Police hunt for
mystery attacker
by Terry Johnson
A young club-goer had his jaw so badly smashed during an unprovoked attack in a Warrington nightclub it was nearly a week before police could interview the victim.
The teenager was savagely struck in the face during the 2am attack by a mystery assailant.
The grievous assault took place last Saturday at The Medicine night-spot in Bold Street, Warrington – but police only released details last night because of the victim’s condition in hospital.
“This man felt a hard blow to the side of his head”, said a spokeswoman. “He sustained two fractures to his jaw and did not see his assailant.
“We have been unable to interview him until now. He was attacked in an open-plan club and we are hoping that someone may have seen this incident.”
Unusually police have issued a description of the victim: aged 19, medium-built, 5ft 7in, with short brown hair and wearing a striped beige and purple pullover, with blue jeans, in the hope someone may recognise him and the incident.
The police spokeswoman added: “We urge anyone who can throw light on this incident to contact DC Emily Coe on 0845-4580000”.
Back in business- but
traders refuse to celebrate!
report and pictures by Gary Skentelbery
AFTER more than seven months of upheaval the main road through Lymm Village centre is now officially open – although some traders boycotted the opening saying they had “nothing to celebrate!”
One shopkeeper said: “The only time I will celebrate is when the council compensate us for loss of revenue!”
Meanwhile the opening should come as a huge relief to many village centre businesses which have suffered reduced trading during the works which have suffered a number of setbacks, including bad weather, flooding and complications caused by utility issues.
Parish council chairman James Ashington performed the official ribbon cutting ceremony watched by fellow local councillors, contractors, council officers and traders.
He said the improvements, which include a block paving effect next to the historic lower dam, were a huge improvement on the 82 pot holes which had occured in the previous two years.
“It is good to see the scheme has been completed because when noise problems were at their peak I was receiving 5-6 phone calls a day from people complaining. The good news is now that it should be at least another 100 years before it needs resurfacing again!”
He went on to thank all the engineers and contractors who had been involved in the project.
Design manager Jonathan Plant said he would like to thank the traders in the village for for patience and understanding wehich had been “greatly appreciated.”
He said some of the delays had been created by Transco and United Utilities needing to carry out repair work to the mains and sewers and although the project had slightly exceeded the ?500,000 budget, efforts were being made to recover this.
Meanwhile the borough council is pressing ahead with a consultation process for feedback on a proposed pedestrianisation scheme in the village centre.
Long-running plans
battle rages on
by David Skentelbery
A LONG-running planning battle over proposals for new homes on land adjoining the Methodist Church at Glazebury, near Warrington comes before councillors again next week.
The scheme involves a pair of semi-detached houses, three terraced houses and two garage buildings almost opposite the George and Dragon public house.
Outline permission for residential purposes was granted four years ago but a subsequent detailed plan for seven three storey dwellings was thrown out by Warrington Borough Council and later rejected by a planning inspector because of their damaging visual impact.
The new proposal has been amended to try and meet previous objections ? but Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council, Glazebury Methodist Church, the Rambler?s Association and 27 angry residents are still opposing the scheme.
Four residents support the scheme however.
Objectors say the two semi-detached houses would still be of three storeys and would dominate the church and adjoining houses. They would also have a damaging impact on adjoining green belt land.
They claim only minor, ?cosmetic? changes have been made from the earlier, rejected scheme and that too many houses are being squeezed onto the site.
Planning officers say the scheme overcomes the weaknesses of the earlier one, however and are recommending it be approved. The borough?s development control committee will consider the proposals next Wednesday, October 18.
School removes
spy cameras
by Terry Johnson
SPY cameras are to be taken out of washrooms at a Warrington school after its former caretaker, who had access to CCTV screens, admitted 13 child pornography charges.
Education bosses say cameras were put in washrooms at Culcheth High School after consultation with parents.
But after ex-caretaker Albert John Owen,48, pleaded guilty at Chester Crown Court to six counts of possessing indecent photographs of a child, five counts of making indecent photographs and two of distributing indecent pictures of a child, parents expressed concern about monitoring children.
A Borough Council spokesman said the school cameras would now be removed.
“They were in the washrooms – not in the changing rooms or the toilets”.
After the issue came to light, parents said they were unhappy about the washroom cameras, which denied their children of privacy.
Owen, who worked at the school for nearly 10 years, must serve a community sentence of supervision until December, 2009. He was also put on the Sex Offenders’ Register for five years and banned from working with children.
Owen was suspended after a serious allegation was made against him, then dismissed. None of the incidfents involved children at the school.
A Council spokeswoman said: “These incidents are rare – but we must remain alert and ensure that our procedures are robust”.
Students plan to
swim with sharks!
by staff reporter
COLLEGE students from Warrington plan to swim with sharks to raise vital funds for a ‘fieldwork trip’ to Africa.
The Priestley College students need to raise ?1,000 each for the chance-of-a-lifetime Kenya trip next February.
They have already trekked 10-miles along Cheshire’s Sandstone Trail and Delamere Forest and are working on multiple initiatives, including an intrepid sharks swim.
Priestley’s geography tutor, Geoff Ruddall, said: “Everyone is really looking forward to this Kenya trip – especially because our mission is to build a school in Runo”.
Police warning
after sneak thefts
by John Hendon
Police have urged residents of Culcheth near Warrington to be ‘good neighbours’ – keeping a watchful eye on elderly householders – following a sneak doorstep crime.
Two men called at a house at 1.15pm and told the elderly occupier that their dogs had run onto his land. The man was distracted, and when he went back into his home realised that cash had been stolen.
The offenders were last seen driving a large white van towards Irlam.
“We want elderly, vulnerable people to exercise caution before opening their doors. And neighbours can help by being vigilant when strangers call”, said a police spokeswoman.
Youth club to
be re-launched
by Mark Hemmings
RELAUNCHING itself as a youth and community centre, Birchwood Youth Club in Warrington will re-open its doors again next Tuesday (Oct 17).
The building opposite Risley Police Station on Delenty Drive, is inviting young people and their parents to come along and get a taste of all that the new club has to offer.
Closing its doors due to lack of funding and the resignation of the previous management committee, an appeal brought several people forward who wished to be
involved.
Thanks to a ?2,000 grant from Birchwood Town Council, Birchwood’s young people will once again have a place to meet their friends and enjoy a wide range of activities.
News in brief
Council grants
BIRCHWOOD Town Council has awarded a grant of ?750 to local running club Spectrum Striders and a further ?100 to the North West Air Ambulance ?Flight for Life? appeal.
Restaurant plan
PROPOSALS to change the use of a shop at 43-49 Winwick Street, Warrington into a restaurant and hot food take away have been approved by borough council planners.
Nursery rejected
PLANNING bosses have refused permission for a house in Warrington Road, Culcheth to be converted into a children’s day nursery.
Disabled parking
WARRINGTON Borough Council has made an order to introduce disabled person’s parking places in Manchester Road, Earl Street and Willis Street, Warrington. Anyone who wishes to object should apply to the High Court within six weeks.
