Police chief hits out
at “absurd” changes
by Terry Johnson
HASTY re-structuring of Warrington’s – and Cheshire’s – police force would be “dangerous”, according to police authority chief Peter Nurse.
And its impact on Council Tax is also greatly worrying.
Coun Nurse, chairman of Cheshire Police Authority, said the Home Secretary’s timetable for force re-structuring is “absurd”. It would be impossible to have meaningful dialogue with Cheshire communities.
Government vision for the next 30 years is to have bigger police units in place to combat new threats of terrorism and organised crime.
In an open letter to the Home Secretary, Coun Nurse says the tight timetable for review has been further restricted by the decision to recommend just two options.
These are a “three-force” option which would see Cheshire merging with Merseyside, Lancashire joining with Cumbria and Greater Manchester remaining where it is – or a “two-force” option, with Cheshire merging with Greater Manchester and Merseyside joining Lancashire and Cumbria.
Coun Nurse tells the Home Secretary: “Policing is one of the cornerstones of our society. I feel the undue haste in which you are undertaking this review, based on what many have claimed is a flawed report, is unnecessary and potentially damaging to everything we have tried to achieve in recent years.
“Policing should be at the heart of our communities. Your proposals do nothing to safeguard or develop this.”
Cheshire had had no time to work out in detail the costs of a merger with Manchester or Merseyside. Its impact on Council Tax was ‘a critical political matter’.
Coun Nurse adds: “Cheshire must be one of the few forces in the country which has no other option than to merge with a large metropolitan and urban neighbour. This will inevitably cause a lot of concern and disquiet in our communities that policing will become, by necessity, very urban centric.
“Surely a longer time span to develop proposals would have enabled us to consider links with North Wales Police, with whom we already have collaborative working”.
From Shanghai to
Culcheth for christening!
by Gary Skentelbery
A COUPLE travelled all the way from their home in Shanghai to have their baby son christened in the church his father attended as a child.
Mark and Sarah Bent and their son, Samuel, where joined by more than 84 guest for the Christening at Newchurch Parish Church.
The guests came from all over England, and further afield, with baby Samuel’s great aunt travelling from Italy and other family friends arriving from Eire and Canada to see Samuel Geoffrey christened.
After the christening the guests then went to the Rhinewood Hotel , Glazebrook for a buffet reception.
Police probe
flat fire
by David Skentelbery
POLICE are investigating a “suspicious” fire which wrecked a flat in Leicester Street,Whitecross,Warrington.
The blaze appeared to have been started deliberately but the flat was locked up and there were no signs of a break-in.
Fire crews wearing breathing apparatus tackled the blaze which appeared to have been burning for at least half-an-hour by the time they reached the scene.
A Fire Service spokesman said: “There were three separate seats of fire and the smoke alarms in the property had either been immobilised or were not working. There was no-one in the flat at the time.
“There were certainly suspicious circumstances.”
Watchdog tackles counterfeit
goods on a global stage
by Terry Johnson
Trading standards watchdog, Peter Astley, has given thrust to the world-wide fight against counterfeit goods.
Peter, chief trading standards officer at Warrington, addressed experts from 42 countries at a United Nations conference in Geneva.
He focused on counterfeit goods operations in the UK and the battle against organised crime syndicates.
Peter said: “My role as a member of the National Anti-Counterfeiting Strategy Group requires me to look at ways that we can combat this crime in the UK.
“The UN found my presentation on how we do things in the UK and future plans to be very valuable. They would like us to link into the development of a global approach, which ultimately helps protect consumers from all over the world.”
He added: “I found the experience of talking to this group to be very enlightening. It was particularly pleasing that the Council is influencing this important global agenda”.
Peter has been invited to assist some countries directly – Turkey, Belgium and Ukraine – in their fight against counterfeight peddlers.
Lions all set
for Victorian Day
by Gary Skentelbery
CULCHETH Lions popular annual Victorian Day celebration takes place this Saturday (November 26.)
There will be Christmas Fairs and refreshments in the Parish and Methodist Church Halls and Santa will be in his Grotto.
The Methodist Church will be serving refreshments throughout the day and enquiries for stalls can be made by calling 01925 765561.
As well as the usual roundabouts, street stalls, fair-ground organ and carol singing, there will be music from the Birchwood Brass Band, sponsored by Redrow builders.
The Christmas village lights will be turned on at the close of the event by the Parish council.
Fancy dress will be worn by many of the shopkeepers and the Lions look forward to welcoming regulars and newcomers to the event.
Look out for raffle tickets which are on sale for the Lion’s Christmas Hamper which will be won on the day.
Proceeds raised from the event will help fund Culcheth Lions’ good works in the local community.
For any further information please call Tim Yates on 01925 76 2761 (evenings) or 01925 83 4708 daytime, or e-mail [email protected]
Medical centre: a
decision next month?
by David Skentelbery
AN agreement clearing the way for a new medical centre for Appleton, near Warrington, could be reached next month.
Borough council chiefs hope they can strike a deal with Warrington Rugby Union Club which will enable the club to relinquish its lease on the former ground in Bridge Lane where Primary Care Trust officials are anxious to build the medical centre.
The whole deal depends on the council and the club reaching agreement on an additional playing pitch on land used as an overflow car park for Walton Hall.
Four options are being considered – but the implications of the one favoured by the club have yet to be studied by the council.
Council chiefs are anxious to avoid any scheme which would affect the operational requirements of Walton Hall.
The new medical centre would serve doctors currently working from inadequate premises in Appleton and Stretton.
Industry plan
for farm
by David Skentelbery
PLANNING chiefs have given the go-ahead for a change of use of an agricultural building at Camsley Grange Farm, Camsley Lane, Lymm, near Warrington, for general industrial use.
Lymm Parish Council had opposed the change on the grounds it was incompatible with the Green Belt, but the borough council?s development control committee decided there were insufficient grounds to refuse permission.
A planning department spokesman said national and local policy encouraged farm diversification and the re-use of buildings within the Green Belt as this could prevent vacant buildings from becoming derelict.
The proposed conversion would not harm the openness, character or visual amenity of the Green Belt.
No extensions are proposed for the building and there are no highways or traffic implications.
Motor cyclist in
hospital after crash
by staff reporter
A 21-year-old motor cyclist was taken to hospital at Warrington after his machine was in collision with a car at the junction of London Road, Appleton with Quarry Lane and Lyons Lane.
The crash involved the man’s Honda motor cycle and a silver Volkswagen Golf driven by a 26-year-old local woman.
Police are appealing for witnesses of the crash – in particular the driven of a black Golf that was turning into Lyons Lane at the time.
Anyone who can help should contact Sgt Mike Jones on 01244 613813.
