Town planning blueprint
approved by council
by David Skentelbery
WARRINGTON?S Unitary Development Plan ? the blueprint that will guide planning and development across the borough in the years to come ? has been approved, with minor amendments, by the borough council.
The proposals now go out for public consultation for a period of six weeks, prior to the start of statutory procedures hopefully culminating in the final adoption of the plan early next year.
Coun Terry O?Neill, (pictured)the borough council?s executive members for sustainable regeneration, said: ?We did get objections, but we have taken counsel?s advice and counsel?s opinion is that there is no substance to these objections.
?Hopefully, next year we will be able to adopt the UDP.? The UDP should help protect Warrington?s green phases from housing development of the type which has changed the face of some of the outlying areas of the borough in recent years.
Objections ? mainly relating to the giant Omega site at Burtonwood ? were received from Manchester, Salford and Liverpool city councils. There were also objections from developers, landowners and a number of others.
A small number of modifications have been made to the UDP to meet some of the objections.
Coun Ian Marks, leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition group on the borough council, said: ?The Unitary Development Plan is a very important document and we have always supported it.
?It’s just a pity it has taken so long to get through. The clarification of the green belt is crucial as are the constraints on new housing in green areas.
?Parts of the town have had more than enough development on green fields. The Omega site is a great opportunity for the town and objections from surrounding cities like Manchester are basically due to jealousy – they would like it for themselves.
?But more work needs to be done to sort out some of the transport issues connected with Omega.”
Mother and daughter
win learning awards
by Lesley Wilkinson
A MOTHER and daughter, who both studied with Warrington Collegiate, received awards for their learning skills.
Students Rosemary and her daughter Kirstin Rylatt, of Rolleston Street, Warrington, both achieved success in the Making Space prize-giving ceremony at Bold Street Methodist Church.
They are the first mother and daughter in the country to achieve passes in subjects as diverse as Food Hygiene, First Aid and Literacy.
Dozens of other students from Warrington and other areas joined them for the ceremony. The college works closely with Making Space, a charity which helps those affected by mental illness.
Mike Stoddart, head of the Collegiate’s Community College, said the college was pleased to work with the organisation to help students achieve their potential.
Guest, Mayor of Warrington Coun Hans Mundry, said: “The courses on offer and the work of the Collegiate and Making Space is really making a difference to people’s lives.”
Councillor’s attack on
tower block proposals
by staff reporter
A WARRINGTON councillor has launched an outspoken attack on plans to build 12-storey tower blocks on the banks of the Mersey at Howley.
The plan, submitted by Ascenture Properties, is to be put to the borough?s development control committee tonight (Wednesday).
But Howley councillor Yvonne Fovargue (pictured)says if approved the scheme would set an alarming precedent for the future.
Two blocks of apartments are planned ? the larger one 36 metres high and soaring 12-storeys high. A total of 111 flats are proposed.
Coun Fovargue said: “This application will have serious consequences for Howley. We see on a daily basis the local road network at gridlock and this application will put yet more traffic on an already congested network.
“Recent new developments at Trinity Green, Six Penny Fields, Cheshire Lines and the recent application for houses and apartments on the former Carrington Wire site cannot be viewed in isolation, yet the traffic impact assessment takes no account of these ‘new’ developments. The road infrastructure is at breaking point.”
Coun Fovargue says the Howley skyline will be changed forever and the famous St Elphins Church spire will no longer be the dominant feature.
She added: “If this application is passed it will inevitably lead to further applications of a multi-storey nature along the Howley waterside.?
Town prepares to
honour fallen heroes
by John Hendon
SILENT tributes to mark Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday and honour fallen heroes will be taking place in Warrington this week.
Armistice Day, Friday November 11, and Remembrance Sunday, Sunday November 13, give the community an opportunity to honour and remember all those who gave their lives during the First and Second World Wars and other conflicts throughout history.
Young and old can also take time to reflect on the sacrifices being made by those men and women who are serving their country today both home and abroad.
At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month (Friday) the town will fall silent and the Mayor and Mayoress, Coun Hans and Coun Karen Mundry, will lead the public tribute at Market Gate. The firing of maroon rockets from the Town Hall roof will mark the start and finish of the Royal British Legion’s two-minute silence.
On Sunday, a Service of Remembrance will take place at the war memorial at Bridge Foot.
A services’ parade, including youth detachments, will make its way from the Town Hall through the town centre to the war memorial at Bridge Foot where the Mayor of Warrington will lead the wreath-laying ceremony.
Members of the public are welcome to attend but are being asked to gather at the memorial no later than 10.45am.
It is anticipated that there will be a build up of traffic, due to the necessary diversions and the number of people wanting to attend the service.
Motorists are being advised, where possible, to avoid the Bridge Foot area between 10am and 11.45am.
Local remembrance services will also be taking place across the borough during the day.
Phoenix Nights star
at the Parr Hall
by Lesley Wilkinson
ONE of the stars of television’s Phoenix Nights, Paddy McGuinness, is coming to the Parr Hall, Warrington, on Thursday November 24 at 8pm.
Paddy, who became famous through his work with school friend Peter Kay, played hapless doorman Paddy in the popular comedy and also appeared with Peter in Channel 4’s comedy series Max and Paddy’s Road to Nowhere, which he also co-wrote.
Kay claims that McGuinness is not acting when he plays Paddy, he is merely playing himself. His past may explain why.
When Patrick Joseph McGuinness left school he took a college course to do a BTEC 1st Diploma in Science with the intention of becoming a lab technician, though he soon realised that this was not a career he wished to pursue.
The next few years saw him undertaking various jobs including a silver service waiter, a warehouse worker, a building site labourer, a lifeguard and a job cleaning machines at a bakery. He also worked in Corfu as a holiday rep before returning to his job as a lifeguard.
His visit to Warrington is part of his first national solo tour, The Dark Side Of The Force.
All tickets have sold out for the performance, which is recommended for over 16’s only.
Casino night for
canal boat appeal
by staff reporter
A CHARITY ?Casino Night? in aid of an appeal to refit a canal narrow boat used by the disabled is to take place at Shelly?s restaurant in Bold Street, Warrington, tomorrow (Thursday).
The event ? hosted by proprietor Michelle Butterworth ? is to raise money for Warrington Disability Partnership?s appeal to re-fit the narrow boat Wizard.
It is the second Casino Night held for the charity ? and the last one was packed to the rafters with guests e
ach receiving a glass of bubbly on arrival and gourmet finger food served throughout the night.
Tickets are ?20 each and can be bought at Shelly’s or reserved by calling 01925 654000.
Motorist injured
as car explodes
by staff reporter
A MAN was taken to hospital at Warrington with injuries to his face after his blazing car exploded as he ran to try and tackle the blaze.
Vandals are believed to have started the fire while the man was walking his dog at Morley Common, off Eastford Road. He found the vehicle in flames when he returned from the walk.
A Fire Service spokesman said: “Heat had built up inside the car and blew out the rear windscreen just as the owner returned. He was hit in the face by flying glass.”
The car was a write-off.
In a separate incident, arsonists set fire to a car parked in Vulcan Close, Padgate, Warrington. The vehicle was burned out before fire crews could reach the scene.
New support group to
help grieving parents
by John Hendon
A NEW group is looking to help mums and dads from Warrington cope with the pain of suffering a miscarriage, stillbirth or neo-natal death.
The Forget-me-Not Support Group has been set up by volunteers from Warrington Hospital.
It will be holding its first meeting on Thursday, January 5, in the Common Room of the hospital?s Post-Graduate Centre, starting at 7.30pm. Parents are invited to come along to listen and share their feelings with others or talk on a one-to-one basis.
Maureen Maudsley, a ward clerk in the hospital?s women?s health directorate, is one of the group?s organisers.
She said: ?I have been running the Compassionate Friends support group in Warrington for 18 years to help parents whose children have died, as well as working as a counsellor at Warrington Bereavement Service. In that time I have seen for myself that losing a child is the worst thing that can happen for any parent.
?Here at Warrington Hospital, we provide a tremendous maternity service and our Special Care Baby Unit seem to perform miracles all the time to ensure babies have every chance of a healthy life.
?However not every outcome is a positive one, which is why we want to help through Forget-me-Not. Whether their child passed away recently or in the past, we want parents going through this awful experience to know they are not alone and someone is there to listen and offer support.?
More details about Forget-me-Not are available from 01925 275211.
