Peace Centre bids
for world stage
by Gary Skentelbery
WARRINGTON’S pioneering Peace Centre, created as a living memorial to the two boys killed by an IRA bomb attack on the town more than a decade ago, is now bidding to bring peace to the Middle East.
During a visit to the peace centre by Shadow Chancellor George Osborne, MP for nearby Tatton, peace campaigner Colin Parry revealed the ambitious plans to bring Palestinian and Israeli youngsters to the Peace centre.
He said a programme had been drawn up and a bid was being made to a major Trust Fund to help finance the unique project, to bring the Middle Eastern youngsters to the centre, created in memory of his 12-year-old son Tim Parry and three-year-old Johnathan Ball, who died following the IRA bombing of Warrington in March 1993.
Mr Parry said the Tim Parry, Johnathan Ball Trust had to move forward on to the international scene, if it was to continue receiving funding for its peace work.
“There is a misconception that the troubles in Ireland have ended so it is extremely difficult to secure funding for our peace efforts. We have gained valuable experience from working with British and Irish kids and now we want to pass on our skills to a wider audience.”
He estimated that it would cost around ?200,000 to fund an exchange programme with the Middle East, involving British and Irish children travelling to stay with their counterparts in Israel and Palestine.
An International Peace Commission had already been established to work alongside the peace centre and talks were already taking place with “contacts” in the Middle East in a bid to set up the unique project.
“There is nothing else like the Peace centre and we now want to put it on the world stage,” added Mr Parry.
Mr Osborne said he was “extremely impressed” by the facility and pledged to support it.
“From what I have seen it is a very impressive facility and I will be doing whatever I can to help. Anything which helps reduce conflict makes the world a safer place and reduces the number of innocent people being killed.
“As terrible as it was the death of two innocent young boys, it is good to see something like the peace centre develop from an act of pure evil.”
Mr Osborne said he hoped his visit would be the start of a long relationship.
Hi-jack gang hold
lorry driver prisoner
by David Skentelbery
A LORRY driver was held prisoner for several hours after a gang hi-jacked his vehicle at Burtonwood, near Warrington.
The 35-year-old driver was sleeping in his cab on the lorry park at the Burtonwood Services on the M62 when he was confronted by a man wielding a sawn-off shotgun.
He was forced into a nearby white Transit van by a gang of four men and then driven around for several hours before being dumped near Preston.
Police say the driver, from Liverpool, parked up on the lorry park on the eastbound carriageway of the motorway. His lorry was loaded with high-value electrical goods, including hair-styling equipment and kettles.
He was awoken at gunpoint, forced to dress and bungled into the white van. Some time after he was dumped at Preston, his lorry was found near the Rainford By-pass ? minus its trailer.
Police are appealing for witnesses of the actual hi-jacking or anyone who may have seen the white van.
They say the man with the shotgun was about 5ft 10 inches tall, of stock build and had a Scottish accent. He was wearing a black balaclava with eye and mouth holes cut in it. He wore a black jumper and black gloves.
The other three men were also wearing balaclavas and black clothing. One was short, of medium build, another was a stocky 6ft tall and the fourth man was about 5ft 8 inches, of average build.
Anyone who can help the police is asked to call DC Jackie Daniels or DC Ian Murray on 01244 613845.
Hunt for green
business champions
by business staff
THE hunt is on for Warrington?s green business champions.
Warrington businesses that have made a significant contribution to the protection, management and conservation of the environment are being invited to enter The North West Business Environment Awards 2006.
Now in its fourth year, the awards celebrate the achievements of North West-based companies that are responding to the challenge of sustainable development.
Awards are presented in the fields of environment technologies, regeneration, environmental best practice and environmental champions.
Hosted by the Mersey Basin Campaign and Warrington-based, North West Development Agency (NWDA), with support from the CBI North West, ENWORKS, Envirolink North West, The Royal Bank of Scotland, Groundwork North West, Environment Agency and the Institute of Directors, the awards are open to all companies based in the region.
The winners will be announced on June 9 at a prize-giving ceremony, which coincides with the World Environment Day celebrations.
Previous North West Business Environment Award winners based in Warrington include; United Utilities in Warrington.
Walter Menzies, chief executive of the Mersey Basin Campaign, said: ?Companies across England?s Northwest are making great strides to fuse good environmental practice with good business practice.
?The awards provide the region with an opportunity to applaud its achievements and highlight why England?s Northwest is becoming renowned as a pioneer in sustainable economic development.?
Steven Broomhead, chief executive of the NWDA, said: ?The NWDA is delighted to be supporting the North West Business Environment Awards. The awards are a celebration of the important steps our region has taken to combine long-term economic progress with the conservation of the natural environment and its resources.
?The Agency is committed to meeting the region?s needs for economic stability in harmony with environmental stewardship that meets the needs of the present population without comprising the future prosperity of England?s Northwest?.
The awards are free to enter and applications are available to download from www.merseybasin.org.uk or by emailing [email protected] and the deadline for submissions is February 13.
MP champions
free cash machines
by John Hendon
A CAMPAIGN to protect the free cash machine network is being championed by Warrington South MP Helen Southworth.
She has joined forces with the Nationwide Building society to highlight the issue ? and support consumers who do not want to pay charges for withdrawing their money.
Mrs Southworth said: “Five years ago nearly all cash machines were free.
?Today almost 50 per cent of machines charge people a fee, typically ?1.50 each time.
?Consumers have paid over ?175 million this year in unnecessary charges just to access their money, according to Nationwide. This is of real concern to me and to my constituents who do not want, or cannot afford, to pay to access their cash.
?I am calling for all cash machines to display clear signs so that users know at a glance whether or not they will be charged. Any constituent who has found a cash machine which charges a fee to withdraw money but does not display a warning onscreen should report it to LINK on 01423 356000 or email [email protected] and let me know about it.”
Near full-house
for recital
by our correspondent
THERE was a near capacity audience at Walton Hall for a recital by Rachael Russell (soprano) and David Butt-Philip (bass) accompanied by Malcolm Forbes-Peckham (piano).
The first half of the programme consisted of a song cycle of lieder by Schubert and Schumann beautifully interpreted by Rachael and David. The session concluded with solo piano variations by Listz on a theme, magnificently played by Malcolm.
In the second half the mood switched to opera. Firstly David sang the factotum’s song from The
Barber of Seville, which was received with acclamation, followed by Rachael, who sang items from Mozart’s Don Giovanni, to equal appreciation. Further songs from Gounod’s Faust and Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi brought the recital to the final works by Elgar and Gilbert and Sullivan. It was an excellent evening thoroughly enjoyed by all.
The Friends of Walton Hall have planned a full programme for next year and enquiries for season tickets, or admission at the door should be made to the secretary, Tom Beacroft on 01925 264297.
News in brief
Manhole repairs
WARRINGTON Borough Council has made an order to introduce a temporary closure of Charon Way, Westbrook from Thursday, December 1 while repairs are carried out to an existing manhole. It is expected the closure will last about two days between the hours of 10pm and 6am.
Temporary ban
A TEMPORARY traffic management order is to be made by Warrington Borough Council to prohibit driving on Bold Street, Warrington, near its junction with Sankey Street, for up to two days to allow resurfacing of the carriageway to take place. It is effective from Monday, November 28.
Play area
IMPROVEMENTS are to be carried out on open land between Ross Close and Lander Close, Whittle Hall, Warrington, including new lights, toddlers’ play area, fencing, benches and paths. A car park will also be provided.
Plan withdrawn
PLANS for a two-storey extension at High Peak Nursing Home, Main Lane, Culcheth near Warrington have been withdrawn. The scheme would have provided an additional 25 residential rooms.
