Family’s call for action
after car wrecks home
by Terry Johnson
A FAMILY whose home was smashed by an air-borne car are calling on highway chiefs to take urgent action to stop speeding vehicles.
Members of the Ingham family are unable to move back into their home in Fairfield Road, Stockton Heath, Warrington, until ?18,000 of repairs are carried out after a Fiat Punto crashed into their living room.
Louise Ingham, 32, partner Robert Gresty, 37, and children Nicholas, aged six, and two-year-old Emma needed medical treatment for post-traumatic stress following the ?nightmare crash?.
Their sleep is still broken by thoughts of what might have happened to their personal safety and the distress of having their home wrecked.
“The front room of the house looked like a war-zone after this car smashed through a metal fence, catapulted into the lintel above the living room window, bringing it down and demolishing the bay window”, said Louise’s mum, Margaret Ingham.
“The Fiat ended up in the living room, with the lintel crashing down onto it. Luckily, the car just missed the gas inlet pipe and an explosion was averted”.
The family had just started a holiday in Cornwall when they were given the news. They dashed home to find the house uninhabitable.
“The trauma has affected the whole family, who have had to see the doctor”, said Margaret. “Toys were scattered amongst the shattered bricks. The family will have to live in temporary accommodation for several weeks yet.
“How do you tell a two-year-old she cannot play with her favourite toys because a man has smashed them all? The family has no peace of mind. We are constantly nagged by the thought this could happen again”.
Now sister Katy, 33, who also lives in Fairfield Road, is asking Stockton Heath villagers to sign a petition calling for speed bumps or other road constraints ?to protect people vulnerable in their own homes?.
The driver of the Fiat told a rescuer: ?I think I’m dead?. He and his passenger were treated for minor injuries. A police investigation is continuing.
Council spending “out
of control” say Labour
by David Skentelbery
LABOUR?S finance spokesman in Warrington has accused the new Lib Dem/Tory alliance of ?destroying? the borough council?s strong financial position.
Only weeks after taking control of the council, they have overspent by ?1.3 million and the budget is ?spiralling out of control,” according to Coun John Morris.
He said: “I was shocked to learn that in only a few short weeks the Lib Dem/Tory coalition are already overspent.
?If this continues the Town Hall could be in the red to the tune of ?5 million by the year end.”
Coun Morris is concerned that Town Hall services will face cuts or unpopular increases in charges.
He said: “We face crisis in the Town Hall – a crisis made by the Lib Dems and Tories. If action is not taken soon we face Tory cuts and more Lib Dem charges.
“I am very disappointed that the strong financial position of the council over the recent past is being destroyed and the people who will be hit hardest are the least able to defend themselves from the swinging axe of Tory cuts and Lib Dem charges.”
Council departments which have overspent are Corporate Services (?105,000), Children?s Services (?563,000), Community Services (?476,000) and Environment Services (?311,000).
Departments which have underspent are Chief Executive?s (?80,000) and Corporate Financing (?41,000).
Coun Peter Walker, executive member for corporate services, said: ?Not all departments are overspending ? some are underspending.?
Council leader Ian Marks said: ?All directorates have been tasked to bring forward plans to put things right. By the end of the year, I would hope we would be in a happier position.?
“Skate jam”
will aid charity
by Terry Johnson
A CHARITY providing a vital link to teenage runaways has organised Warrington?s first ?skate jam?.
Professional skateboarders and BMX riders will lead the fun at Victoria Park on August 31.
They will be joined by young people from the popular skate park who have been developing their board and biking skills.
The event is organised by the Warrington-based Talk Don’t Walk Foundation, run by the charity Relationships Centre, which links with confused and footloose youngsters, trying to prevent runaways and cement more secure family relationships.
The Relationships Centre is engaged on a three-year Home Office leading-edge project to help runaways and deliver services to vulnerable youngsters and their families.
Warrington Borough Council’s youth service and FirmBikes are supporting the park ?skate jam?, between 1.00-4.00pm.
Warning over rogue
holiday company
by John Hendon
TRADING watchdogs and police are on the trail of a rogue Internet holiday company which pocketed the sunshine cash of more than 100 families – then left them high and dry.
Warrington Trading Standards officers say the ?Unbeatable Holidays? website has been trading for some time, providing genuine breaks.
“But lately no holidays have been booked and the company has disappeared overnight – leaving at least 100 people out of pocket, to the tune of hundreds of pounds each”, said a spokesman.
The trading watchdogs say anyone who has dealt with ?Unbeatable Holidays? and paid for a holiday should contact Consumer Direct on 08454-040506. Details of customers who have lost money will be forwarded to investigating police.
Coun Roy Smith, the borough council?s executive member for community services, said: “Sadly, this emphasises the need for great caution when Internet shopping. It is easy to set up a website – and just as easy to shut down and disappear, without trace.
“There are steps you can take to protect yourself from this type of scam”.
Rowing club may make
history in “last” race
by David Skentelbery
WARRINGTON Rowing Club may go down in history as the last crew ever to compete in the annual Gorey to Carteret rowing race.
The 19-mile race from Jersey to France ? which has been staged without incident for 22 years ? was cancelled at the last minute, apparently as a result of a ban on rowing boats entering French waters.
It may be that the race will never take place again, although a campaign has been launched to revive it.
But the team of five rowers from Warrington – David Holmes, Graeme Maclean, Sian Henrys, Wally Bury and Mark Erlam – were allowed to make the crossing because they were raising money for charity.
Instead of 200 boats competing there was just one ? and the Warrington crew were given a rousing reception when they arrived in France.
A row broke out in Normandy after the decision to ban the race. There were demonstrations in the town of Carteret and at one point it looked as if the French Navy would have to intervene.
But a flotilla of French yachts, trawlers and pleasure craft gave a rousing reception to the Warrington rowers.
The jubilant rowers were delighted with their performance in tough rowing conditions. Their feat was even more astonishing as three of the crew members, David, Mark and Wally had only been rowing since January.
They completed the 19-miles in a very respectable time and raised more than ?4000 for research into Kabuki Syndrome, a rare genetic condition which claimed the life of local girl Hannah Scales nearly six years ago.
Hannah’s family and a small group of supporters are trying to raise ?80,000 to finance a research programme.
Youth robbed on
his way to work
by John Hendon
A 17-year-old youth was robbed in the early hours of the morning as he walked to work at Warrington.
Police are hunting for his attacker – a youth in his late teens who was riding a Blue Spray BMX bike that was too small for him and was accompanied by a black and tan Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
Th
e victim had left his home and was walking along Callands Road at Callands when he was approached by the offender who stopped him and asked him for money..
When the youth refused the offender grabbed him, searched him and took a small amount of cash before leaving the scene. But later he was see again near the Spar shop in Callands Road.
Police say the attacker was about 5ft 9 inches tall and was wearing dark trainer bottoms, a grey hooded top and a baseball cap.
Anyone who can help is asked to call DC Ian Hampson on 01244 613845.
