Storm breaks over
vanishing monument
by David Skentelbery
A STORM has broken over the fate of a historic monument which ?disappeared? from a Warrington shopping centre overnight.
Villagers at Stockton Heath claim the monument which had stood in the entrance to the Forge Shopping Centre for 40 years, has been stolen.
But developers JBZ Properties, who are carrying out a major refurbishment of the shopping centre, say local people ? including the parish council ? had ample opportunity to remove it to a safe site.
It has now been removed by contractors and no-one will admit to knowing where it is.
The monument originally consisted of three pieces of machinery ? a rolling mill, a cutter and a lathe – from the old Stockton Heath Forge which stood on the site before the shopping centre was built.
It was donated by local family firm Caldwell?s who had owned the Forge and is reputed to have made the shovels used to dig the Manchester Ship Canal and trenches during World War 1.
But it stood in the way of redeveloping the shopping centre.
Resident Patrick Mullee said: ?This was part of our heritage. Arrangements had been made to dismantle the equipment and have it put in storage until a suitable new site could be found. But it disappeared overnight. It may have been smashed up or scrapped.?
Stockton Heath Parish Council clerk Peter Briggs said: ?There were difficulties over moving the machinery due to its weight. We had agreed to arrange a site visit with interested parties to consider its future.?
A spokesman for JBZ Properties said: ?We have been talking about this for months. We gave ample warning that the monument would have to be moved. We have received numerous phone calls, some of them abusive, accusing us of vandalising a monument.
?But people are crying over spilled milk ? it is no good them complaining now. We asked contractors to remove the machinery who in turn got other contractors to do the work so we have no idea where it has gone. It weighed some 16 tonnes, so was obviously difficult to move.
?We arranged for one part of the monument to be removed a year ago at a cost of several thousand pounds so we think we are entitled to some credit for that. It is currently in storage until a site is found for it to be displayed.?
?8 million bus station “just
weeks from opening”
by Lesley Wilkinson
THE new ?8 million state-of-the-art Warrington Bus Interchange is just weeks away from opening.
The facility, supported by Warrington Borough Council and Bovis Lend Lease, the company behind the Golden Square Shopping Centre redevelopment, is the latest in a series of improvements made to public transport in the town.
This month the first phase of the bus interchange, including the entrance to the passenger concourse through Golden Square, will be opened. A series of health and safety checks and staff training will follow.
An official opening is planned when the new interchange is fully operational.
A new map of the facility and timetable will be delivered to houses and business across the borough, and will be available at council buildings, community centres and libraries next month.
The interchange, located near to Warrington Central railway station, has been designed to make bus travel easier and more enjoyable.
Facilities include 19 bus platforms in a covered building, a travel centre giving up to the minute location and arrival times of buses, and single-level access so travellers do not have to negotiate stairs or escalators.
There will also be shops, CCTV cameras, taxi ranks and bays for National Express buses.
The interchange is fully accessible and will have electrical scooters provided by Shopmobility and the UK’s first public toilet hoist system.
Coun Brian Axcell, executive member for environment, said: “It is designed to meet the needs of local people and will dramatically improve the way in which shoppers, residents and visitors travel to and around the town centre with an exciting range of up-to-date services to help make life easier.
“It has been a huge project for the town and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our customers for their patience and cooperation during this time – but the wait is nearly over,” he added.
He said that a range of displays and events would be held in the concourse.
Battle over future of
high-rise development
by David Skentelbery
A PUBLIC inquiry will be held at Warrington later this year which could have major implications for future high rise developments across the town.
Developers Ascenture Properties will appeal against the borough council?s decision to refuse planning consent for 14-storey tower blocks at Howley.
A Government-appointed inspector will decide the issue after hearing evidence at the two-day inquiry in September at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
Last year, after a long campaign by local residents, supported by local councillor Yvonne Fovargue, members of the council?s development control committee threw out the original proposals.
Objectors claimed the tower blocks, along the Mersey, would radically change the Howley skyline, dominating the Church Street area and dwarfing the spire of historic St Elfin?s Parish Church.
They also feared a major increase in traffic on local roads.
Coun Fovargue said: “This decision will be crucial to the future of high-rise development across the town. In my view it would be totally unacceptable to provide yet more apartments adding more cars to an already congested local road network.
“The 14 storey high rise blocks will alter forever the skyline and impact on the Church Street Conservation Area and church spire.
“The developer has chosen not to listen to local concerns despite the best attempts of residents to enter into discussions.”
Coun Fovargue will be asking for an early meeting with the council’s planning officers to ensure that the council mounts a robust defence of its decision to refuse planning permission.
Children rewarded
for hard work
by Lesley Wilkinson
YOUNGSTERS from three Warrington special schools will be presented with awards for their hard work at a ceremony at Birchwood Leisure and Tennis Centre tomorrow (Friday).
The pupils, from Grappenhall Hall, Green Lane and Fox Wood schools, will be commended and presented with certificates for achievements in each Key Stage.
There will be a ceremony and prizes awarded. The pupils will then give a joint performance for visitors.
Guests will include the Mayor of Warrington Coun Linda Dirir, Coun Sheila Woodyatt, executive member of children’s services, and Norma Cadwallader, interim strategic director for children’s services.
Coun Woodyatt said: “This event is about celebrating these children’s achievements. Many of them have had to overcome severe difficulties and disabilities to achieve their aims and they are highly motivated and determined.
“On behalf of the whole of children’s services I would like to congratulate them and those staff who have supported them.?
MP at “crisis talks”
on world trade
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON North MP Helen Jones joined an all party group of MPs in Geneva to meet with key trade ambassadors from the UK, Asia and Africa.
The trip was organised by Catholic aid agency CAFOD to find out why world trade talks are stalling.
World Trade Organisation Director-General Pascal Lamy had declared the talks “in crisis” following a failure to move forward in negotiations. The end deadline for WTO talks is widely perceived to be the end of this month.
The MPs were looking at where the UK is helping or hindering the process and in particular where the UK government priorities differ from that of developing country negotiators.
Ms Jones said: ?Trade justice is of utmost importance to developing countries if they are to be able to protect their
own markets and to develop them. I am concerned that their representatives do not have the support that many of the richer countries have in the WTO talks and I want to hear what it is like negotiating from their perspective.”
CAFOD’s Trade Policy Analyst, Matt Griffith, who accompanied the party said: ?This is supposed to be a development round but instead the more powerful countries have hijacked the talks for their own interests and ignored developing country demands. It’s vital that UK MPs hear for themselves what developing countries are asking for and why and the pressures they face.?
Among others, the group met the UK representatives at WTO, the Mauritian ambassador, who co-ordinates the African, Pacific, Caribbean (ACP or G90) group and the Bangladesh ambassador, who represents the least developed countries (LDCs). They also met the Kenyan ambassador, who is a member of both the ACP group and the G33 – a group of 46 mainly developing countries, which are concerned about food and livelihood security and rural development needs.
School closed by
torrential rain
by John Hendon
FLOODWATER has closed a Warrington school following the torrential rain which hit parts of the borough during the night.
Ravenbank Primary School, in Pepper Street, Lymm was holding a parents? evening when the storm struck.
The driving rain penetrated the roof causing flooding in a classroom, a toilet and the main hall.
Two or three inches of water ruined carpets and parquet flooring in the main hall has been damaged.
But the main roof structure remains secure.
Borough council communications chief Bob Williams, speaking from the site, said: ?The school has suffered severe disruption and the children will be allowed back into the building until it is perfectly safe.
?It will probably be several days before the school can reopen but we have a team working on clearing up the mess as quickly as possible.?
Other parts of Warrington also suffered heavy rain – particularly Woolston. It was Lymm’s second downpour, following on from one on Sunday evening.
Fire crews were called out to at least a dozen flooded homes in Camsley Lane, Warrington Road, High Legh Road, Burford Lane and Pepper Street and there was also flooding at Lymm High School in Oughtrington Lane.
A number of homes suffered flooded basements which required to be pumped out by the fire service.
The storm was accompanied by thunder and lightning – but there were no reports of damage caused by lightning.
The Met Office has warned that more thunder storms and heavy rain could occur today – in what they predict will be the last day of the current heat wave.
Rugby starlets in
international contest
by Lesley Wilkinson
SIX rugby players from Priestley College, Warrington, are part of a local team playing in an international competition in France.
The youngsters are competing against the best under-19 student players in Europe, in the challenge at the Stade Aime Giral in France, home to Super League side Catalans Dragons.
The college players join Crosfields duo Matt Barber and Dave Rolt making the England squad, whilst fellow “Soap” man Danny O’Brien has been selected for Ireland where he will be joined by Adam Williams (Warrington Wizards), Steve Lenihan (Warrington IMBRL) and Tyrone McCarthy who is already on the books of Warrington Wolves.
The news comes on the back of a further international achievement by Mike Cooper (England Academy u18s) who has recently signed a full time contract at Warrington Wolves following the completion of his AS Levels.
Priestley head coach Matt Richmond said: “It is superb for the college to be recognised in this way. Year in, year out, our rugby league set up continues to flourish, so much so that come the next academic year we will be running two teams at both national and local levels.”
