Unique meadowland saved
for future generations
by Lesley Wilkinson
ADULTS with learning difficulties are helping to preserve a unique Warrington meadowland, thanks to a ?1,000 grant.
The grant, to Groundwork Mersey Valley, means it can offer extra training in conservation work to trainees from the Walton Lea Project ? an organisation which provides work and training to people with learning difficulties.
It was made by Mersey Forest’s Green Bridges Project to help fund ecological improvement work in Paddington Meadows ? the only remaining riverside pasture in Warrington.
The training is in hedgerow restoration and aftercare ? and so far 270 metres of hedgerow has been planted under the initiative.
Groundwork is working to protect the meadows by improving the biodiversity of the site. About 250 hours of volunteer time have been spent on conservation work in the area and the project is expected to continue through to next year.
Eamonn Ritchie, of Groundwork, said: “This extra funding from the Green Bridges Project has been extremely valuable towards our work by enabling us to spend more time on training adults with learning difficulties.
“The work we have been doing with the people from Walton Lea has been very rewarding and they have worked hard to help make Paddington Meadows a better place for the people and wildlife of Warrington.?
Masked knifeman
raids corner shop
by David Skentelbery
A MASKED man armed with a knife stole cash from a convenience store at Warrington.
The man entered the shop in Willis Street, wielding a large knife and threatened staff.
He went behind the counter and demanded cash, opening a till and grabbing a small amount of money.
Then he ran out leaving staff shaken but unharmed.
Police say he was about 5ft 8 inches tall and was wearing a dark coloured tracksuit and a dark balaclava over his face.
They are studying CCTV images from the shop?s security camera system.
Gifts for hospital kids
YOUNG patients and their families at Warrington Hospital will benefit from a generous donation from supermarket bosses.
A bumper pack of brand new baby toys and supplies have been given to the hospital following a stock-change at the ASDA store at Westbrook.
Store spokeswoman Cathy Robinson said: “Someone made a suggestion that instead of just throwing the stock away or sending it back to the warehouse, we put it to good use instead.
“That was when we thought of the hospital as we have raised money for them in the past.”
Keith Bennett, directorate manager for women and children’s services at the hospital said: “We will certainly be able to put all the toys and other pieces of equipment to good use in the hospital and in the community too.
“We pride ourselves on the close links we have with the town and people around us and this is another example of that positive relationship.”
Supermarket staff Julie Wrightson, Cathy Robinson and Mark Hymers present the donation in the hospital?s maternity ward, watched by Elizabeth and Andrew Burningham, with baby Isabele.
Councillors call for
20mph speed limit
by David Skentelbery
OPPOSITION councillors at Warrington are calling for a 20mph speed limit in all built-up areas.
They want the borough council to support moves in Parliament to introduce default 20mph limits in residential streets.
Coun Brian Axcell, the Liberal Democrat transportation spokesman, said: “Our Local Transport Plan gives statistics showing the consequences of speed on the chances of a pedestrian surviving impact from a road vehicle:
85 per cent of people hit by a vehicle at 40mph die.
20 per cent die if the speed is 30mph.
The figure drops to 5 per cent for a speed of 20mph.
?People in Warrington want traffic speeds in residential streets reduced. ?Twenty’s plenty on such roads. The council wants to introduce 20mph zones but at present the speed limit has to be self-enforcing via engineered features such as chicanes and road humps. This makes schemes extremely expensive and limits the number of areas which can be covered.? Coun Axcell said a Road Safety Bill, currently passing through Parliament, gave the opportunity to redice speeds.
?Amendments are being tabled to this bill, which would make 20mph the default speed limit in residential streets.
?This would put us in line with practice on the continent of Europe, where 30 kph (or 20mph) is the norm in residential areas and this speed limit is imposed without massive traffic calming features.
?We should ask the Government to support a change in speed limits in residential areas now.”
Litter busters hold
inaugural meeting
by Lesley Wilkinson
WARRINGTON Clean Team ? the voluntary group set up with a mission to rid the town of litter ? held its first general meeting at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
Founder Coun Trudi Wood was appointed the first secretary and Coun Roy Smith the treasurer. Colin Foster, of Glazebury, was appointed chairman.
Coun Wood said: “This was an important step for the Clean Team. With a constitution and a committee we are now in a position to apply for funding so that we can buy our own litter pickers, high-visibility jackets and the other things we need to take the Clean Team forward.”
She said several parish councils in Warrington were interested in expanding the team to their areas.
Coun Smith said: “The Clean Team exists to develop and promote a culture of pride in the borough and community of Warrington by working towards a pleasant and litter-free environment for all to live in.”
A formal constitution was adopted at the meeting. The group is also planning to produce a quarterly newsletter.
The next litter pick will be on Sunday (April 2)at 2 pm on the car park between the petrol station and the Odeon cinema at Westbrook. Further details are available from the team on 01925 791433 or e-mail [email protected]>
