Murder victim was to
have become a father
by John Hendon
THE Warrington man killed following a savage attack by a gang of thugs was shortly to have become a father.
Michael Theaker, 22, of Festival Avenue, Orford and his partner, Shelly, were expecting their first baby, police have revealed.
Members of both Michael and Shelly?s families have been devastated by the tragedy.
In a statement, the Theaker family said: ?Michael was a quiet, likeable lad who never had a problem with anyone. He was staying with his partner, Shelly, who is soon to give birth to their first child.?
Police have launched a murder investigation following Michael?s death in Warrington Hospital on Monday.
He had been lying in a coma every since he was attacked by a gang of youths in Hallfields Road, Orford, on Tuesday evening, January 24.
The tragedy followed an argument involving Michael and a group of youths on a Number 21 bus as it travelled along Hallfields Road.
Michael and the youths all got off the bus near Knight?s pharmacy where the attack took place.
Last night (Tuesday) police were distributing leaflets to members of the public at Warrington bus station and in Hallfields Road in the hope of tracing witnesses of the attack.
They are still anxious to talk to people who were passengers on the bus ? particularly three young men who were seated near the rear of the bus and may have seen part of the incident.
Three men have been arrested in connection with the incident and charged with wounding. They are due to appear before Warrington Crown Court on Friday.
Anyone who can help is asked to call police on 01244 613833.
?671,000 plan for
new youth centre
by David Skentelbery
TOWN Hall chiefs at Warrington have drawn up a ?671,000 plan to provide a new youth centre in a village plagued by gangs of unruly youngsters.
The scheme at Culcheth would provide a purpose built youth centre with an activity room, kitchen, and toilet facilities on the Shaw Street Recreation Ground.
Improved site access and car parking would also be provided.
The plan will be put to the borough council’s executive board on Monday, February 6.
It has been produced at a time when residents of Church Lane, Culcheth are campaigning for urgent action to close the existing Culcheth Youth Base which has not been used as a youth centre for some time but which is being used by a church group.
Nearby residents say the current use leads to traffic and parking problems in narrow Church Lane.
Council officers have been considering a number of options to replace the Youth Base for some time. Two plans involved the use of existing buildings within the Culcheth High School site. Another option would be refurbish the existing Church Lane building and changing rooms at Shaw Street.
But officers say a new youth centre at Shaw Street, costing ?671,000 and with running costs of about ?20,400-a-year is the best option because it is affordable and can be implemented with minimum delay.
The scheme would be funded by the sale of the Church Lane site – which already has planning consent for housing.
Shaw Street currently has two rugby pitches, one soccer pitch and a training pitch with changing facilities and showers. But the existing building is in a poor condition and will be difficult to adapt to meet new legislative requirements.
The officers accept the scheme does not address the problem of the continuing decline in the condition of the changing facilities at Shaw Street but believe innovative architectural and building design possibilities exist which may provide some prospect of improvement.
Culcheth has been suffering from disturbances caused by gangs of youths gathering in the village in the evening for some time -and the lack of youth faculties has been blamed by some.
In 2004, it was one of the first communities in the North West to be designated a “Dispersal Zone” under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act, giving police new powers to order groups of people to leave an area.
Council initiative to
buy cheaper bins
by Lesley Wilkinson
NINE councils joined forces in Warrington to buy green wheeled-bins at the cheapest price possible in an e-auction.
Warrington Borough Council spearheaded the on-line reverse e-auction to enable the authorities taking part to buy the bins at the lowest price.
Joining in were councils from Bolton, Bury, Eden, Liverpool, North Warwickshire, Staffordshire Moorlands, Tameside and Wirral.
As part of the auction suppliers put bins up for sale and the one agreeing to supply the service at the lowest price, won the deal. The use of an e-auction is an innovation in the way the council purchases goods. It is looked upon nationally as an example of good practice.
Coun John Morris, Warrington?s executive member for resources who opened the event, said: “Warrington, along with other councils and organisations, is always striving to improve its organisational efficiency.
“Smarter procurement and procuring collaboratively with other partners to achieve better prices and savings on the vast range of goods we purchase is a key part of the council’s drive for organisational efficiency,” he added.
Yvonne Bottomley, strategic director for corporate services, said: “The council has an impressive track record of partnership working and the event is a further example of innovative and cutting edge partnership working by the council and its partners.
“A simple item like a wheeled bin is a vital tool in delivering council services and is an area of potentially high spend where substantial savings could be made. We are spearheading a consortium of local authorities across the North West and West Midlands that demonstrates a real commitment to collaborative working,” she added.
Picture shows representatives from local authorities who took part in the e-auction.
Special meeting called
over school demolition
by David Skentelbery
MEMBERS of the public are to get a chance to see the controversial plans for a new primary school at Stockton Heath, Warrington.
A special meeting has been called of Stockton Heath Parish Council when the plans will be on show.
The meeting will take place at the Methodist Church in Walton Road next Monday, February 6. The plans will be on show from 6.45pm and a meeting of the council will follow at 7.15pm.
More than 5,000 people have signed a petition opposing plans to demolish the existing Stockton Heath Primary School and replace it with a new building.
They favour refurbishment of the existing building which they say is a fine example of a Victorian school and stands on a site steeped in local history.
Members of an action group set up to fight to save the school travel to London this Friday (February 3) to present a copy of the petition to Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell.
They hope she will intervene to prevent demolition because of the historic value of the building and the site generally. Roman relics are believed to exist beneath the building.
Action group members are also to meet Euro-MP Den Dover ? a former pupil at the school ? who has already come out in favour of saving the old building. The meeting will take place on Sunday (February 5).
They have also appealed against the refusal of English Heritage to grant listed building status to the school.
Local students win
Oxbridge places
by John Hendon
TWO youngsters from Warrington are among 12 students from Sir John Deane’s College, Northwich, who are celebrating after being offered highly-prized places at Oxford and Cambridge Universities.
The successful A Level students beat off fierce competition from all over the country to be awarded their places from two of the world’s top universities.
Lauren Harris, from Warrington, has been offered a place to read Modern Languages at Cambridge while Mark Allen, also f
rom Warrington will read PPE/Maths/Economics at Oxford.
The news has delighted teachers at SJD who work closely with students in the run up to the tough selection process.
Tass Sgouros, head of Student Progression and Guidance at SJD, said: “This is marvellous news – to have as many as 12 students accepted at Oxford and Cambridge is a real achievement for the students and the College.
“This really is a bumper number of successful candidates. Our students should be justly proud of their efforts.
“To be offered a place at Oxford or Cambridge University is a substantial achievement and a reward and acknowledgement for the candidates’ hard work, application and ability. This has been the culmination of a lengthy application process and tough interview stage – sometimes lasting two or three days.”
Help for redundant
distribution workers
by Lesley Wilkinson
WARRINGTON North MP Helen Jones has secured help from the Employment Minister for workers made redundant at the doomed Morrisons’ distribution centre at Woolston.
Minister Margaret Hodge, in response to a question from the MP, announced that funding had been approved to enable the Jobcentre Plus Rapid Response Service to support workers from the former Safeways depot at Hardwick Grange.
A skills training analysis would be conducted to assess existing skills and extra funding made available for training.
Jobcentre Plus will also hold briefings for the Human Resources team, have sessions with staff and will place financial advisers with the company. They will also hold a mini Jobsfair, conduct benefit interviews and arrange for personal advisers to contact staff off sick to offer assistance.
Ms Jones said: “It is never good news when jobs are lost and the impact on individuals and families can be very traumatic. That is why everything possible should be done to assist those losing their jobs and why the statement from the minister is so welcome.
“The range of measures she announced should better help people to secure alternative employment or retraining.?
“Office village”
plan approved
by business staff
PLANS for an ?office village? near Warrington have been given the green light.
The development at Daresbury Park will offer detached and semi-detached office buildings and car parking as part of a major, multi-million ? employment area.
A joint venture by Warrington hotel and leisure group De Vere and Maple Grove Developments, the scheme aims at providing high quality, out-of-town offices for small companies.
Daresbury Park Developments director Andy Lavin said: “The decision to build an office village is an immediate and deliverable response to market demand.”
Stolen vehicle
torched in park
by staff reporter
FIRE crews were called to Sankey Valley Park, Warrington during the night when a stolen Landrover Discovery was set alight.
The vehicle was completely destroyed as firefighters had to withdraw from the scene because of fears of an explosion.
A Fire Service spokesman said it was believed the vehicle may have been converted for liquid petroleum gas.
“The vehicle had been driven into a remote part of the park, at the rear of St Mark’s Church, Dallam. It was completely burned out.
“We are assuming it had been stolen.”
[ 09.02.2006, 09:51: Message edited by: DS ]
