Shopping schemes to
change the face of town
by David Skentelbery
TWO multi-million ? shopping and leisure proposals, either of which would completely change the face of town centre Warrington are to be considered by planning chiefs this week.
A special meeting of the development control committee has been called for Friday, February 24 to consider the proposals.
One involves the redevelopment of the existing Time Square shopping centre, adjoining Warrington Market.
It involves a multiplex cinema, restaurant, bars, shops, offices and 312 residential units.
An additional 419 parking spaces would be created together with a new bridge link to the Market multi-storey car park and an improved market entrance.
The other scheme involves land off Winwick Street, Warrington and bounded by Tanners Lane, Dallam Lane and the railway ? a site which has been the subject of numerous previous planning consents none of which have been progressed.
This includes an eight screen cinema, restaurants, bars, a 118-bed hotel, shops, offices, a health centre and 613 residential apartments. There would be 1,135 parking spaces.
Both schemes are being recommended for approval, subject to agreements from the developers to contribute to the cost of infrastructure. Both have attracted objections ? including one from agents acting for the Time Square developers objecting to the Winwick Street scheme.
Planners say the Time Square scheme is consistent with the town centre section of the Warrington Unitary Development Plan which seeks to ensure the continued vitality and viability of the town centre.
They say the Winwick Street plan would secure the regeneration of a prominent gateway site to the town which has been under-used for many years, providing employment opportunities, economic growth and community benefits.
Councillors will have to consider the two proposal independently and will not be able to refuse one on the grounds that the other makes it unnecessary.
Storm breaks over shops
plan for village centre
by David Skentelbery
A STORM is brewing over plans to demolish a house in the historic heart of Lymm village and replace it with a three-storey building comprising of three shops and six apartments.
The plan involves a house at the corner of Pepper Street and Rectory Lane, overlooking the centuries old Lymm Cross.
Shopkeepers in the village are furious about the scheme which they claim will change the character of the Lymm Conservation Area.
Lymm Parish Council has already lodged an objection.
Borough councillor Ian Marks said: “If this scheme goes forward it would change the centre of Lymm forever.
?It is vital that as many people as possible express their views to the planning authority. It is not just nearby residents who would be affected, but everyone in the village. Plans and a computer-generated picture are available at Lymm Library and I do urge everyone to go in and have a look.
Lymm has had more than its fair share of unwelcome development in recent years and we certainly don’t want another that could wreck our village forever.” Coun Marks urged residents to write to Warrington Council’s development control department at New Town House in Buttermarket Street quoting references 05/07243 and 06/07383.
Parish council chairman Coun Pam Marks said: “While I don’t object in principle to development of some kind on this site, I do have major reservations about this scheme.
?It is over-development and the buildings are too high and would dwarf the Cross. There appears to be no provision for delivery vehicles at the retail units and there are already major problems with traffic and illegal parking on Pepper Street. We are also worried that some mature trees might be removed.
?This is a Conservation Area and any development must be in materials that match the older buildings in the village centre.”
“Don’t leave your
bin out overnight”
by John Hendon
FIRE chiefs at Warrington today issued an appeal to the public: “Don’t put your wheelie bins out until the morning of collection.”
The appeal came after a night in which numerous bins in the Latchford area of the town and on the Riverside Retail Park at Bridge Foot were set alight by vandals.
Fire crews were called out repeatedly as the plastic bins went up in flames.
A spokesman said: “It would really be a big help if people would not put their bins out until morning.
“But in fact, it is not a collection day at Latchford today so it would appear that many people just leave their bins out all the time, or for several days.
“There is an obvious cost to the public purse, but the real issue is one of safety. Vandals usually push the bins up close to property in an attempt to cause more damage. Lives could even be lost. And of course, while we are dealing with some nuisance fire involving wheelie bins we could be needed for a more serious fire somewhere else.”
Fire crews also spent three hours dealing with a blaze involving a large industrial skip on the car park of the Poplars public house, Orford. It was believed to contain rubbish arising from the renovation of nearby property. The cause is not known, but vandalism is suspected.
Scout centre offers
a warmer welcome
by staff reporter
THE Scout Centre on Parkgate Road, Stockton Heath, Warrington, is offering a warmer welcome to users thanks to the installation of a new heating system.
Landfill Tax credit funding of ?9,090 from the Waste Recycling Group, administered by WREN, made the work possible.
Old gas heaters have been replaced by a condensing boiler, providing hot water and heating to the two storey section of the building, and a new hot air blower to the main hall.
The works were carried out by Terry Mercer, of Crystal Restorations and Dandi Building Services Ltd.
Stockton Heath?s Scout Centre is a focal point for local community organisations and is used during the day by the Jack and Jill pre-school play group and during the school holidays by WASC (Warrington Association for Sick Children).
In the evenings Beavers, Cubs and Scouts use the Centre along with the Army Cadets, Morris Dancers and other local community groups.
Richard Smith, the project manager for WREN, said “This work has had just the sort of positive effect on this community building we seek from our grants”
Earlier improvement work included disabled access and disabled toilet facilities, together with much needed drain improvement works, carried out in 2004.
These works were funded from the Scout Group?s own funds assisted by a grant from Stockton Heath Parish Council.
Group scout leader Mike Bromwich said: ?The next project is to convert a problematic flat roof to a tiled pitched roof.?
Raising the voice
of older people
by John Hendon
WARRINGTON’S Older People Engagement Group (OPEG) is holding its inaugural meeting on 13 March 2006.
OPEG promotes the voice of older people from a range of organisations to ensure their collective views are heard by the town’s decision making bodies.
At the meeting, the group will adopt their own constitution and a committee will be appointed from the nominations received.
The group, founded one year ago, has already had success influencing the future services of public organisations like Warrington Primary Care Trust (PCT) and Warrington Borough Council. For example, members of the group last year took part in a review of services for people with long-term health conditions for the PCT.
OPEG member Eileen Fitzgerald, from Penketh, said: “As a retired person I felt increasingly isolated from the ?main stream?.
?Becoming a member of OPEG has enabled me to take part in raising the voice of us older people of Warrington on issues that are about us and affect us. This is real involvement, face-to-face with key decision makers and planners who are willing
to listen to our concerns.”
Jackie Hodgkinson, of Warrington Primary Care Trust, who helped set up OPEG, said: “We would welcome anyone interested in becoming a member of this important group to come along to the meeting. OPEG has really contributed to building the voice of older people, which by definition is anyone over the age of 50.”
Anyone wanting to attend the meeting, which starts at 10am for two hours, should contact Mark Torkington on 01925 444096 or Jackie Hodgkinson on 01925 843809.
A chance to
meet police
by staff reporter
RESIDENTS of the Fearnhead area of Warrington will get a chance to talk to the police about local problems at a Community Action Meeting (CAM) tonight (Monday).
The meeting is due to start at 6.30pm at Fearnhead Community Centre, Padgate – and all local residents are invited to attend.
Police officers and Community Support Officers will listen to the views of local people and hope to learn more about problems, nuisances, “hot spots” etc.
Tomorrow, (Tuesday) police are holding another CAM at Whittle Hall Community Centre in Lonsdale Close to discuss similar problems in the Whittle Hall area of the borough. This meeting is due to start at 8.30pm.
News in brief
Vet’s surgery plan
PLANS for a veterinary surgery, with overnight emergency accommodation on the Gemini Trade Park, Europa Boulevard, Warrington, have been submitted to the borough council.
Annual meeting
THE annual general meeting of Statham Residents’ Association, Lymm, will be held at Statham Lodge Hotel, Lymm on Tuesday April 25 at 8pm when it is hoped to appoint new officers.
Road humps
WARRINGTON Borough Council is planning to amend its traffic calming proposals in Fearnhead Lane, Fearnhead to delete three speed cushions near the junctions with Orchard Street and Barnes Avenue and add two speed cushions and a flat top road hump near the junctions with Kings Road, Millport Close and Templeton Drive.
Road closure
STRUCTURAL maintenance work in Cherry Lane, Lymm will require a temporary road closure from Thursday, February 23 for about 18 weeks. An alternative route via Cliff Lane, Knutsford Road,Stockport Road, Camsley Lane and Booths Hill Road will lbe signposted.
