Rent demand could
force club to close
by Gary Skentelbery
A VILLAGE youth club could be forced to close following a demand for a massive rent increase of ?4,500 from Warrington Borough Council.
Lymm Youth Club, which is already opens just one night a week due to funding and staffing issues had previously enjoyed a “pepper corn” rent from the council.
Youth Club Chairman Paul Littler said: “The future of the youth club is uncertain unless a new lease and reasonable rent can be negotiated.
“It is also subject to us finding adequate funding to maintain the facility for the benefit of the community.”
The building was “owned by trustees” who are now long deceased but is situated on borough council land in Bridgewater Street, Lymm, next to the picturesque Bridgewater Canal.
It is currently used as a youth club on a Monday evening and also opens on a Thursday, providing refreshments for people visiting the local market.
Mr Littler and local councillor Sheila Woodyatt, together with other members of the management team, are currently trying to negotiate a new deal but have been served notice on the lease which is due to run out in September.
The local authority are believed to be demanding a rent of ?4,500 a year in return for a new 10 year lease.
A number of youth clubs and community centres across Warrington have been closed in recent years due to financial cut backs which have also affected the council’s youth service.
Nobody from the borough council was able to comment.
Bowling green under water
A HIGH tide on the Mersey resulted in flooding at Warrington during the night.
Floodwater poured into Victoria Park and affected a number of properties at Latchford. But with high tide at 1.30am, the water was beginning to recede by daylight.
The park bowling green – which is used all-the-year round for floodlit competitions – was under water all day, however.
A park bowler who visited the scene said: “I have seen it flooded before, but never as deep as this.”
A spokeswoman for the Environment Agency said: “We did not receive any reports of serious problems and we expect all the floodwater to disappear pretty quickly.”
Lions launch
new life saver
by Gary Skentelbery
A new life saving “message in a bottle” campaign has been launched in Warrington by the local Lions group.
Supported by the ambulance and fire service Warrington Lions have provided funding for 3,500 plastic bottles to be circulated across the town.
Targeting elderly people who rely on a variety of drugs, the bottles will be stored in fridges containing details of a persons medication. A note is pinned to the fridge door so if a person is found in a collapsed state, the emergency services will know what medications they are on – or ones they are allergic to.
Mayor and Mayoress of Warrington Coun Hans and Karen Mundry were on hand to launch the campaign with representatives from the fire and ambulance services and Robin Brown, Chairman of the Primary Care Trust, who are supporting the scheme.
Lions public releations officer Harry Thompson said: “This campaign is now being supported by Lions groups across 70 per cent of the country. These containers could prove to be a real life saver for anyone who is found in a collapsed condition in their own home. The aim is to operate the scheme across the whole country.”
The bottles are available from doctors surgeries and the fire station or by calling Harry on 01925 582602.
Meanwhile the Lions, who meet at the British Legion, Woolston on the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month are always on the look out for new members. For more details call Harry on the above number.
nning row over the
footpath that never was
by David Skentelbery
A ROW has flared over a footpath that was never built.
Distribution company Geopost were granted planning consent for a depot at Barleycastle Lane, Appleton, Warrington subject to a condition that a footpath be provided linking the site to the existing footpath near Croften Close.
The condition related to national planning policy which lays down that new business premises should have an alternative means of access other than by private car.
But Geopost say only 10 of their their 150-strong workforce work during daylight hours when public transport is available to the footpath is unlikely to be used.
They have applied to Warrington Borough Council to remove the condition that the footpath be built.
Appleton Parish Council says the path should still be provided, however, in view of the lack of footpaths in the area and the safety implications for pedestrians, including school children.
They strongly recommend the condition is retained.
Coun Judith Walker says there has been no change in the situation since a planning inspector ruled in 2000 that the path would improve pedestrian access to the site from Appleton Thorn.
Borough planning officers are also recommending that the company?s application be rejected.
dteacher to run for
leukaemia research
by Mark Hemmings
CARING headteacher Craig Richardson is hoping to make an impact on the lives of children suffering from leukaemia by running in this year’s London Marathon at the end of April.
For Mr Richardson, head at Culcheth Primary School, the challenge of competing in the marathon is all the more poignant as one of his pupils, six-year-old Bradley Smith, was diagnosed with the disease last year.
He said: “Coincidentally, we received news of Bradley’s illness around the same time that I decided to take part in this year’s marathon, so running for the charity, ‘Children With Leukaemia’ was the obvious choice for me.”
Hoping to raise between ?1,500 and ?2,000 for his chosen cause, Mr Richardson, 40 this year, is well into his training programme – running 17 miles most weekends.
“I have been involved with half marathons in the past, but nothing as big as the London Marathon. I wanted to do it before my 40th birthday,” he said.
The theme for this year’s marathon is the Mr Men and Little Miss stories and each runner wears a specially designed shirt for the race.
Mr Richardson added: “Bradley is a huge George Formby fan, so by whistling a few of George’s hits as I run, and by wearing a top with children’s storybook characters on it, I will be reminded of Bradley and the reason why I am running the marathon.”
Community TV to
explain the web
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON?S fledgling community television channel, The Big Idea, is to offer a series of ?How To? videos ? starting with one explaining what the internet has to offer.
The programme, featuring Warrington Wolves star Mike Wainwright will be available on the website www.the-bigidea.tv Other ?How to? programmes later will provide free help and support on other issues.
The first explains the basics of using the internet, such as using browsers, following links, searching the net and watching videos online which will become important to Big Idea TV users in the future.
Blaze hits
nursery
by staff reporter
POLICE are investigating a fire which wrecked a large storage building at a nursery in Kenyon Lane, Croft near Warrington in the early hours of today.
The blaze devastated the timber building and much of its contents before fire crews could bring it under control.
Three fire engines were involved in the 4am operation.
The cause is still being investigated but a Fire Service spokesman said it was possible it had been started maliciously.
