Shopping centre’s
Golden future!
by Gary Skentelbery
WARRINGTON’S Golden Square shopping centre looks set to have a “golden future” with the multi-million pound re-development well on schedule.
Meanwhile the clear message from the centre’s recently appointed manager David Allinson is that it is “business as usual” for the existing 76 shopping units, which will increase to 145, including a new showpiece Debenhams store, when work is completed in March 2007.
During the summer a host of prizes are up for grabs during a “Great Golden Giveaway” as each day up to Augst 25, children have the chance of finding 100 golden tickets – with the prize of a bar of chocolate – and just like in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory hit movie – there are some winning wrappers with more prizes to be won.
These include ?500 worth of Thomas Cook Travel vouchers, 4 VIP tickets to watch the Warrington Wolves and a 32 inch LCD TV worth ?1,500 from Plumbs.
Commenting on the works which are changing the face and shape of Golden Square, with a new extension and refurbishment of the existing mall, together with a new state of the art bus station, David said: “The project is going extremely well and we are well on schedule for the grand opening in March 2007.
“The bus station closure and the opening of the temporary facility has gone smoothly thanks to working closely in partnership with the borough council and Warrington Borough Transport. It has worked extremely well.
“My main role over the next 20 months is to ensure it is busines as usual for the existing tenants, which includes me having ergular meetings to ensure there are good lines of communication.
“Although we are hearing of reports of a recession in the retail market we are exactly where we expected to be with our leasing programme.”
David said he was delighted to see the new Monsoon store opening in the former Etam premises and added that the refurbishment of the existing centre was as important as the new development.
“The success of the whole project is based on the the centre operating as one. If there was a split between the old and the new it would not work.”
Meanwhile a special freephone hotline has been set up and David has pledged that anyone experiencing any problems caused by the redevelopment, would have their query dealt with, within 48 hours – the number is 0800 587 5029 or visit the website www.goldensquareshopping.co.uk
Arson attack on farm
A BARN containing 200 tonnes of straw and hay was destroyed in an arson attack on a farm at Croft, near Warrington in the early hours of the morning.
The barn was destroyed and an adjoining outbuilding badly damaged by the blaze at Southworth Hall Farm, Southworth Lane.
Fire crews assisted farm workers in rescuing a number of sheep and goats and during the operation a farm worker collapsed and rushed to hospital by ambulance after being given oxygen by Fire Service personnel.
It was at first thought he had suffered a heart attack, but he was later discharged from hospital.
Fire engines from Warrington, Birchwood, Stockton Heath and Widnes were involved and five main jets were used to fight the fire.
A Fire Service spokesman said: “The outcome of this deliberate act could have been far worse if it were not for the prompt action by crews, assisted by farm workers, in preventing any loss of livestock and the spread of fire to adjacent houses.”
Town hit by rise
in sex infections
by Terry Johnson
THE number of people with sexual infections has soared at Warrington.
Growth in demand for screening and treatment has led to the opening of a ?303,000 specialist centre at Warrington and the appointment of an extra hospital consultant.
The facility has its own discreet entrance, two sound-proofed consultation rooms, four treatment rooms and laboratory.
Medical chiefs say there is a boom in new clients – 350 patients a month use the service in Warrington and Halton, compared with 220 per month two years ago.
The most common sexual infection is chlamydia, with 47 per cent of reported cases.
Consultants Dr Debashis Mandal and Dr Sunidhi Vitharana are to lead the “evolution” of the service.
North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust – which runs Warrington Hospital – says launch of the new centre is seen against a challenging backdrop of steadily increasing demand, both locally and nationally.
Dr Vitharana said: “We have a new facility and two consultants, instead of one. This means we can see more people, which is vital because of the numbers accessing sexual health services”.
The new centre has private booths for service-users to fill out information forms.
Appointments for sexual health screening, HIV testing and after-care, cervical cytology testing, family planning, free medication and contraceptives, can be made on 01925-662476.
Residents in blitz
on estate litter
by John Hendon
RESIDENTS rolled-up their sleeves and got stuck into a two-day blitz on litter and unwanted rubbish on two Warrington housing estates.
People living on the Longford and Bewsey estates were joined by staff from Golden Gates Housing, fast food giants McDonalds and building contractors Connaughts and filled 20 skips with large, unwanted items.
Children who joined their parents on litter picking duty were given McDonalds toys.
Housing staff and contractors toured the estates in lorries, helping to get rid of items that were difficult to lift.
Specialist high pressure hoses were used to clear graffiti from walls.
Coun Pat Wright, Warrington Borough Council’s executive member for community services said: “It’s nice to see so many people working together to brighten up our estates.”
Golden Gates Housing manages 9,300 homes for Warrington Borough Council.
Apprentice of
the year awards
by John Hendon
THE successes of young people employed by Warrington Borough Council were celebrated at the fourth annual Apprentice of the Year awards ceremony at the Town Hall.
Achievements of the apprentices and the valuable contribution they make to the work of the council were rewarded.
The three main awards presented went to Angela Owens, Outstanding Achievement Award, Rachel Genders, Foundation Apprentice of the Year, and Tom Crute, Advanced Apprentice of the Year.
There were 30 other awards to celebrate achievements during the past year.
Apprenticeship manager Alan Langston said: “Our apprentices make valuable contributions to the work of the council and these awards are a great way of marking their success and thanking them for their hard work and commitment.”
Couple win battle
over bungalow
by Terry Johnson
A COUPLE’S plan to demolish their modest bungalow – and replace it with a new home twice the size – aroused the wrath of neighbours and parish councillors at Culcheth, near Warrington.
They protested that a double-the-size bungalow would not fit in with the street scene, because of its height and massing.
But Mr and Mrs SG Fleming’s plan to “grow” their Avon Road home to a four-bedroom dwelling has been approved by Development Control councillors at Warrington.
Culcheth Parish Council said the Fleming’s new bungalow was twice the footprint of the original and four-feet higher.
Different roof tiles would break the street harmony.
Neighbours in Avon Road and Thames Road also objected to the proposed new bungalow’s ‘excessive size’ and their loss of outlook.
But Warrington Boro. planning councillors, who visited the site, did not accept the arguments against the new dwelling on a corner of Avon Road and Bollin Close.
They felt the bungalow would not appear cramped on a sizeable plot. Its scale would not be harmful to the visual scene.
Firm’s big contract
on the door
step!
by Terry Johnson
WARRINGTON-based APE Project Management Ltd has completed work on a prestigious ?8.5m office development…just next door!
APE, which occupies space on the quality Birchwood Park, carried out a 50-week project management and quantity surveying contract for buildings there for incoming tenants, the Department of Work and Pensions.
They were also involved in a ?1.5m fast-track fit out for the Government agency, which is bringing 350-400 jobs to Warrington.
Adam Brooks, director of APE, formed four years ago, said: “We were delighted to be involved in such an impressive and ambitious project. Warrington is an exceptional growth area and we hope to grow with the town”.
Volunteers wanted to
help stroke victims
by David Skentelbery
THE Warrington Dysphasia Support Group – part of the Stroke Association – is looking for volunteers to help with its vital work with stroke victims in the borough.
A special training day has been organised for September 14 at the Alford Sports and Social Club in Manchester Road, Warrington.
The group normally meets every Thursday at the club to help stroke victims who are having speech difficulties.
Anything up to 25 clients and about 12 or 13 volunteers attend.
Organiser Carol Smith said: “We have about 25 volunteers in all, but we are always looking for more.
“Our clients are referred to us by the Speech Therapist and we do our best to help them solve any communication problems they may have. It is very frustrating for a stroke patient to find themselves unable to talk properly.
“We are having a training day for new volunteers on September 14. Normally, what happens is that after the day’s training, new volunteers ‘shadow’ more experienced ones for a while.
“The sessions are not dismal affairs – we actually have quite a good time as our clients usually learn to see the funny side of their predicament.”
Anyone in joining the group should contact Carol on 01942 672046.
