Distillery blaze: police
question local man
by David Skentelbery
A 55-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of arson following the ?1 million fire which devasted the Greenall distillery in Loushers Lane, Warrington, on October 15.
The man, from Warrington, is being held in custody and is helping police with enquiries into the blaze.
It was only last week that police revealed that they were treating the fire – said to be the biggest in the Warrington area for 20 years – as “suspicious.”
They appealed for information from the public – particularly from anyone who took photographs or video footage of the blaze.
Hundreds of people watched the inferno and many are thought to have filmed or photographed it.
More than two million litres of alcohol went up in the fire and firefighters had to contend with exploding bottles as they tackled the fire.
A 500 metres exclusion zone was established around the site and nearby residents were forced to evacuate their homes – some spending a night at the Daresbury Park Hotel, paid for by Greenalls.
More than 100 firefighters were involved in the operation and some were still at the scene several days later.
Stay away from our pubs
by John Hendon
BOOZE fuelled troublemakers are being warned to stay away from Warrington’s pubs and clubs ahead of a change in the licensing laws tomorrow (Thursday).
Licensees from across the borough have joined forces with police to send out a strong message that drink related disorder will not be tolerated in their premises.
And they are also warning that underage drinkers needn’t bother turning up at their pubs and bars either, as licensees and bar staff will be enforcing ‘Challenge 21’ as part of Pub Watch to prevent under 18s being served alcohol.
Pub Watch is currently expanding in Warrington with the majority of the town’s 109 licensed premises covered by the scheme. Members are working closely in partnership with police, the council and Trading Standards. Posters are displayed in premises to publicise the scheme and anyone found to have committed any form of anti-social behaviour risks being banned from ALL Pub Watch premises.
More than a dozen people are currently banned for varying lengths of time which can be from three months up to a lifetime ban.
‘Challenge 21’ also operates in Pub Watch premises to deter under age drinkers. Any customer who appears to be under 21 years of age is asked to prove they are 18 years old by showing an acceptable proof-of-age card before they are served alcohol.
Sergeant Joe Mullin from Warrington Police licensing department, said: ?We have been working very closely with licensees and our partners to improve standards in the licensing trade and to improve the image of Warrington’s night time economy.
“We are sending a very clear message that drink related anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated. We want people to be able to have a drink and enjoy themselves in a safe and comfortable atmosphere. The minority who choose not to behave themselves will find themselves facing arrest, prosecution and being banned from entering all of the premises in the Pub Watch scheme.”
Over the course of the weekend, a series of high profile, multi agency licence checks will take place. Officers from the council and Trading Standards will work together with police to visit licensed premises to make sure they are abiding by the law.
Additional police officers will also be carrying out high visibility foot patrols in the town to provide a reassuring presence for the public and licensees and to intervene at an early stage if any incidents of disorder occur. The town’s CCTV system will be used to ensure officers can be deployed quickly to any trouble hot-spots.
Club campaign for
a healthy lifestyle
by Lesley Wilkinson
A WORKSHOP aimed at teaching young people more about sexual health and the dangers of binge drinking and smoking was held at Mr Smith’s nightclub, Warrington.
The event, organised by Warrington Youth Service’s Phaze Youth Work team, was to encourage young people to adopt a healthy lifestyle. It was attended by 45 Year Nine pupils.
There was also a lighter side to the day, with a circus skills workshop that encouraged young people to try out juggling, walking on stilts and riding a unicycle.
Coun Colin Froggatt, the borough council?s executive member for children’s services, said: “The event was a great success and we had some very positive feedback from those who attended.
“It gave young people an opportunity to learn and ask questions in a relaxed and fun environment. Educating our young people about health is very important and workshops such as these are how we can ensure that every child matters in Warrington,” he said.
Since May Warrington Youth Service has been providing informal health and drugs education opportunities for young people visiting the club?s under-18s monthly club night and plans to continue the sessions due to their success.
Students sample life
with the Marines
by staff reporter
STUDENTS from Warrington?s Priestley College were given the chance to sample life in the Marines at first hand when they visited the National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham.
The group are all enrolled on the Public Services (National Certificate) Pathway and the outing was one of many aimed at giving them a thorough hands-on understanding of some of the country’s leading providers of Public Services.
While in Nottingham the students undertook a range of activities including looking at kit and equipment, night vision exercises, paintballing, riding in Rigid Raider boats, abseiling and self defence.
The students found the experience valuable and exciting and they all participated in the activities on offer with great enthusiasm.
Course Co-ordinator Colin Whittaker said: “Once again our students have had the opportunity to get involved in some outstanding activities with the public and uniformed services. The experiences these young people are participating in provide the practical application of the subjects studied in class.”
Machine that makes
music from movement
by staff reporter
STATE-of-the-art equipment, Soundbeam – a machine that translates movement into sound, has been bought by the Pyramid arts centre, Warrington.
It is provided as part of a national Music Leader project, which aims at improving the quality and diversity of music opportunities for children and young people.
It will be launched at a session tomorrow (Thursday) for teachers, workshop leaders and community members with an interest in music tuition. The full-day session costs ?10, and places can be booked at the launch by contacting Emma Walsh on 0161 236 0201.
Organisers say that Soundbeam is an ideal tool for children with disabilities, as it records and translates into music, movements as small as a blink of an eye.
At a recent Digital Sound Bites project Pyramid introduced a group of children with movement restrictions to the Soundbeam technology. Young people worked in groups to create ensemble pieces, producing a range of sounds by tilting their heads, moving their feet and making small hand movements in the air.
Stuart Smith, Pyramid’s music development officer, said: “The Soundbeam is a really impressive music making tool and has particular applications where traditional instruments would not be applicable as the range of movement required to create different notes is fully adjustable to the individual.
“It is equipment like this and the dedication of some really talented music workers that has the potential to really make a difference to inclusive opportunities in music making in Warrington. We have the potential to be national innovators in this field.?
Stars of tourism
receive awards
by Lesley Wilkinson
STARS of the tourism business ? including two fr
om Warrington – were presented with awards by television’s Hollyoaks actors Nick Pickard and Sarah Dunn.
The CATS awards, for the top employees in the Cheshire and Warrington tourism industry, were presented at a Venetian masquerade-themed evening at Mere Golf and Country Club.
Warrington award-winners were Unsung Hero, Colin Taylor of Warrington Library Museum and Archives Service, and Commitment to Industry, Yvonne Jackson of The Park Royal Hotel, Warrington More than 50 different tourism organisations from throughout Cheshire and Warrington, including hotels and restaurants, museums, self catering cottages, ice cream farms and local annual events were represented at the awards.
Awards are to recognise the hard work and commitment of those involved in the sector, and to encourage employers to invest in training and development, and promote the tourism industry as a first-class career choice.
Liz Davis, executive director of the Learning and Skills Council in Cheshire and Warrington one of the organisations organising the awards, said they were pleased to be supporting CATS.
“The awards showcase some of the best talent in this key local industry, particularly among the young people who are just starting their careers. Awards schemes such as CATS are a good way of encouraging personal and professional development,” she said.
Visit Chester and Cheshire chief executive Chris Brown said: “This year’s CATS awards have been the most successful to date. The record attendance at the presentation evening underlines the growing recognition that a skilled and committed workforce is key to the future success of our industry.”
Shadow chancellor to
visit Peace Centre
by John Hendon
SHADOW Chancellor George Osborne is to visit the charity created after the death of two young boys in an IRA attack on Warrington.
Mr Osborne, MP for Tatton, will on Friday (November 25) visit the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Trust, the educational peace charity which has helped thousands of young people, through its educational programmes, by teaching the causes, management and peaceful resolution of conflict.
Based in Warrington, the Trust delivers unique flexible courses which give young people the opportunity to understand the impact their behaviour and attitude can have on themselves and others.
Mr Osborne, who became the youngest Conservative MP in the House of Commons in 2001, became Shadow Chancellor in May.
He will meet with the Trust’s founders, Colin and Wendy Parry, and tour the Young People?s Peace Centre.
Shafilea murder: eight
again remanded on bail
by staff reporter
EIGHT people arrested in connection with the murder of Warrington teenager Shafilea Ahmed have surrendered to police bail – and have been re-bailed to appear again on February 7.
They were originally arrested and questioned on suspicious of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
All eight are believed to be members of the 17-year-old’s extended family.
Police are still investigating the death of Shafilea, whose body was found in a river in Cumbria after she had disappeared from her home in Great Sankey in September 2003.
A bilingual hotline – in Urdu and English – has been set up in case anyone has information they wish to give to the police in confidence. The freephone number is 0800 458 9701.
It was several months after Shafilea disappeared from her home before her body was found in Cumbria.
Although the cause of death has never been established, police are convinced she was murdered.
Sometime before her disappearance, she had been on a holiday to Pakistan where, it is understood, she was introduced to a “suitor” with a view to an arranged marriage.
Subsequently she suffered severe throat injuries in Pakistan after apparently swallowing bleach – possibly as a protest at the marriage plan.
At the time of her disappearance she was still being treated for the injuries at Warrington Hospital.
