Axed Labour men
back in favour?
by David Skentelbery
TWO former council chiefs who lost their seats during the controversial ?cull? of Labour councillors in Warrington last year look set to seek re-election next May.
Ex-education chief David Keane, who was de-selected by Labour Party regional bosses and former finance boss Paul Kenny, who lost his seat when party chiefs moved him to a ward they did not expect to win, have both been restored to the list of Labour prospective candidates, it is understood.
Mr Keane is expected to fight the Penketh seat he previously held but which was captured by Tory Fiona Bruce last year. Mr Kenny will fight the Fairfield and Howley ward where his wife, Yvonne Fovargue, is already a councillor.
Both men were casualties of an intervention by Labour North West officers sent in to select candidates last year following allegations of “factionalism and in-fighting” among members of the Labour group on the borough council.
They de-selected council leader Mike Hughes, his predecessor John Gartside, planning chairman Garry Cross and Mr Keane. They also moved Mr Kenny to Latchford, were Labour were not expected to win.
An angry Mr Hughes subsequently resigned from the Labour Party and stood, unsuccessfully, as an Independent. He later became leader of the newly formed Warrington branch of the Community Action Party and stood, unsuccessfully, at the General Election.
At the height of the controversy, 30 Labour activists in Warrington wrote to party chairman Ian McCartney expressing ?deep concern? at the decisions taken by regional bosses and warning that they could lose control of the council.
In the event, despite both the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives making gains, Labour retained control with an overall majority of three.
Songstress to star
in her home town
by David Skentelbery
A WARRINGTON-born singer is returning to her home town to star in a show featuring the best songs from Broadway and the West End.
Lynn O?Driscoll, born and bred in Orford, will appear in ?Masters of the Musical? at the Parr Hall on Friday, October 21.
The production features songs from the greatest musicals in history combined with an all-star West End cast and what is described as ?the hottest band in the business.?
Music from “Miss Saigon”, “Mamma Mia”, “Mary Poppins” and many more hit shows make the production a must for all lovers of musical theatre.
Lynn O’Driscoll is very excited about appearing in her home town.
She was born and bred in Orford but left Warrington in 1972 to go to university where she graduated with honours and went on to study for a doctorate in chemistry.
Despite a PhD and a highly successful career in the pharmaceutical industry she risked all to go to drama school in 1987. Since then she has not looked back and enjoys a varied career as a professional singer appearing in musicals, pantomimes, reviews and old time music hall all over the country.
She and her husband Ed founded the highly successful cabaret trio Three’s Company and then went on to form Calibre Productions, the production company behind ?Masters of the Musical? and several other successful touring shows.
Lynn’s mum and dad and many members of her family still live in Warrington. They are all very proud of Lynn’s achievements and cannot wait to see her and Ed in action.
Five in hospital after car
demolishes bus shelter
by David Skentelbery
FIVE teenagers – one a girl – were taken to hospital at Warrington after their car careered of the road and collided with a bus shelter early today.
The crash occurred in Liverpool Road, Sankey Bridges and the car was being followed by police in an unmarked car at the time.
Fire crews were called to the scene to help two of the youngsters who were trapped in the back seat of the car – a Peugeot 106.
It is understood one of the occupants was thrown clear of the vehicle before it demolished the bus shelter.
Three of the teenagers, including the girl, was detained in Warrington Hospital overnight, although it is understood their injuries are not life threatening.
A police spokesman said officers in the area on another matter saw the Peugeot being driven in an erratic manner. They were following in an unmarked car when the collision occurred.
Police have voluntarily referred the matter to the independent Police Complaints Commission.
In a separate incident, two youths were taken to hospital after two cars collided at the traffic lights at the junction of Crosfield Street and Midland Way, Warrington.
A third car, following one of the others, was involved in the incident but was not damaged.
Security company wins
major university contract
by Gary Skentelbery
WARRINGTON based North West Security Guards (NWSG Ltd) have won a major security contract with the University of Bolton.
The company already supply security services to educational establishments in Warrington, including Warrington Collegiate and Priestley College.
The contract requires the company to provide quality security services to meet the needs of a modern large university and encompasses its extensive Campuses and Halls of Residence.
NWSG Ltd were in competition with a variety of other security providers to secure this most prestigious contract. The company which has its Head Office in Warrington provides services widely to business, commerce, the public sector, including hospitals and local authorities, throughout the North West and Midlands.
Dave Betts QPM, Director and company spokesman said, “On behalf of the company I am delighted we have been able to add the University of Bolton to our growing portfolio. We won this contract on merit, against stiff competition from other providers in spite of a challenging tender and interview process.
“We look forward to a long and successful involvement working in partnership with the university.”
Speaking on behalf of the University, The Security Manager, Chris Todd said: “The University of Bolton welcomes the opportunity to work in partnership with North West Security Guards to provide a secure and safe environment for our students staff and visitors, in which the work of the university may proceed without disruption.”
Mr Betts added: “There is no doubt that this latest contract is further evidence of the expanding business sector confidence that North West Security Guards has continued to attract throughout the region. This is another Warrington success story.”
Girls prove themselves
in a man’s world!
by staff reporter
TWO girl students, who are proving they can cut it in the traditionally male-dominated construction industry, were among more than 200 students who put their skills to the test in an event to mark National Construction Week.
Sarah Jones, 17, and Leah Harris, 19, are both first year students on the painting and decorating course at Warrington Collegiate.
Former Penketh High School pupil Sarah hopes to go on to study interior design when the courses ends while Leah, who went to Newman High School, Latchford has ambitions to own a business as a painter and decorator.
Sarah, Leah and other students from the Collegiate’s construction and engineering department, were set challenges to build a four-metre high tetrahedron and dome, a four-metre long bridge and to design town, country and city plans on paper.
The day long event, to celebrate National Construction Week, was not only a test of the students’ skills but a team-building exercise – to encourage people from different disciplines to work together.
Mark Stott, programme leader for construction and engineering said: “Not only have these activities enabled the students to work out how to build structures, such as bridges – but it’s brought together people from all trades, from carpenters to electricians, bricklayers to plumbers, engineers to pa
inters.”
A piece of history
found in rubbish skip
by John Hendon
A RELIC from the days of “hot metal” printing, rescued from a skip full of junk, has taken pride of place in an exhibition to mark the 750th birthday celebrations of Warrington Market.
The old printing block, retrieved by Richard Fleming, duty manager at Warrington’s Pyramid Arts Centre, shows a black and white picture of the old market entrance probably taken in the 1940s.
Cars on the picture date back to the late 1930s. The market building shown was demolished in the 1970s and the site is now part of the Golden Square shopping centre complex.
Market manager Steve Pickering said: “This really is quite a find. I appealed to members of the public to loan us old pictures of the market but I never expected anything like this.
“We have set up a permanent exhibition of old pictures in the market and I’m hoping we can find some more fantastic photos from the past.
“I would urge everyone to search their drawers, cupboards and garages – you never know what you might find among old junk.”
Anyone finding an old picture of the market is asked to contact Mr Pickering on 01925 632571.
Putting the brakes
on vehicle crime
by John Hendon
HOTELS, pubs and golf clubs in the south of Warrington are joining forces with police to put the brakes on vehicle crime.
For the first time local managers, licensees and heads of regional security, whose businesses have been repeatedly affected by vehicle crime, are all working together with police to find ways of deterring crooks from targeting vehicles parked at their premises.
Insp Stuart Woodcock is hailing this new working relationship as a “major step forward” in the drive to combat vehicle crime in this part of the borough.
He said: “The number of thefts from vehicles in the south of Warrington has risen throughout the year particularly at hotel, pub and golf club car parks. These places often provide easy pickings for opportunist thieves, especially when customers continue to leave valuable items such as lap top computers and golf clubs on display in their vehicles.
“Even locking valuables in the boot does not deter some thieves who will use mobile phone technology to locate the signals of lap tops which have been left switched on inside vehicles.?
A conference has been held to bring the owners of hotels, pubs and golf clubs together to discuss the issues. The next step is for a team of security and crime reduction specialists to carry out a series of site visits at premises across the area. This team will include Lynne Lees, crime reduction advisor, Mark Antrobus, architectural and CCTV liaison officer and PC Jamie Thompson who is responsible for investigating vehicle crimes in the south of the borough.
Insp Woodcock added: “We have conducted a number of operations to combat vehicle crime and will continue to do so to catch vehicle criminals in the act. We have been successful in arresting a number of offenders recently however there are always new criminals ready to take their place.
Police are also urging vehicle owners to help ? by not leaving valuable items in their vehicles.
Wolfie leads a
walk for health
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON Wolves mascot Wolfie is to lead the way in a ?walk for health? initiative at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Wednesday October 26.
A free pedometer is on offer to anyone who joins in the walk ? and participants are being challenged to see if they can walk round the pitch four times to complete a mile.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Among those to help make sure the event is full of fun are Primary Care Trust representatives, Wolves players, walking for health advisers, a food and health team and borough council representatives.
Cyclists can take their machines along to a cycle maintenance class at the same time.
