Police warning to
public: “Be alert
– but not alarmed”
by staff reporter
POLICE in Warrington have stepped up security in the town following the bombing atrocities in London.
But the message to the public is: “Be alert – not alarmed.”
Cheshire Chief Constable Peter Fahy said: “Our hearts reach out to the people in London and their suffering in the wake of these events, but we also admire the resilience of the people of London.
“It is important at this time that we remember that communities in the UK have more that unites them than divides them. We are determined that these atrocities will not be allowed to create tensions between our communities. The police, local authorities, and all members of the community are working closely together to ensure the safety and security of all.” Mr Fahy said in view of the attack on the capital, the national threat level had been raised to “critical” for the present time.
However, it was important to emphasise that there was no known threat to any location in Cheshire and the alert status within the county remained at “Standard”.
But to reassure the public, police patrols had been increased and a higher visibility police presence would be maintained.
Security was being stepped up at key locations such as railway and bus stations and on major road networks.
Aerial monitoring of key locations was being carried out and there would be an increased presence at significant events.
Mr Fahy added: “However, the public also has a key role to play in ensuring that the whole of the community is safe and feels safe. Police are asking the people of Cheshire to remain vigilant, report anything suspicious but don’t cause alarm.
“Make sure that your belongings are accounted for, and do not leave parcels or baggage unattended where it may raise alarm in others.”
Warrington Council of Faiths – representing all religious organisations and churches in the town – has condemned the London bombing atrocity.
A statement signed by the council’s president, Divyesh Trivedi and secretary, the Rev Stephen Kingsnorth, was issued following talks with local police.
It said calm and stability currently existed among the Warrington faith communities and added: “The Council of Faiths would, along with others, wish to make clear its condemnation of the terrorist acts and express sympathy with all who have suffered.”
Crusade to save
British crafts
by John Hendon
A HUSBAND-and-wife business team from Warrington are bidding to save British craftsmen and women from extinction – by selling their products to America.
Peter Witts and his wife and business partner Alison have set up Unique British Gifts to open up new marketing and trade links into the US gift market.
They have assembled an impressive range of hand-made British products to sell to American collectors who appreciate the finer things in life.
The company, based at Warrington Business Park, represents a growing band of artists and craftspeople from across the UK exploring new markets for their individual products.
It has the backing of Business Link Cheshire and Warrington.
Peter believes it is vital to open up new markets overseas before what remains of the British craft industry disappears.
He said: “Unfortunately the British seem to be losing interest in quality products. Increasingly we live in a throw-away, bland society and go looking for mass-produced goods in indistinguishable shopping centres.
“People love Britain, because of its diversity and charm, but every day we are losing specialist businesses and skilled craftsmen, only to have them replaced by clones from another city, town or country.” Over the past five years there has been a marked decline in sales of unique British gifts and crafts.
“Artists will tell you every year gets more difficult. They are swimming against the tide and increasing numbers are going under. I’m still proud of being British and feel we need to be doing something to preserve our heritage and traditions,” he said.
The company’s range includes hand-crafted Edwardian figurines, elegant glassware and crystal, watercolour paintings of the British countryside and unique pen sets, including a limited edition 1805 pen commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar.
The pen has been crafted using the genuine oak timbers and copper from Admiral Nelson’s flagship HMS Victory.
Peter and Alison have already visited New York to market their business idea and will return in August for the International Gift Fair to target new suppliers and retailers.
“Fewer Americans may visit Britain these days but they still admire the heritage and crafts we produce,” said Alison.
Fire crews horsing
about on the motorway!
by David Skentelbery
FIRE crews from Warrington constructed a temporary “corral” on the hardshoulder of the M6, near Thelwall Viaduct yesterday (Friday) when a horse fell over in its horsebox and ended up on its back with its legs in the air.
Three fire engines were deployed in the operation which ended happily with two vets assisting firefighters to sedate the frightened animal and then get it off the motorway and to nearby stables.
A Fire Service spokesman said: “We made the corral from two fire engines and a ladder to make sure the horse couldn’t bolt across the motorway. We quite expected to see both fire engines wrecked as it was a big horse with very big feet, but we needn’t have worried. After it was sedated it got too sleepy to bother.
“But it was not a happy horse when we first got there. It was kicking the horsebox to pieces.”
Fire crews from Warrington and Stockton Heath were involved in the operation, on the southbound carriageway of the motorway.
When the horse was eventually driven off the motorway – still in its horsebox – it was part of a convoy of three fire engines and two police cars.
Fire station plan
is put on hold
by David Skentelbery
A CONTROVERSIAL planning application to turn a redundant fire station into a hot food takeaway shop has been put on hold – to give councillors time to inspect the site.
Members of Warrington’s development control committee will visit the property in London Road, Stockton Heath before reaching a decision.
Developers RF Estates Ltd. want to convert the early 20th-century fire station building, which is within the village conservation area but has been standing unused for some time.
They propose ground and first-floor extensions to provide hot food and also financial services use.
A two-storey extension to the London Road frontage would project three metres. A twin-gabled first-floor extension would project over the rear car park.
But the scheme has triggered opposition locally. Stockton Heath Parish Council and residents of nearby East Avenue say the plans represent “inappropriate over-development” of the site.
Extending the front of the building would be over-bearing and cause serious damage to the street scene, they claim and the rear extension would have “an overbearing effect” on East Avenue and residents’ homes.
Extra traffic and parking would add to the problems.
Residents fear smells, noise, litter, car doors slamming, anti-social behaviour and deliveries at unsocial hours.
Planning officers say they do not believe residents’ amenities would be harmed
Gypsy family wins
caravan battle
by David Skentelbery
A GYPSY family has won planning permission to keep its caravan on green belt land near Warrington – despite fierce objections from nearby residents.
Planning chiefs decided the educational needs of Mr and Mrs Andrew Smith’s three children, the limited visual harm caused and the likelihood of the family being forced to occupy other land illegally amount to “very special circumstances” to allow development in the green belt.
Sixteen nearby residents had lodged ob
jections and claimed the family was in breach of green belt planning regulations.
But 13 others supported the family’s application and said they had already made a vast improvement to a previously derelict site.
Two caravans owned by Mr Smith will now be able to stay on land at Woodend Farm, Woodend Lane, Rixton, following the decision by the borough council’s development control committee.
The committee heard Mr Smith is a self-employed tree contractor working in the Warrington and West Manchester area. Two of his children are pupils at Rixton Primary School.
Objectors argued the site was in the green belt and set a precedent for future similar applications. They claimed the caravans would have a damaging impact on Rixton Moss, which is an environmentally sensitive area and would also destroy the natural habitat of several threatened species, including barn owls, tree sparrow and grey partridge.
They feared discharges from a septic tank would pollute a nearby watercourse and claimed the caravans had a damaging impact on the green belt.
News in brief
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery organised by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 8, 10, 14 and 15. The ?109 jackpot went unclaimed so will be around ?200 next week. The ?25 consolation prize was won by J Smith.
Bus station
WARRINGTON Borough Council is to make a traffic regulation order to allow a temporary bus station to be set up to the west of Winwick Street and south of Midland Way, for use while construction of a new bus station and enlargement of the Golden Square shopping centre takes place.
Road closure
PARTS of the road and footpaths in Golborne Road and Parkside Road, Winwick will be temporarily closed from Monday (July11) for about 18 weeks while road works are carried out. Temporary diversions will be signposted.
Site visit
MEMBERS of Warrington’s development control committee are to visit the site of a proposed four bedroom house in Avon Road, Culcheth before deciding if the scheme, which would replace an existing two bedroom house, can go ahead.
