“Cleaner air” plan for
giant power station
by David Skentelbery
A MAJOR plan to install equipment to reduce sulphur dioxide emissions from the giant Fiddlers Ferry Power Station, near Warrington, will be considered by planning chiefs next week.
The multi-million scheme involves installing flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) equipment in all four generating units at the plant.
It would result in the power station continuing in operation beyond 2020-25, contributing to the region?s electricity supply.
Officers are recommending that Warrington Borough Council raise no objections to the scheme.
Planning consent already exists for FGD equipment in one generating unit.
The scheme will result in a significant increase in traffic on local roads during the construction period, from next year until 2008. There will be some 350 contractors on site, with 50 heavy lorry deliveries a day.
But Warrington is unlikely to suffer much as most of the traffic is expected to turn left, towards Widnes, when it leaves the power station.
The application is supported by Halton Council and there are no objections from English Nature, the Countryside Agency or the Environment Agency.
Installation of the equipment will require alterations to rail sidings and unloading equipment, enclosed conveyors for transporting limestone from the rail sidings to the FGD plant, storage buildings and other facilities. But it would all be built within the existing site boundary and will make little difference to the appearance of the power station.
The process will result in the production of gypsum which can be sold to the plasterboard industry. This will be exported from the site, although about 75 per cent of it will be by rail.
Councillors will be told next week that the scheme does not give rise to significant amenity impact, complies with council policy and will result in an overall improvement to air quality.
Police issue pictures in
three month old probe
by John Hendon
DETECTIVES investigating a serious assault in the Warrington area three months ago have released CCTV pictures.
Police would like to speak to four men in connection to the incident which occurred at 2.40am in the early hours of Sunday August 21 on Sankey Street in the town centre.
Three men in their early 20s were walking along Sankey Street towards the Golden Gates. As they walked past a group of approximately eight people, which contained both males and females, they were assaulted from behind.
One of the men was knocked unconscious and sustained a fractured jaw and a fractured eye socket. He was treated at Fazakerley Hospital in Liverpool.
Another of the men sustained a black eye, cut to his lip and a swelling to his head. He was treated at Warrington Hospital. A third man received minor injuries.
Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed this incident or have any knowledge of the persons involved, also appealing for a male who assisted one of the victims, to come forward as he may be able to provide further information.
They have released CCTV photographs of the men they want to speak to in the hope that someone may recognise them.
If anyone has any information, they are asked to contact DC Ian Allen on 01244 613845.
They’re top of the class
A GROUP of Warrington teaching assistants are among the first in the country to successfully complete a rigorous national training standard.
The 33 assistants, from primary and secondary schools across the borough, were among the first to enter the Higher Level Teaching Assistant programme when it began in September 2004.
Now their achievement has been recognised by the Training and Development Agency and to celebrate their success, the borough council hosted an awards ceremony at the Fir Grove Hotel, Grappenhall.
Council executive member for Children’s Services, Coun Colin Froggatt, said: “It is a very significant achievement for an authority the size of Warrington to gain such excellent results. This group of teaching assistants are real pioneers, bringing national standards of excellence into our schools. I would like to congratulate them all on their well-deserved success.”
Distillery blaze: man
released on bail
by David Skentelbery
A 55-year-old Warrington man, arrested on suspicion of arson following the ?1 million fire which devastated the Greenall distillery in Loushers Lane, Warrington on October 15, has been freed without charge.
Police say he has been released on bail and will return to the police station in February, pending further investigations.
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 are still appealing 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.
Healthcare proposals to
come under scrutiny
by staff reporter
WEST Warrington residents will be quizzing health bosses next week about possible changes to their community health services.
Two public meetings to discuss proposals about the future of healthcare in west Warrington are being held in Penketh to ensure people have a chance to give their views.
The proposals affect people living in Westbrook, Whittle Hall, Great Sankey, Penketh and Cuerdley and Burtonwood.
Both meetings are on Wednesday, November 30 at Penketh Community Hall, Honiton Way at 2pm and Penketh High School?s lecture theatre in Heath Road at 6pm.
The consultation, which ends on 1 December 2005, focuses on the development of a health centre in Chapelford.
Hundreds of responses have already been received by Warrington Primary Care Trust already.
PCT chief executive Allison Cooke said: “We are very keen to hear people’s views because we want to make sure we develop the right services for the communities of west Warrington.”
For more information, or a copy of the consultation document, contact the PCT’s patient advice and liaison co-ordinator Val Harper on freephone 0800 389 6973 or log onto www.warrington-pct.nhs.uk/haveyoursay
Stroke awareness
campaign launched
by John Hendon
A CAMPAIGN aiming to make people realise the importance of getting urgent medical help following a stroke, was launched at Warrington Town Hall.
The Stroke Association, Stroke Club, medical staff, ambulance staff and organisations involved in stroke care were there to promote the message, “Make Stroke a Medical Emergency.”
The launch was also supported by the Mayor and Mayoress of Warrington, Hans and Karen Mundry.
Carol Smith, of the Stroke Association, said: “We are stressing the importance of calling for an ambulance if people suspect stroke. It is an emergency and the quicker it is dealt with the less risk of disability and the less cost ultimately to the public purse.”
“Signs of a stroke include facial weakness, arm/leg weakness and speech problems. Even a slight stroke, a TIA, should not be ignored. It still needs hospital treatment to stop a full blown stroke,” said Carol.
She said that stroke is one of the top three causes of death in England, with cancer and heart disease, and the leading cause of adult disability. It costs the public purse ?7 billion a year and that by giving it the attention it deserves money could be saved by the NHS and the wider economy.
Expansion brings
new appointments
by business staff
WARRINGTON based white-goods company Premium Appliance Brands (PAB) has announced its sec
ond expansion in two months, with new signings Tristan Edwards and Barbara Nuttall.
Both will join the team, based at Centre Park in Warrington, as sales administrators processing sales orders, liaising with customers and distributors and maintaining accounts, and will each focus on different sections of the marketplace.
Tristan Edwards joins the firm from Baylis Distribution and will process bulk deliveries to distributors and orders for small appliance brand Mistral.
Barbara whose last role was in the accounts and administrations department of Topgrade Sportswear Ltd, will handle sales administration across all warehouse deliveries and stock orders within PAB.
PAB managing director Guy Weaver said: ?I am delighted to welcome Tristan and Barbara to the team. They bring with them significant experience and will make a valuable contribution to the company.
?This is the second expansion for the company in as many months and we hope to be announcing more new recruits soon.?
Police arrest 196
offenders in a week
by staff reporter
POLICE arrested 196 offenders in Warrington last week ? 22 more than in the first week of their ?Crackdown on crime? in the town.
Officers arrested people for a variety of offences including aggravated burglary, theft of a motor vehicle, drink driving, robbery and assault.
The crackdown is part of Cheshire Police’s autumn and winter initiative aimed at putting more criminals behind bars.
A number of proactive operations are taking place to target offenders throughout the force area, including in Warrington.
Anyone with information about crime can contact Cheshire Police on: 0845 458 0000, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on: 0800 555 111.
