Multi-million ? shops
plan gets green light
by David Skentelbery
A MULTI-million ? shops, leisure and housing scheme for Warrington town centre has been given the green light by borough planners ? at the third time of asking.
The project, involving the demolition of the existing Time Square, adjacent to Warrington Market, includes a multi-screen cinema, restaurant or caf?, bars, shops, offices and 312 residential units.
It will provide some 420 parking spaces ? but a question remains as to whether it will ever be built.
A similar scheme, also involving shops, offices, hotel and cinema and more than 600 homes, was approved in February on derelict land off Winwick Street.
It is not thought likely that both schemes will proceed ? at least not in their present form.
Two town centre multi-screen cinemas in addition to the existing complex at Westbrook would never prove viable.
Approval of the Time Square project was delayed because of councillors? concerns over the level of ?affordable housing? proposed. But throughout it was supported by planning officers.
They said there were no strategic policy objections to the proposals. The developers are prepared to contribute to the cost of affordable housing, recreational space, public transport, etc.
The scheme also includes improvements to the entrances to Warrington Market and an additional link bridge to the Market Multi-storey Car Park. There would also be space available for a health care facility within the site.
There were a number of objections from existing occupiers of premises within Time but planning officers said the proposed development was consistent with policies contained in the town centre chapter of the Warrington Unitary Development Plan which seek to ensure the continued vitality and viability of the town centre.
“Farmers walkers”
in need of a boat!
by David Skentelbery
A GROUP of walkers from Glazebury, near Warrington are planning to walk in the footsteps of their ancestors – but may be thwarted for lack of a boat!
About 20 people will trek the historic “Farmers Walk” between Glazebury and the village of Sollom, near Southport – re-forging a link dating back to the 19th century when the mosses around Glazebury were being prepared for farming.
The work was carried out by experienced farm workers from the Sollom area who had already converted their own local mosses to agricultural land.
Each Sunday they would walk the 26 miles to Glazebury, with most of their route along the towpath of the Leeds-Liverpool Canal. After five and-a-half days’ hard work they would walk back to Sollom on Saturday afternoon.
Over the years many settled in Glazebury – and now some of their successors are to recreate the historic walk on Saturday-Sunday, June 3-4.
But walk leader John Bent made a disturbing discovery – the canal towpath between Parbold and Gathurst has been closed for about a third of a mile forcing a four mile detour to get back on track.
He said: “The detour would make the walk too difficult for many walkers and the use of cars to drive around the detour would be contrary to the spirit of the walk.
“So we are hoping to find a boat owner prepared to ferry the walkers along the 600 yards closed stretch.”
All the “farmers” will be walking in aid of charities linked to Glazebury Methodist Church – the Kath Hilton Memorial Fund, in memory of a retired teacher who died while climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for charity last year and the Phakamisa Project, which supports carers and orphans in South Africa.
Anyone wishing to get involved, either as walkers or ferry boat operators, should contact John Bent on 07771 523155, Delia Caswell 01942 671938 or 07986 986727 or Robert Graham 01925 767599 or 07764 603255.
Sheila and George’s
diamond day
by Mark Hemmings
DIAMONDS are forever and in the case of Sheila and George Lewis from Chatburn Court in Culcheth that’s certainly what it means!
Sheila, 83 and George, 87 have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with family and friends at their home off Warrington Road.
The special couple spent most of their married life in the Crosby area of Merseyside but have now settled in Culcheth.
After serving in Burma during World War II and receiving the Burma Star medal, George was managing director for metal merchants Everett and Co for 40 years while Sheila dedicated her life to raising their children.
The couple’s son, Canon Robert Lewis, is rector at St Oswald’s Church, Winwick organised the celebrations together with their daughter Vanda, who flew over from New Zealand with grandchildren, Meg and Hannah especially for the occasion.
Seventeen of the couple’s friends shared in their celebrations. One of Sheila’s bridesmaids joined them, along with one of the ushers who like George was awarded the Burma Star.
Reminiscing on her wedding day, Sheila said: “It was a sunny day when we got married in 1946 – but there was a howling gale!”
US contract for
local firm
by business staff
WARRINGTON-based data management bureau, Qbase, has secured an ongoing contract with American firm SkillPath Seminars, one of the leading providers of business training in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
Qbase US, already handles the UK and pan European data requirements for a number of US clients, including Northern Tool, BusinessWeek, Newsweek, Adler Manufacturing and Brady Corporation.
Mark Robinson, commercial director at Qbase said: “Qbase is the European partner looking after the needs of a growing number of US clients on this side of the Atlantic and as a result we have an innate understanding and knowledge of the marketplace.
?Importantly, we understand the differences between marketing in the US and Europe. We’re delighted to be appointed by SkillPath Seminars as their data processing and customer acquisition bureau, as our relationship with them goes back many years.”
Lynn Jackson, SkillPath’s international marketing manager said: “We appointed Qbase as our data management bureau as the quality of the service they offer, combined with their extensive knowledge makes them the ideal choice for our European partner.”
Six-storey hotel
plan approved
by Terry Johnson
A SIX-storey hotel is set to sprout above historic Church Street, Warrington, as part of a major re-development of the site of a century-old metals manufacturer.
Planning bosses have approved building of the 56-room hotel, bar/restaurant, four shops and 20 apartments complex on the former Thomas Locker site, one of Warrington’s founding industries.
Fast-growth Briden Construction have amended the hotel plans to protect – ?from visual intrusion? – St Elphin’s Parish Church and a property where civil war general Oliver Cromwell once stayed.
Howley Residents’ Association put in an objection to the original scheme, though English Heritage has no qualms about the new landmark for Warrington’s oldest street.
The developers are to be asked to pay ?30,534 towards extra primary classrooms serving the area.
APW, the latest company to operate from the former Locker’s site, has found new premises and pledged to protect 46 manufacturing jobs.
Further home-building is planned for the area.
Charity teas
LYMM and District Lions Club are providing home made afternoon teas between 2.00 – 5.00 pm at High Legh Village hall on Sunday 25th June.
As always, every penny raised by the Lions Club goes straight to a local charity and the proceeds will be donated to the Lymm branch of Riding for the Disabled and the summer outing for the Housebound Club.
Forget the diet, go and indulge yourself on some delicious cakes, biscuits, meringues, etc.
