Moves to protect more
of town’s heritage
by David Skentelbery
NEARLY 30 old properties at Warrington could be given the extra protection of being added to the Statutory List of Buildings of Historic or Architectural interest.
They include the Lymm Hotel, in Whitbarrow Road, Lymm ? which has survived a number of attempts to demolish and replace it with luxury apartments ? Thelwall Grange Hospital, the station house and railway station at Glazebrook and St Helens Church, Hollinfare.
The properties have been suggested for statutory listing by local parish councils.
More than 30 other structures, such as milestones, memorials and mounting blocks are also being recommended for listing.
Inclusion on the Statutory List offers a significant level of protection from demolition or alteration.
The Lymm Hotel ? more than 100 years old and which once played host to legendary soccer star Pele and the rest of the Brazilian World Cup team ? has been under threat for some time.
But there was massive opposition from local residents and Lymm Parish Council when the owners put forward proposals to demolish the hotel and build multi-storey apartments.
The scheme was refused permission by Warrington Borough Council, went to appeal and was thrown out by a Government-appointed inspector.
Coun Ian Marks, a member of both the borough council and Lymm Parish Council, said: ?The parish council would have pressed for listing for the Lymm Hotel irrespective of its recent planning history. We think it is an important building, a landmark in Lymm and still more or less in its original form.
?The owners have recently issued a statement indicating that they have no further plans to close the hotel and we welcome this. But if the building is placed on the Statutory List it will be given additional protection.?
Other buildings being recommended for listing include Collins Green Farmhouse, Burtonwood, The Bridge House in Stockport Road, Grappenhall, Whittle Hall at Great Sankey, the former Lymm Urban Council offices, the Mission House in Moat Lane, Rixton, the Independent Chapel in Stockton Heath and the Nurse?s Home in Bewsey Street, Warrington.
Warrington currently has about 350 Listed buildings.
Community split as
workshop plan approved
by staff reporter
PLANS which split a Warrington community have been given the go-ahead by borough planners.
Nearly 160 people lodged objections to the scheme to build an embroidery workshop on the site of a former community centre at the junction of Carol Street and Knutsford Road, Latchford.
But more than 70 people supported the scheme put forward by Mr Ray Fisher ? and the borough council?s development control committee voted 7-3 to grant permission.
Coun Ted Finnegan (pictured)opposed the scheme. He said the community centre, which closed in 2003, had been an essential local facility.
He claimed the new workshop would create no new employment but would cause noise, traffic and other disturbances in a residential area.
The development should be placed in an existing employment area, such as the nearby Palatine Industrial Estate.
Coun Finnegan said if the workshop was built it would make the site unavailable for a new community centre.
Carol Street resident JohnWilkins warned the development would change the character of the area. Carol Street was a narrow side street, with an already busy junction with Knutsford Road.
?Young families and elderly people need a community centre here,? he said.
Mercy mission appeals
for old wheelchairs
by David Skentelbery
A PARTY of people due to fly out on a mercy mission to help orphans in South Africa has issued an urgent appeal for wheelchairs.
The 10 people from Glazebury Methodist Church, near Warrington are flying out on March 1.
But next week, a cargo of items vitally needed by the South African project Phakamisa – meaning “to lift up, to make grow” – will be shipped out by the group.
It consists of second items such as sewing machines, building and gardening tools, bicycles, books, pencils, toys etc. But there is only one wheelchair – and the project has an urgent need for wheelchairs.
Delia Caswell, one of the Glazebury party, said: “There is a shortage of second hand wheelchairs in this country. Most people hire them from the NHS and send them back when they are no longer needed.
“As a result, although we have been inundated with sewing machines and tools, we have only received one wheelchair, so if anyone has an old one they don’t need we would be pleased to hear from them.”
Anyone who can help should call Delia or Peter Caswell on 01942 671938.
Phakamisa is a project organised by Pinetown Methodist Church, Durban and provides education, practical help and support to more than 14,000 orphans and more than 1,000 carers.
Sea freight takes about 21 days and the aim is for the cargo to arrive at the same time as the Glazebury party so that they can help distribute the items.
?576,000 road
repair scheme
by staff reporter
TOWN Hall chiefs have been asked to approve a ?576,294 repair scheme for one of Warrington’s most historic roads.
Eagle Brow, Lymm is part of the A6144 and a recent survey has shown it is in need of urgent repairs.
. Included in the project, to be put to the next meeting of the borough’s executive board, are concrete repairs and re-waterproofing of the deck of Old Mill Bridge, which carries the road over Slitten Brook. Natural stone paving will be used to enhance the street scene around the bridge at the Slitten Brook weir.
Road closures would be required to carry out the work safely and a residents’ pass system would operate to ensure people whose homes directly front the work can gain access to their properties. Diversions would be signposted.
A council spokesman said a survey carried out last year revealed the road was in urgent need of structural maintenance, with the surface showing signs of major deterioration. It has been subjected to repeated pot hole repairs in recent years.
If the work were delayed there was a risk of further deterioration, increasing maintenance costs and also potential increases in construction costs and increased disruption due to a more lengthy project.
Caterers to get help
with legislation menu
by staff reporter
FREE sessions to help businesses prepare for changes in food legislation are being offered in Warrington.
This month sees the introduction of new European legislation for all catering businesses to help improve services and standards.
The borough council is just one of many local authorities that has joined forces with the Food Standards Agency to roll out a programme called ?Safer Food Better Business? to help businesses comply with the new legislation – and to help ensure they have a menu for success.
The training, run by the council’s Food Safety Team, consists of a three-hour workshop with other similar businesses followed by one to one session. The five key areas covered are cooking, chilling, cross contamination, cleaning, control (management) and the sessions are aimed at small catering premises such as restaurants, cafes and hotels.
The workshops will take place at the Environmental Health Offices, Palmyra House, Palmyra Square North on March 14, April 19, May 18, June 13 and July 20.
Coun Pat Wright, the council?s executive member for Community Services, said: “It is important that catering businesses are aware of this legislation so that they can understand it and make the necessary changes. There are many benefits to be gained by attending these courses, including knowing that you are complying with the law but also helping to improve your business by providing excellent service to customers.”
Places are limited and allocated on a first come first serve basis. Contact Julie Taylor on 01925 442645, email jxtaylor@warring
ton.gov.uk or Alan Holt on 01925 442577, email [email protected]
Driver trapped
in overturned car
by John Hendon
FIRE crews used cutting gear to release a trapped driver after a road collision at Warrington.
Two cars were involved in the crash at a roundabout in Tankersley Grove, Great Sankey – and one ended up on its roof.
The driver had to be released by firefighters who cut off the rear door.
He was taken to Warrington Hospital by ambulance.
A Fire Service spokesman said: “The overturned car ended up on the grass verge after the collision. “We managed to get the driver out on a spine board after removing the back door.”
