Armed gang in raid
on village post office
by David Skentelbery
POLICE are hunting three men who carried out an armed robbery at Warrington?s newest post office.
Two of the raiders entered Glazebury Post Office ? which is attached to the Grey Horse pub ? brandishing black hand guns.
They threatened two women members of staff and one leapt the counter and helped himself to money from a cash dispenser.
They then escaped in a dark coloured car believed to have been stolen and driven by a third man.
The car drove off at speed in the direction of Culcheth and was later abandoned in Heyshoots Lane, near the Raven Inn.
No-one was hurt in the incident, but staff were left badly shaken.
Police say the two men who entered the pub were both wearing full-face balaclavas, with eye holes cut in them. One was about 5ft 6 inches tall and was of stocky build.
The man driving the getaway car was fair haired and in his 30s.
Anyone who saw anything suspicious near the post office or the Grey Horse, or at the Raven Inn is asked to contact police on 01244 613730.
The Post Office only opened towards the end of last year and, in an innovative scheme to provide the village with a post office, is part of the Grey Horse pub.
One of its features is a blue ?post box? where villagers can leave messages for the police.
Mayor sets out her
“green” credentials
WARRINGTON?S new Mayor, Coun Linda Dirir, has moved swiftly to highlight her ?green? credentials.
She has announced a plan to keep a careful record of the mileage of the Mayoral car, ED1 so that its CO2 emissions can be calculated and has pledged to plant enough trees across the borough to compensate for the emissions.
The mother-of-four has also decided the theme for her year in office will be ?The Green Agenda.?
She said: ?The environment and climate change is the biggest issue and the biggest threat facing the world today. We should all do what we can to help.?
Coun Dirir ? whose husband Allin comes from Africa ? said climate change was causing crops to fail in Africa and other countries and was also causing the deaths of thousands of people through floods and other freak weather conditions.
Warrington was doing what it could through recycling and obtaining all its energy from ?green? suppliers and,wherever possible, obtaining all food from Fair Trade suppliers, she said.
When the time came to change the Mayoral car she would be pressing for it to be replaced by one which produced fewer emissions ? possibly a hybrid model.
She would be visiting schools and local firms promoting her green message ? ?Think globally, act locally.?
Coun Dirir and her husband ? a parish councillor at Penketh ? already have one of the ?greenest? homes in Warrington.
They recycle all their waste, have a water butt, use low energy light bulbs and only have one car despite both being drivers.
The Mayor is to raise money for a number of charities during her year of office, including Cancer Research and several small local charities including Penketh Royal British Legion.
She lost her mother to cancer and her father to an illnesses arising from his treatment as a prisoner of war during World War 2.
Noisy neighbours still
a problem on estates
by John Hendon
NOISY neighbours are still a problem on Warrington?s housing estates.
Latest figures from the borough council?s environmental health team show that that complaints about noise last year rose to 938 ? the highest figure since 2002-3, when 957 complaints were received.
But the council points out that the figure is still well below the peak year of 1997-8 when 1,157 complaints were dealt with.
More than 93% of the complaints were responded to within three days.
Tommy Wallace, head of service, housing, protection and community, said: “The overall trend, despite this year’s increase, is a modest reduction over the last five years. The increase this year may well be due to a concerted campaign during the year to increase awareness of our services and of residents’ rights and responsibilities, especially in the more deprived wards.
“Environmental Health Officers have engaged over 400 community leaders and residents at some 28 events and meetings. New leaflets, redesigned in response to residents’ views, have been distributed to a variety of community locations throughout the town.”
Mr Wallace said the vast majority of residents and businesses act responsibly. Those who don’t can be dealt with using the strong powers available to the council’s environmental health team to deal with most noise problems.
These include:
Seizure under warrant of noise-making equipment such as TVs, musical instruments and music systems – including CD and record collections.
Entering houses and cars where intruder alarms are sounding excessively and charging the owner the cost of any locksmiths and alarm engineers.
For anti social behaviour not related to noise from premises, the environmental health team will refer complaints to the appropriate authority.
More information is available from the council’s web site www.warrington.gov.uk or by calling 01925 442587.
Vandals attack park
skateboard centre
by David Skentelbery
VANDALS have attacked the skateboard facility in Ridgeway Grundy Park at Lymm, near Warrington.
A group of youths used a five litre tin of white paint to daub slogans, insults and names over the ramps and spilled paint across the tarmac.
Kieran Walshe, chairman of the Ridgeway Grundy Memorial Park Association said: “The damage leaves one of the ramps unusable and is likely to cost hundreds of pounds to clear up.
” The skateboard park was controversially built by Lymm Parish Council, despite strong opposition from residents who feared it would just add to existing problems of vandalism and youth disorder in the park.
Mr Walshe added: “This is just what we said would happen. The skateboard park has been vandalised like this twice in the few months since it was opened. Now it looks a disgrace. We want the parish council to get this mess cleaned up immediately and to take steps to stop this kind of thing happening.
“These youths almost certainly live in the village. The culprit’s clothes will have been stained with white paint when they left the park. The police are investigating, and would welcome any information, in confidence.”
Coun Bob Barr, a member of the parish council and Warrington Borough Council, said: “Both the ramps were covered in graffiti daubed in white emulsion paint.
“Heavy rain washed much of it away but we have arranged with the borough council to have it all removed.
“This is very disappointing and very unsightly and something we deplore. But it is only a minor setback. Most of the time the skateboard facility is well used by local youngsters enjoying themselves, often accompanied by their parents.
“We cannot be sure whether it was local youths or youths from Partington.
“There have been ongoing problems of vandalism in the park for 20-30 years.
“We have asked the Police Community Support Officers to give extra attention to the park but they cannot be there all the time. We would also like to work with the park association to help protect the park.”
Visitors can have a say
on museum exhibitions
by Lesley Wilkinson
VISITORS to Warrington Museum and Art Gallery have a chance to influence the future of its exhibitions and collections.
Staff are celebrating the 150th anniversary of the museum and are inviting local people to have their say on shaping its future.
People are being asked for their views on the exhibitions and collections and to comment on what they would like to see in the future.
The gallery stages a variety of exhibitions of local interest, it holds a wealth of m
aterial on the natural world including child-friendly hands-on activities and the town’s very own dinosaur.
Its art collections, including work by internationally famous artists, are displayed throughout the building and among the most popular exhibits are a decorated Egyptian sarcophagus and Egyptian mummy.
Visitors interested in having their say, can fill in a questionnaire at the Museum.
Borough Council executive member Coun Roy Smith said: “The Library, Museum and Art Gallery have played a pivotal role in the history of the community of Warrington for generations. It provides fascinating insights into a wide variety of fields and interests for both old and young.
?The exhibitions, collections and displays are always of the highest quality and their standard is reflected in them achieving the prestigious Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Service (VAQAS) accreditation recently.”
Four youths arrested after
community centre blaze
by staff reporter
FOUR youths have been arrested following the devastating arson attack on Orford Community Centre, Warrington.
The raid ? reported by Warrington-Worldwide yesterday (Tuesday) ? left the timber-built centre off Alder Lane almost totally destroyed.
Officers from the Warrington Central Neighbourhood Policing Unit (NPU) arrested two youths, aged 15 and 16, from the Orford area on Sunday morning.
They are currently on bail pending further enquiries.
Yesterday, two further youths, both aged 15 and from Orford and Whitecross respectively, were arrested on suspicion of arson.
Both are currently helping police with their enquiries.
Insp Alex Kane said: “These arrests show how seriously we are taking this incident, particularly in view of the fact that this is the third attack on this premises in as many weeks. Enquiries are continuing as we are committed to detecting these offences and working with our partners to ensure a long term solution to the problem of anti-social behavour in the Orford area.”
The centre is used by numerous community groups, including Mums and Tots groups and pensioners? organisers. But it is now likely to be out of commission for months ? and will probably need to be demolished and re-built.
Fun day to promote
positive mental health
by Lesley Wilkinson
A FREE fun day aimed at promoting positive mental health and reducing the stigma of mental illness is being held at Walton Hall Gardens, Warrington, on July 6.
The Positive Mental Well Being and Challenging the Stigma of Mental Health event runs from 10am until 4pm. A similar event, “Smile You’re Worth It” was held last year.
It aims to encourage people to look after themselves and to promote positive well-being.
Visitors will be able to find our more about mental illness and to understand the links between food and mood and physical and mental well-being.
Stress-busting drumming sessions, relaxation techniques and complimentary therapies will be on offer. And there will be a host of activities to join in.
For more information or to book places on sessions, people should contact Jackie Hodgkinson or Helen Taylor on 01925 843718 or email [email protected] or [email protected]
Students plan a
fundraising thankyou
by Lesley Wilkinson
WARRINGTON students are planning a fundraising event as a way of thanking their university for its work.
Students at the University of Chester, Warrington Campus, are busy organising the event.
The main theme is a 24-hour DJ set from Ian Cook, which goes out live on the student Station “the Cat1251 am,” for the whole duration.
A final countdown party will be held in the student union Fu Bar on Sat June 3 from 7:00pm to midnight.
Ian said: “The event itself will have live performers, promotions and live acts. Some of the performers include dancers and live musicians.
“Entry is ?1 on the door with all proceeds going to charity, the aim, to give a little back to our university which has given us a great year,” he added.
