Late night taxi
plan thrown out
by David Skentelbery
A PLAN which aimed to fast-track late night clubbers out of Warrington town centre to reduce the risk of anti-social behaviour, fights, vandalism etc., has been thrown out.
Town Hall planners have refused permission for a late-night only private hire taxi office in Cairo Street ? close to a number of pubs, clubs and bars.
The proposal had been opposed by nearly 70 nearby residents and businesses.
Police had supported the scheme ? subject to a number of reservations ? on the grounds it would assist in reducing congestion in the town centre in the early hours of the morning.
They had suggested the office should have fixed seating, staff in a raised position to oversee the rank, internal queuing, taxi marshals and colour CCTV with appropriate lighting.
But town centre manager Nick White objected on traffic grounds, noise and disturbance, increased litter and the likelihood of the office becoming a ?violent hotspot.?
Planning officers argued that the scheme would have a beneficial effect on anti-social behaviour as increased availability of taxis would mean more people could be moved quickly from the town centre, reducing opportunities for vandalism, noise, etc.
. But the objectors ? including Coun Pat Wright – claimed the office, currently a recruitment agency, was in a narrow street, too close to a busy junction and could cause noise, traffic and public safety problems.
Jo goes the extra
mile for degree
by staff reporter
A 300 mile round trip every fortnight was just a small price to pay for Jo Houghton in order to gain a degree with honours at the Warrington campus of the University of Chester.
Jo, a website manager now living in Frodsham, travelled from North Yorkshire to Warrington every two weeks in order to complete her part-time Business and IT Management degree which lasted three years.
After starting her course she moved to North Yorkshire in order to start a new job.
She said: “It was a long journey to Warrington every two weeks but I didn’t want to switch my course to a more local university because I was extremely happy where I was. Warrington is a great place to study and I didn’t want to miss out on that.
“It also meant I could see my family every time I came back, so the trip didn’t turn out to be as bad as I had originally thought.” After graduating with a 2:2 she has now moved to Frodsham and is contemplating a Post Graduate Certificate in Education at the University’s Chester campus. She also hopes to develop her business and computer skills further.
She added: “The course has made me a more confident person, and this had led to a lot more responsibility at work.”
Shopping centre brings
seaside to town
by John Hendon
WARRINGTON’S Birchwood Shopping Centre is holding a special seaside event this week so there is no need to travel to the coast to enjoy fun in the sand.
Birchwood by the Sea returns for a fun-packed week of entertainment including sandcastle competitions, the limbo, fishing, hoola hoop games, magic shows and the ever popular and traditional seaside attraction, Punch and Judy.
There will be Crazy Sand Workshops where kids will be able to make decorative patterns with different coloured sand in plastic bottles, that they will be invited to take home with them. Children will also have the opportunity to have their faces painted.
Centre Manager Gary Jones said: “This event proved extremely popular last year so we’re thrilled to be hosting it again. There will be something for everyone and we hope shoppers will take advantage of the free entertainment.”
“Relay for Life” will raise
cash for cancer research
by Terry Johnson
WARRINGTON?S first ?Relay for Life? during the week-end of August 12-13 is set to be a major community effort to raise vital funding for Cancer Research UK.
The event is being staged in the town’s Victoria Park, starting at noon on Saturday 12th.
Teams of fund-raisers will camp out and participants will walk around the relay track in honour of those touched by cancer.
Cancer survivors will walk a ?victory lap of honour? on the Saturday afternoon – then, at 9.00pm, all activities will stop for the Candle of Hope ceremony, a poignant tribute to those lost to cancer.
Event organiser Laura Gilberts said: “We are hopeful of the event’s success, so that it can become a regular feature.
“Friends and family should come along for a fun day out, all for a good cause. There will be a funfair, craft workshops, face painting and games, a falconry display, Salsa dancing and live music”.
A car boot sale will be held on the Sunday morning (pitch booking fee of ?10 donated to the charity).
Relay teams and car boot sellers should register with Laura on 01925-266472.
Lewis Carroll
memorial unveiled
by staff reporter
A MEMORIAL to “Alice in Wonderland” author Lewis Carroll has been unveiled at Daresbury, near Warrington.
The memorial – a granite medallion measuring about three feet across and bearing the author’s signature – is set in woodland close to Lewis Carroll’s birthplace, a short distance from the A49.
It has been provided following years of fund-raising by the Lewis Carroll Society.
Representatives of Cheshire County Council, Warrington Borough Council, Halton Council and Vale Royal Council were present at the ceremony, along with the Woodland Trust. Lewis Carroll, real name Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, was born at Daresbury in 1832, the son of the then vicar. After “Alice in Wonderland” he wrote another Alice book, “Through the Looking Glass” and numerous other books, poems, articles, etc. He was also a skilled mathematician and a pioneer photographer.
The Lewis Carroll Society was formed in 1969 to encourage research into Carroll’s life and work and now has members around the world.
Runner Kath to turn back
the clock for charity
by Terry Johnson
A TEACHING specialist who lost her husband to cancer is to take up running to raise sponsorship money for caring St Rocco’s Hospice, Warrington.
Mum Kath Buckley, of Hardy Road, Lymm, will turn back the clock to the time when she used to run 5k and 10k events.
Her ?re-runs? are aimed at raising cash for St Rocco’s – Warrington’s top charity – which cared for husband John, a self-employed electrician, who lost his battle against throat cancer on May 21, aged just 53.
“We knew he had got something awful in the latter part of the Easter holidays”, said Kath. “A biopsy was carried out and we were told that John had throat cancer”.
John spent 10 days in Warrington General before the family was able to get him moved to St Rocco’s. He died two days later.
The Buckley family and friends have raised ?1,000 for the hospice in memory of John. “I am really most grateful for this level of support”, said Kath.
“Now I want to get back into my running shoes and take the fund-raising further. Hopefully, there will be others who will join and support me in this effort”.
Kath, 48, has had senior teaching posts in the Warrington and Wigan areas. She is an education advisor to Wigan Metro Council, a national leader, and has been seconded as deputy head of Byrchall High School, Wigan.
Car fire
ARSONISTS are being blame for a fire which badly damaged a car parked in Priory Street, Warrington in the early hours of today.
Vandals also set fire to two recycling bins outside the Sainsbury superstore in Church Street, Warrington.
The bins were torched one after the other, with fire crews being called to the scene twice.
A Fire Service spokesman said: “If these hooligans realised the risk they were taking with other people’s lives, perhaps they wouldn’t start these fires. A more serious fire could break out while we are out dealing with these nuisance jobs.”
