage, he was elected chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party in 1992.
After becoming Warrington’s MP, Mr Hoyle soon became a Warrington Wolves’ fan, eventually becoming club chairman. He played a key role in the club’s revival and the move from the old Wilderspool Stadium to the new Halliwell Jones Stadium off Winwick Road.
Coun Mike Hannon and council leader John Joyce will move and second the resolution that Lord Hoyle be made a Freeman of the Borough.
Pair scoop robotics award
TWO youngsters from a Warrington college took part in an exhibition attracting 44 “mice” from seven different schools at Manchester Metropolitan University.
The pair from Priestly College scooped one of the prizes in the annual robotics competition, The Micromouse Scheme. Top ICT students from throughout the country took part in the contest to build the best autonomous mouse (robot) across a range of disciplines.
And Priestley students Robert Tracey and Peter Sadler impressed the judges with the engineering skills used to create their entry.
Robert, 18, a former pupil at Great Sankey High who lives in Great Sankey, and Peter, 18, a former pupil at Birchwood High who lives in Woolston, both study ICT, Computing and Electronics.
The pair worked with the Electronics and Physics Departments to devise a robot with its own unique circuitry. It was soldered by the students themselves, and earned them top place in the design and engineering section.
It followed an initial setback when the “mouse” failed to respond to set tasks – meaning the pair could not win one of the main prizes.
Peter Butterfield, of the college’s ICT department, said: “The students in question spent many late nights on the project and really took it upon themselves to create something unique.
“They managed to meet this end and although they were originally disappointed, this soon turned into a positive as their skills in electronics were recognised,” he added.
Man suffers eye injury
in street attack
by David Skentelbery
A WARRINGTON man suffered a fractured eye socket when he was attacked as he walked home in the early hours of the morning.
The attack, in Knutsford Road, near Harrys taxi office, was apparently completley without motive.
Police said the victim, aged 22, was walking towards his home at Latchford, talking to a friend on his mobile phone.
A man and woman passed him in the street – and then returned to confront him. The man – probably in his early to mid-twenties – punched him in the head and face. His mobile phone was also snatched.
In addition to the fracture, the man suffered cuts and bruises to his face. He went to Warrington Hospital for treatment.
Police said the attacker was about 5ft 11 inch tall, clean shaven with short dark hair. He was wearing a light coloured top with dark hoops.
The woman with him was of similar age, slightly shorter and had long blonde hair. She was wearing dark clothing.
Anyone who witnessed the attack or who can help police with enquiries is asked to call DC Ian Allen or DC Jackie Daniels on 01244 613945.
MP’s campaign to save
free cash machines
by Lesley Wilkinson
PEOPLE hit by unexpected charges after using cash machines are being urged to contact Warrington North MP Helen Jones who is fighting to get the practice outlawed.
She fears free cash machines may disappear and is calling for protection of the existing free machine network.
Charges often hit people hard – especially those on low incomes.
The MP is backing a Commons motion expressing concern about the fact that almost half cash machines now charge a withdrawal fee.
Five years ago almost all cash machines were free ones, yet by the end of this year charging machines could outnumber free ones.
Ms Jones welcomed new rules that ATM’s have to display a clear sign showing how much it costs to withdraw cash, to protect customers from unexpected charges. Posters and adverts for the machine will have to make charges clear.
“I welcome the new rules and support the principle that consumers should be able to see at a glance whether or not a cash machine will charge them,” she said.
She cited a Nationwide Building Society report showing that consumers are paying more than ?200 million a year in unnecessary charges for accessing their own money.
“I am concerned about this rapid growth and will be working to ensure that a free ATM network is protected for my constituents who do not want, or cannot afford, to pay to access their cash,” she said.
She is asking people with complaints about charges to contact her or contact LINK on 01423 356000 or e-mail [email protected]
Council urged to back
more recycling moves
by David Skentelbery
LIBERAL Democrat councillors at Warrington are urging the borough council to put pressure on the Government to improve waste minimisation and recycling.
They also want the council to introduce more recycling initiatives, such as more kerbside collection, at the earliest possible opportunity.
Liberal Democrat leader Ian Marks will move a resolution at next Monday’s council meeting which will put the spotlight on Britain’s poor performance on recycling, compared to other similar countries in Europe.
Coun Marks said recycling initiatives in Warrington, such as a recent one on green waste disposal, were welcome.
But he will urge the council to introduce other planned initiatives in the town, such as more kerbside collection.
He said: “We must recognise that some action to reach national targets can only be taken by central government.
“We should call on the Government to do more to improve waste minimisation and recycling and ask our MPs to lobby the Government accordingly.”
Special awards for the
town’s special students
by Lesley Wilkinson
THE cream of students from three Warrington special schools will be presented with certificates and prizes at a ceremony at Birchwood Leisure and Tennis Centre, Birchwood.
Youngsters from Grappenhall Hall, Green Lane and Fox Wood schools, will be commended for achievements in each Key Stage at the event this Friday (July 8).
Coun Colin Froggatt, Executive Board member of children’s services, said: “These children have truly achieved something special. They are helping to develop and create a sense of community in their schools.
“We are rightly proud to be involved in the praise of these talented individuals. It will be a great day,” he added.
Joining him will be interim strategic director for Children’s Services Norma Cadwallader, and the Mayor of Warrington,
Coun Hans Mundry.
Youngsters from all three schools will give musical presentations during the Aiming High event.
Norma said: “Aiming High is about celebrating achievement. Many of the children receiving awards will have overcome disabilities and difficulties in reaching their goals and we are very proud of them.”
Car fire
POLICE are investigating a fire which destroyed a saloon car at the rear of shops in Poplars Avenue, Orford, Warrington early today.
The car was completely burned out and arson is suspected. It is not known if the vehicle had been stolen prior to being set alight.
