Six-storey hotel plan
for conservation area
by David Skentelbery
PLANS for a six-storey hotel, with restaurant and adjoining shops have been submitted to Warrington Borough Council.
The scheme involves the site of the former Thomas Locker works at the junction of Church Street and Farrell Street – in the Church Street Conservation Area.
There would also be 20 apartments in two-storeys above the four shops and the whole complex would have parking for 80 vehicles.
Members of the borough council?s development control committee will consider the proposals by Warrington-based Briden Construction next week.
Howley Residents Association has lodged objections, as has local councillor Yvonne Fovargue, on the grounds of traffic impact, loss of residential amenity and impact on the Conservation Area.
The developer has agreed to make a contribution of ?1,327 per unit towards the cost of providing a children?s play area and ?2,778 per unit towards the cost of sport and recreation provision.
Planning officers are recommending the scheme be approved. They say that while the scheme is modern in design, it is not inappropriate to the Conservation Area and will not clash with nearby Listed Buildings.
Architects unveil plan to
boost village shopping
by Mark Hemmings
LEADING local architects have unveiled plans to bring thousands more shoppers and visitors into Lymm village.
Eagle Brow based architect Randle White is calling on local residents to step up a campaign to make Lymm a pedestrian zone and bring its weekly market into the heart of the village.
A 22-week project to widen pavements and lay cobbles along Eagle Brow began in February in a bid to make the village more pedestrian-friendly, discourage heavy commercial vehicles and reduce illegal parking.
But architects at Randle White believe the measures don’t go far enough and want to see Lymm closed to through traffic and restored to a thriving commercial and community-focused village.
Roger White, director of Randle White, says their proposals would boost village trading and increase visitor numbers.
“Making Lymm more inviting to shoppers and visitors would be a great move for residents and businesses alike.
“We think council and village leaders are missing a trick. We have drawn up plans of how Lymm could look if it was closed to through traffic and given back to the people.
“Moving the open air market from Henry Street Car Park to The Cross would free up much-needed parking spaces and stop motorists obstructing the high street.
“Opening the village to pedestrians would encourage more families to visit in safety and seating areas would make people linger longer, and ultimately spend more in our local shops.”
Randle White has submitted its proposal to Warrington Borough Council and is calling on local residents to back the campaign.
Freemasons’ ?1,400 gift
to disability partnership
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON Disability Partnership has received ?1,400 from Warrington Freemasons – enough to buy 10 wheelchairs.
The money was handed over to Partnership fund raiser Jon Menzies by Ian Boswell, chairman of the Warrington Group of Lodges, at a special meeting of Warrington Temple Lodge when non-Masons were invited to attend to hear all about Freemasonry. The talk took place in one of the Lodge rooms at the Masonic Hall, Winmarleigh Street, Warrington.
The money had been raised at a sportsman?s dinner organised by Warrington Freemasons to raise money for local charities.
Ian Boswell said: ?Each year we raise money for local charities and this year, in addition to supporting St Rocco?s Hospice we decided to support Warrington Disability Partnership which does such a wonderful job for the disabled people of the area and their families.?
Mr Menzies said: ?We are delighted to receive such a large donation. We are busy this year trying to raise funds to refurbish the narrowboat we have on the Bridgewater Canal and are looking forward to that project being completed this summer.
During the open evening Dennis Rudd, an Assistant Provincial Grand Master for the Masonic Province of West Lancashire, and Ian Boswell gave an outline of the objectives of Freemasons and their many charitable works. They answered questions from men who attended the meeting.
Is Nicola the town’s
next business star?
by Mark Hemmings
INSPIRED by the BBC’s Apprentice television programme where a group of hopeful candidates battle it out to land a six figure salary with Sir Alan Sugar’s organisation, a teenager at Priestley College has become Warrington’s very own business star in the making!
Nicola Richardson is a second year AVCE business student at the college and has recently won an apprenticeship at Premium Appliance Brands Ltd.
The 18-year-old pupil was headhunted by the company after making a good impression at a focus group run by a specialist educational market research company earlier in the year.
Nicola attended two interviews where she was questioned by various managers, and after impressing the panel was offered an apprenticeship which will allow her to gain experience of working in all areas of the organisation. She will then be able to decide which department she would like to continue to work in at the end of the period.
She said: “Not everyone at college wants to go to university and although I want to have a professional career I don’t think I have to go to university to get that.
“My course combines a great deal of hard work, theoretical material with hands-on, practical assignments, for example, one of our modules requires us to organise a day trip for 40 students. This means everything from choosing the place, costings, organising transport, ticket sales etc. It was hard work but it was a success and taught me the ups and downs of a real business, even if it was on a small scale.”
Nicola also took part in a two day business dynamics event where all the business students worked together to enhance their teambuilding skills.
She said: “We did this by simulating how businesses introduce new products and market them.
“I found this a great experience and it allowed me to use negotiating skills to ensure that my team worked to the best of its ability.”
Staff at the college are hoping Nicola becomes the next Michelle Dewberry, winner of the TV Apprentice competition.
News in brief
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the Friends of Warrington Hospital were 1, 3, 11 and 12. The ?100 jackpot went unclaimed which means next week the top prize will be an estimated ?250. The ?25 consolation prize went to Christine Oakes.
60th birthday
MEMBERS of Heatley Women’s Institute, Lymm, marked the 60th anniversary of their branch by reading excerpts from a 1946 record book. They decided some things never change – the guest speaker was the local District Nurse and plans were being made for an outing to Llandudno.
Temporary closure
WARRINGTON Borough Council is to make an order for the temporary closure to traffic of Crosfield Street, Warrington from May 30. The closure is necessary while a major water main is renewed and it is expected to last about three weeks.
Security fence
PLANS for a 7ft high security fence around Birchwood CE Primary School, Warrington, have been given the go-ahead by Warrington planners.
Refused
BOROUGH planners have thrown out an application for permission to build a bungalow on land at Laburnum Cottage, Back Lane, Cuerdley, Warrington.
[ 23.05.2006, 09:37: Message edited by: DS ]
