Police seize drugs
in raid on house
by crime reporter
HEROIN and crack cocaine worth an estimated ?580 was seized when police swooped on a house at Oakwood, Warrington.
A 36-year-old woman was arrested on suspicious of possessing the Class A drugs with intent to supply to other people and was due to appear in court later.
The raid was carried out by officers from the Warrington East neighbourhood police unit, supported by a dog unit and officer from the area support unit.
A police spokeswoman said 36 bags of heroin and 22 individual ?deals? of crack cocaine were seized from the property, together with drugs paraphernalia.
Police were acting on intelligence gathered in conjunction with the local housing authority and in response to concerns raised by the local community.
The woman was subsequently charged with possession of heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply, supplying heroin and crack cocaine and being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine.
?654,000 new HQ for
mental health staff
by David Skentelbery
TOWN Hall chiefs at Warrington are being asked to approve a ?654,000 plan to provide a headquarters for all the borough council?s mental health community services staff.
The scheme involves refurbishment of the Harrison Centre in Boulting Avenue, Dallam which already houses 65 of the staff involved.
When the refurbishment is completed, more than 100 staff will be able to work there.
Officers have considered a number of options for providing a single-site accommodation for mental health staff, including sites at Loushers Lane, Birchwood, and Winmarleigh Street.
They have also considered complete demolition of the Harrison Centre and rebuilding a new complex on the site.
But they are recommending the refurbishment because it will cost less, can be completed sooner, is in a better location and needs modernisation for existing staff anyway.
Work could start as soon as January.
One advantage, is the proximity to Hollins Park where mental health colleagues from the Five Boroughs NHS Trust are based.
Another is that it is situated in a deprived area where many clients live ? and that the existing facility is accepted by the local community.
The refurbishment will provide a new reception area, new fire and intruder alarms, improved access for the disabled, extra parking and new telephone and IT systems.
Students’ campus car wash
STUDENTS at Warrington?s Priestley College who have signed-up for an up-coming adventure to Iceland (March 2006) as part of their geology studies, got into self help mode when they chipped into their overall fund raising target by holding a Car Wash on campus.
Staff and student vehicles were a target for the eager students who need to raise ?700 each in order to take their place on what promises to be the adventure of a lifetime – and in many instances their first trip on foreign soils.
So keen were the students to muck in that in many cases they arrived even before the college had opened its doors.
Fund raising activities will continue for some time to come but having done a great job in the awful weather conditions many members of the Priestley community will certainly be happy to have their cars washed again.
Geology tutor Gillian Finucane said: “Seeing students in college so early in the morning to embark on their mission was really pleasing and rewarding.
“On a day when the heavens opened, the students took their task in hand and I will be happy to support them on any future fund raising activities.”
Retailers toe the line
on firework regulations
by John Hendon
MOST shopkeepers in Warrington are observing the law on the sale of fireworks.
Borough council Trading Standards officers have been working with volunteers to carry out test ?underage? purchases ? and out of 23 attempted purchases, none were allowed by the retailers concerned.
In the majority of cases, shopkeepers are asking to see identification when they are in doubt about a customer?s age.
The clampdown on illegal firework sales is intended to make Bonfire Night in Warrington as safe as possible.
The council is also giving advice to help make sure that everyone follows the right safety procedures and remembers that fireworks can be dangerous if misused.
Most importantly, officers advise that people should always buy fireworks from a reputable shop and not from the back of a van or temporary unlicensed stall.
Fireworks should conform to British Standards – with BS 7114 printed on the box.
Officers also warn that it is an offence to throw or set off fireworks in any highway, street, thoroughfare or public place. Anyone found guilty is liable to pay a fine of up to ?5,000. The police can also issue on-the-spot fines of up to ?80 for disorder.
It is also an offence for under 18s to possess fireworks in a public place and for anyone to let fireworks off between 11pm and 7am.
Coun Maureen Banner, the borough council?s executive member for Wellbeing, said: “Bonfire night is a fun time but it is important that we all remember that fireworks can be dangerous so I urge everyone to follow the safety rules.”
MP supports energy
saving campaign
by staff reporter
MP Helen Jones will be visiting Warrington?s ?energy house? today (Friday) to highlight her support of the Energy Saving Trust’s new consumer campaign called ?Save your 20 per cent?.
The Warrington North MP has also added her name to a parliamentary motion which calls on fellow MPs to show leadership by supporting the Energy Saving Trust’s call to action encouraging individuals to reduce their energy consumption and help tackle climate change.
In support of the UK target to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent by 2010, the trust has devised ?Save Your 20 per cent? as a way of highlighting both the economic and environmental reasons for not wasting energy.
The campaign outlines everyday steps that can help lessen the damaging effects of modern lifestyles, from turning appliances off standby and installing energy saving light bulbs to turning down thermostats by just one degree.
The energy wasted in homes produces 27 per cent of the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions.
Ms Jones said: “I will be taking part in a Home Energy Check, to assess my carbon footprint and recognise how much energy can be saved.I will also be encouraging my family, staff and constituents to be energy conscious by making sure, for example, that all lights are switched off when not needed, televisions and computer screens are not left on standby and by turning my thermostat down by one degree.
“These are simple steps that can be taken to make our homes more energy efficient and will save around 20 tonnes of CO2 a year and up to ?250 a year off our household bills.”
Philip Sellwood, chief executive of the Energy Saving Trust, said: “I really hope that as many people as possible in Warrington will take part in reducing their energy consumption by at least one fifth. If we can better understand the ways we use, and often waste, energy, we can start making real progress towards tackling climate change – and save on fuel bills at the same time. As individuals we can all make a difference.?
Ideas on how to ?Save your 20 per cent?’ during Energy Saving Week and throughout the year are available on 0800 915 7722 or by logging on to www.saveyour20percent.co.uk
Death crash
victim named
by staff reporter
POLICE have now named a man who died in hospital at Warrington three weeks after being involved in a car crash on Wilderspool Causeway on October 8. He was Mark Anthony Thomas, aged 18, of Latchford, Warrington.
A blue Renault Clio driven by Mr Thomas collided with traffic lights at the junction of Wilderspool Causeway and Greenall
s Avenue. He was taken to hospital with head and chest injuries and died despite the efforts of doctors to save him.
Police are still appealing for witnesses of the crash, which did not involve any other vehicle.
Anyone who can assist is asked to call PC Ian Dodd 01244 613928.
Arson attack
ARSONISTS are believed to have started a fire which destroyed a low loader and damaged two other vehicles in a compound off Liverpool Road, Warrington during the night.
There was 100 per cent fire damage to the load loader and severe damage to a Range Rover and a pick-up trucked parked nearby.
Fire crews were able to prevent more serious damage to the Range Rover and pick-up but the low loader was completely burned out before they could reach the scene. Police are investigating.
News in brief
Hospital lottery
THERE was no winner in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital. Winning numbers 5, 6, 10 and 13 went unclaimed. Next week there will be an estimated rollover jackpot prize of ?350. The ?25 consolation prize was won by S Grady.
No U-turns
WARRINGTON Borough Council has made an order to prohibit vehicles travelling in a north westerly direction on Manchester Road from making a U-turn through a gap in the central reservation at the junction with a new, unnamed access road about 140 metres from the junction with Grey Street. The order is effective from today (Friday) and anyone wishing to object must apply to the High Court within six weeks from October 27.
Takeaway approval
PLANS to convert a former launderette into a hot food take-away shop in Concorde Place, on the Poplars Estate at Orford, Warrington, have been given the go-ahead.
Footpath closure
PART of the eastern footpath in Golborne Street, Warrington, from its junction with Sankey Street, will be closed for about three months while a new sewer is installed in connection with the Golden Square shopping centre re-development.
Coffee morning
THE NSPCC are holding a coffee morning, with gift and cake stalls, raffle, etc on Thursday, November 10 at Winwick Leisure Centre, Winwick, near Warrington.
