Residents’ fury over
golf ball “barrage”
by Terry Johnson
RESIDENTS whose homes adjoin a showpiece golf course at Warrington are calling for the ninth green to be re-located…so they can escape a ?frightening barrage? of powerfully driven shots flying across their gardens.
Golf balls constantly pepper rear gardens and homes at Birchwood, bringing fear of serious injury to residents.
Mis-hit balls smash into windows, posing not just risk to occupiers using their gardens, but also danger inside homes.
Irene Hughes, whose home is closest to the ninth green of the 18-hole Birchwood course, has taken legal advice after stray shots smashed through bedroom and dining room windows in one day.
She and her three-year-old grandson, Robert, had a lucky escape when a ball crashed through a bedroom window and showered the room with glass shards where they had been just minutes before.
“Several homes are in line of fire – I counted nearly 50 golf balls in the garden after a week’s play”, she declared.
“I have lived in this bungalow since 1976 and have always acknowledged there must be some give-and-take when one chooses a home on the edge of a golf course. I have no quarrel with the golf club. But the risk factor has increased significantly in recent times.
“Now I need a hard hat when I am out pottering in the rear garden. Gardening has to be done at the crack of dawn, before the golfers are out, or at dusk.
“But I am really worried about the grandchildren – especially after two golf balls landed in rooms of the house on one day. One hit the bed, the other landed in the middle of the dining room.”
Mrs Hughes added: “Club officials say it will cost between ?20,000-?30,000 for the ninth green to be moved further away from homes. They have planted rows of small ‘blocking’ conifers. But it will be many years before these can effectively screen mis-struck golf balls.
“Meanwhile, the barrage goes on.
“Solicitors advise me that I have a 99 per cent chance of winning any legal action I may take against the club – but it would land me with a ?20,000 bill for their fees. I have already spent ?2,500 on advice to try and resolve this issue”.
Other residents of Ledsham Close told of how sliced golf balls had soared over their homes – landing in front gardens, striking cars parked in driveways.
Said one home-owner: “Living with a popular golf course has become something of a nightmare. The club cannot bury its head in the sand over this”.
Mike Cullen, secretary of Birchwood Golf Club, which has over 700 playing members, said: “We have a policy of reporting any hits to property off the golf course because of the terms of our insurance cover. Measures have been taken to guard these bungalows with plantings of trees.
“There are other options open to us. But I do not wish to comment on issues like moving this green further away from homes”.
College students are
“in the army now”
by John Hendon
.
WARRINGTON?S Priestley College is offering a new course which could help meet a national shortage of recruits for the armed services, police, fire brigade and ambulance services.
The BTEC National Certificate in Public Services (Uniformed) offers students an insight into uniformed public service careers ? and an Army Youth Team called in at the college to help get the message across.
Students taking the course can also pick up a professional qualification.
The course is equivalent to two A-Levels and offers a foundation for progression into further education or a career.
While on campus, the army put the students through a range of activities, which included participating in command tasks and leadership drills alongside the more fun element which involved an assault course.
They were also able to offer the group key career advice for those thinking about joining the armed forces.
Course Co-ordinator Colin Whittaker said: “It was great for our students to see at first hand what the army was all about and be able to do so on the college campus.
“We have a number of keen students who are interested in pursuing a career in the armed forces and so for them, the advice and guidance they received was invaluable.”
Students are put through their paces by the Army.
Alessandra takes on
a marketing role
by staff reporter
.
A WOMAN whose Italian family made ice cream in Warrington for 100 years has been appointed to a marketing role with leading IT software provider, Strand Technology.
Alessandra Manfredi’s family manufactured ice cream from a factory in Church Street for more than a century.
A graduate of Sheffield University, Alex has worked for United Utilities. Her new job as sales and marketing co-ordinator with Strand in Warrington involves marketing, PR and website activities for a company that develops computer software for the NHS.
Strand is a leading software provider, developing highly specialised computer software for the mental health sector of the NHS.
Its CareNotes system is a market leader in its field.
Students who “stay on”
can earn cash bonuses
by Terry Johnson
WARRINGTON students who are helping reverse Britain?s shameful post-16 education drop out rate are to pick up a ?100 cash bonus! And rewards for continuing their studies over two years could be worth up to ?500.
The cash windfalls go to students who qualify for the weekly Education Maintenance Allowance and stay on in education after 16.
After their first year, they trigger a ?performance and good attendance? bonus and extra cash hand-outs over the next year.
Explained Liz Davis, Executive Director of the Learning and Skills Council, Cheshire and Warrington: ?This extra incentive to continue with courses will have a big impact on retention and encouraging students to work hard.
?Extra cash means that young people who might be tempted to drop out of their courses into low paid jobs have been given a huge incentive to stay on?.
Liz stated: ?This country has one of the worst post-16 drop out rates in the world. We are determined to reverse this. ?The bonus is an important part of our overall EMA package. It?s extremely encouraging that so many students have qualified for this payment.
?This is a something-for-something scheme which is exceptionally effective in helping people stay on?.
Many students receiving EMA since last year would not otherwise have had the means to continue studies beyond their GCSE?s.
Liz added: ?Bonuses depend on progress in their courses ? but are worth potentially ?500 extra money over two years?.
EMA students in a household with an annual income of ?30,000 or less can receive ?10, ?20 or ?30 a week in return for regular attendance and an agreed performance level.
Call the free EMA help-line: 080-810-16219 or log on to www.ema.dfes.gov.uk
Tourism board’s
10-year vision
by business staff
THE fledgling Cheshire and Warrington Tourism Board has put in foundations for achieving business growth and has a vision for tourism to 2015.
The board says membership growth is 17 per cent up on last year and, together with partners, it has steered a number of strong initiatives.
“The challenge for our second year is to build on those achievements, to continue the momentum”, said chief executive Chris Brown.
James Berresford, tourism director for the Northwest Regional Development Agency, said: “The new board has taken great strides over the past year to develop into the leading body for tourism in its area”.
Injured driver is
“serious but stable”
by David Skentelbery
A 19-year-old man suffered serious chest and head injuries when the car he was driving was in collision with traffic lights in Wilderspool Causeway, Warrington.
The car, a Renault Clio, suffered extensive damage in the inci
dent.
The youth, from Latchford, Warrington, was taken to Warrington Hospital from the scene of the crash at the junction with Greenall’s Avenue. He was later transferred to Southport Hospital where he was today said to be in a serious but stable condition in the intensive care unit.
Witnesses of the accident are being asked to contact PC Ian Dodd on 01244 613928.
News in brief
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the Friends of Warrington Hospital were 4, 14, 15 and 16. There was no winner for the jackpot which means it will be rolled over to next week when the top prize will be about ?400. The ?25 consolation prize went to Cathy Owen.
Office extension
SPORTS gear manufacturers Asics UK Ltd have been granted planning consent to build a two-storey extension to their offices in Europa Boulevard, Westbrook, Warrington.
Alfresco dining?
PLANS for a “covered” outdoor eating area at Bridgewater High School’s Lower School premises off Hall Drive, Appleton, have been given the go-ahead by Warrington borough planners.
Disabled parking
WARRINGTON Borough Council has made an order to introduce disabled persons’ parking places in Foreshaw Street, Guernsey Close and Heath Street, Warrington. Anyone who wishes to object must apply to the High Court within six weeks from August 18.
