Parents asked: “What are
your children doing
on a Saturday night?”
by David Skentelbery
PARENTS at Lymm, near Warrington – one of the most affluent areas in the borough – are being asked: “Do you know what your children are up to on a Friday and Saturday night?”
The question is being asked by police – and it follows a number of drink-related incidents in the village over the last few weekends.
Police claim underage drinking is behind much of the anti-social behaviour and disorder – which is also affecting residents in the neighbouring villages of Thelwall and Grappenhall.
Insp Stuart Woodcock said: “Most of the problems are occurring in and around the centre of Lymm on a Friday and Saturday night and we know local youths are involved.”
To curb the behaviour, officers have mounted extra patrols in hot spot areas to coincide with the times youths are gathering. As a direct result of this action Police Community Support Officers seized a haul of alcohol from under 18s including cans of lager, a bottle of strong cider and a bottle of Baileys.
Last Friday night, 10 youths from Partington, who had travelled into the area with knives and knuckle dusters, were arrested after police launched an intelligence-led operation to prevent violent disorder breaking out.
Enquiries are also continuing to trace those responsible for damage caused at a pub in the village. Licensees are working closely with the police as part of the “pub watch” scheme which has resulted in four youths being banned from all public houses in the village.
Insp Woodcock added: “There will be more patrols at weekends and there will be further arrests made to deal with the minority of people who are responsible for this disorder.”
But officers are keen to stress that parents need to take responsibility for the actions of their children and work with police to put a stop to the anti social behaviour.
PCSO Alex Stacey said: “The public know there is a problem and want us to take action, which we are doing. But we need parents to do their bit as well and start asking their children questions about where they are going and what they are up to at weekends. We also need shops and off licences to continue working with us to stop the sale of alcohol to underage drinkers.”
Anyone with information about crime can contact Cheshire Police on: 0845 458 0000, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on: 0800 555 111.
Pictured are PCSOs Darren Dennis and Alex Stacey and alcohol seized by the officers.
Councillors vote to
keep bus lane
by John Hendon
TRAFFIC chiefs have thrown out proposals to scrap a bus and cycle lane introduced two years ago as part of the multi-million ? Tesco store and Warrington Wolves? stadium development in Winwick Road.
Warrington Borough Council?s traffic committee voted 3-1 to keep the bus lane after hearing arguments put forward by bus operators and cyclists organisations.
Council officers had recommended the bus lane and a bus link facility linking into Winwick Street ? which had never in fact been opened ? be scrapped.
They claimed the bus lane created a road safety hazard and that traffic flows, road capacity and likely delays had been incorrectly assessed by traffic consultants two years ago.
More recent assessments by council officers indicated the bus link would result in unacceptable traffic queues on the A49.
After hearing the views of Warrington Borough Transport and the Warrington Cycle Campaign, who argued that the lane provided considerable benefits for both bus travellers and cyclists, the committee voted to keep the bus lane.
Only chairman Coun Alice Haddow supported revocation of the bus lane and bus link orders.
Carrie’s on her way
to Cambridge
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON student Carrie Morgan is celebrating the news that she has been offered a place at Cambridge University to study modern languages.
Currently in her second year at Priestley College, she has been given the opportunity to study at New Hall (part of Cambridge University) on a degree pathway centred around modern and medieval Languages focussing on French and Spanish.
During last year’s AS-Levels Carrie was able to obtain A grades in French and Spanish as well as Politics and History and is currently tackling both language subjects and politics at full A-Level alongside the CPS Critical Thinking Programme.
The former Woolston High School pupil is understandably thrilled with her Success.
She said: “It was a really big shock for me to be accepted at Cambridge. I applied to a range of universities in the local area and my application to New Hall was done to test the water.
“I never expected to get an offer from them but it was a very nice surprise indeed. I guess it does show what can be achieved if you are prepared to have a go.”
Priestley?s head of languages Carol Mtitimila said: “I congratulate Carrie on her place which is a superb achievement and one that she has worked extremely hard to obtain. I look forward to continuing to support her during the coming months as she gets ready to embark on the next stage of her education.”
?87,000 landfill tax
boost for projects
by Lesley Wilkinson
THREE projects in Warrington have benefited from grants totalling ?87,850 from the Landfill Tax credits of Waste Recycling Group Ltd.
The grants, administered and distributed by environmental body WREN, takes the total amount distributed by WREN in Cheshire to about ?12 million, with more than 250 projects benefiting.
Culcheth Methodist Church receives ?12,000 towards its programme of improvements to community facilities, ?39,350 goes towards Bewsey Lock Swing Bridge and ?36,500 towards a multi-use sports facility at Radley Common, Warrington.
Grants made under the scheme are to enhance community life by improving existing facilities and creating new ones.
Richard Smith WREN project manager Cheshire, said: “All these projects will provide a terrific range of community and environmental benefits that can only enrich the landscape.”
Groups interested in applying for funding should visit www.wren.ork.uk to assess their eligibility, or contact Wren on 01953 717165.
Community TV channel
launches website
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON’S community television channel, The Big Idea, set to launch on October 23, has set up a website to keep local people involved with its plans.
By logging on to www.the-bigidea.tv people can follow the project development. It will be a gateway to all TV content and the first programme available for viewing, “How To,” will be downloadable from the site in March.
The Big Idea will also be accessible through www.superchannel.org the project’s parent company site, which includes information about other TV community projects throughout the world.
The Warrington channel will feature local content. It is a product of the local community, trained in film making and broadcasting skills, and will be aired online for an entire week.
People can e-mail the channel on [email protected]
2,000 people benefit
from warmer homes
by Lesley Wilkinson
A SCHEME that helps vulnerable people by improving heating and insulation in their homes has made life better for more than 2,000 people in South Warrington.
Warm Front, which combats fuel poverty by installing heating and insulation measures, has been praised by MP Helen Southworth.
The Warrington South MP has congratulated scheme organisers, Eaga Partnership, on its work.
She said: “The scheme is not only making a huge difference to these people’s lives in terms of increasing their monthly income, but is also helping many of them to get out of fuel
poverty by providing heating and insulation and the funds to pay their energy bills.?
Chancellor Gordon Brown recently announced an extra ?250 million funding for the scheme nationally, which should mean benefits for more Warrington people.
Benefits checks, run as part of the scheme, had also helped scores of children in Warrington South.
“With recent research showing that home energy improvements can lead to an 80 per cent decrease in the rate of absence from school, it is vital that parents who think they might be eligible contact the scheme,” she said.
The Eaga Partnership reported that it had helped 615 people on Disability Living Allowance get access to other benefits, and had also helped 1,160 over=60’s to increase their weekly benefit entitlement.
Anyone who would like more information about Warm Front can contact them on 0800 316 6014.
Saturday night shows
revived at local club
by John Hendon
SATURDAY evening entertainment at a Warrington club is being revived after an 18-month gap following a drop in audience numbers.
David Hatton, concert secretary at Monks Sports and Social Club, Hillock Lane, Woolston, said: “We used to regularly have Saturday night artists or discos, but it went a bit stale and numbers dropped off. It wasn’t fair to artists if there were just two dozen people in the audience.
“We now have a new programme and hope to attract 80 to 100 people each week to give a good atmosphere and cover our costs.?
This Saturday, January 28, a comedy/vocal duo called Chimes Two, comprising two members of sixties group, The Chimes, are appearing. Future artists appearing include The Easy Beats, who topped the charts in the Sixties with “Friday On My Mind.”
Man rescued
from river
by staff reporter
A MAN was rescued from the River Mersey at Bridgefoot, Warrington last night (Wednesday)
Police and fire crews were called to Marshall’s Gardens, near Warrington Bridge, after the man apparently jumped into the river and got stuck in mud.
He was pulled from the river and taken to hospital for a check-up.
Firefighters were also called to the rear of Chester Road after a stolen car was abandoned and set alight.
A motor scooter was also set alight by vandals in Gorsey Lane, Warrington.
