Hooded gang in bid
to burgle store
by David Skentelbery
A GANG of hooded thugs failed in a bid to burgle Warrington’s IKEA store in the early hours of today.
The men – who arrived outside the store at Callands in two black cars – smashed open the front doors and attempted to break into cash machines in the front of the store.
All the time they were being watched by security guards over the CCTV system.
When the guards announced over the tannoy system that the police had been called, the men fled in the two cars – an Audi A4 saloon and an Audi A4 estate car.
Police are now hunting the vehicles which bore the registration numbers RU56 UEJ and MA54 BXE respectively.
The number plates could be fake or cloned and police are appealing to anyone who is the genuine owner of cars which those numbers to come forward to be eliminated from their enquiries.
They are also asking anyone who witnessed the 1.30am raid to come forward.
Anyone who can help is asked to contact PC Paul Hancock on 0845 458 0000.
Curb on alcohol will
cover whole borough
by John Hendon
RESTRICTIONS on public drinking look set to be introduced across virtually the whole of the borough of Warrington.
Members of the borough council will be asked next week to designate a Public Places Order covering the whole borough, other than five relatively small areas.
This will not mean a ban on drinking in public. But it will give police the power to stop people drinking in public places ? and to confiscate alcohol.
Anyone who fails to co-operate with the police will be fined up to ?500.
The measure is intended to combat the problems of under-age drinking, alcohol-fuelled violent behaviour and drunkenness.
If the proposals are accepted by the council next week, the order could be in force before Christmas.
Cost of implementing the order is expected to be about ?5,000.
The order will not affect properly licensed pubs, clubs or restaurants, nor areas granted temporary licences.
The five areas not included in the proposed designation are:
Land adjacent to the B5159 Mill Lane, Warrington Lane and eastwards to the borough boundary.
The area south of the M56 from the point where Barleycastle Lane crosses the M56, west to the borough boundary with Halton – known as Lower Stretton.
Land bounded to the south by the Manchester Ship Canal and the River Mersey to the north between Acton Grange viaduct to the east and the borough boundary at Cuerdley Marsh to the west – the Arpley Landfill site.
The area bounded by Penkford Lane with the junction of the A572 eastward along Collins Green Lane, Lumber lane and Hall Lane up to Red House Farm.
Land bounded by Hermitage Green Lane with its intersection with the A 49 to the west and the A573 Golborne Road to the east, northwards to the borough boundary ? known as Hermitage Green. A map of the proposed designation can be found on the council’s website www.warrington.gov.uk or alternatively at the Contact Centre on Horsemarket Street Warrington.
A lesson for us all
– from recycler Alan
by David Skentelbery
ALAN Turner must be in line for the title of Warrington’s champion recycler.
Once a month he makes a one hour round trip by bus from his home in Croft to use the recycling bins in Culcheth village centre.
He carries bottles and plastic containers in two large carrier bags.
But he was furious when he arrived at the recycling site to find the bins full and surrounded by abandoned plastic bags full of plastic and other materials.
He said: “People had just dumped their rubbish and the bins were unusable.”
Alan, who lives with his 82-year-old mother, took his bottles back home on the next bus – and reported the incident to Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council.
He said: “I am keen to recycle, but the condition of the site makes this difficult.
“I have limited time and it is an inconvenient journey but I still make time to recycle.
“Other people just abandoned rubbish by the site and it looked a mess.”
Coun Keith Bland said: “Mr Turner is right. He goes to considerable trouble to recycle and it is up to the borough council to keep the recycle bins empty so he and other people can use them.
“He is clearly very public spirited in that he even went to the trouble of taking his bottles back home with him.
“I have raised the matter with the borough council.”
Paula Darlington, the council’s head of waste management, said: “The council is aware of problems at the recycling bring site in Culcheth.
” The contractor we use to empty the bring site was unable to get close enough to the container due to parked cars blocking access and therefore hindering the collection.
“However, the contractor returned a few days later to empty the container. We apologise to residents for the inconvenience. However, we would urge residents to bear this in mind and not park their car too close to recycling containers to help prevent this happening again.”
One stop shop
for property needs
by staff reporter
TWO of Warrington’s independent property companies have joined forces in strategic partnership to create a high street one stop shop for Warrington’s busy property needs.
New Way Homes and Homelets now operate together and have produced a unique partnership in the town.
Alan Binks, director of Homelets says: “Homelets is a family business specialising in property management and residential lettings throughout the Liverpool, St Helens and Warrington areas and has been established since 1992.
“Over the past year, we have been seeking to further develop our business and in particular offer a bespoke service to our landlords. We now offer via New Way, not only our expertise in our field, but also New Way’s experience in residential property sales and Independent Mortgage advice.
Dave Linaker, director of the family run agent New Way Homes agreed entirely with Alan and added: “My belief is sticking to what you’re good at. Sometimes businesses spread their talents over too wide an area and therefore lose site of what’s important to both them and their customers – letting and or selling their homes.
Both companies have a team of dedicated and experienced staff, whose aim is to find the home most suited for our tenants and purchasers as quickly and painlessly as possible. We pride ourselves in our friendly and professional manner, unsurpassed in the industry.”
If you’re thinking of Letting, Selling, Buying or Renting or require Free Independent Mortgage Advice, why not call in to our Sankey Street branch this Saturday (Oct 27), where staff will be on hand to answer any questions or offer advice. Coffee and light refreshment will be available from 10 to 4.
Cashback incentives are now available for sellers and Landlords alike. For more information visit www.newway-homes.co.uk
A chance to nominate
town’s places of pride
by Lesley Wilkinson
THE Barley Mow pub, Bridgewater Canal and Risley Moss are just three of the suggestions as a ?favourite place in Warrington? to feature in a new poll.
Local folk are being urged to nominate their favourite place in the town as a Pride of Place poll is launched in Warrington.
The results will be shared with the rest of the country in a national poll to win a Pride of Place.
People wanting to cast their vote can log on to the council’s website at www.warrington.gov.uk and click on the link in the “What’s New” panel.
Details of the 10 local places nominated are featured. They include the Barley Mow, one of Warrington’s oldest pubs, Bridge Foot, the Bridgewater Canal at Lymm and the Halliwell Jones Rugby Stadium, home of Warrington Wolves sinc
e 2004.
Other nominations include the Transpennine Trail, a purpose built route for walkers and riders, and the Town Hall and Gates, home of the council since 1870.
Popular beauty spot Walton Hall and Gardens also features, as doThe Guardians, known locally as the “skittles” built as part of the redevelopment of the town centre after the IRA bombing in 1993.
Anyone who has a favourite place not included in the list should email it to [email protected]
Mayor of Warrington Coun Celia Jordan said: “Pride of Place is the perfect opportunity for residents to pick their favourite Warrington spot and nominate it for national recognition, simply by logging on to the new and improved council website. I urge every one to log on and get voting!”
Charity plans a busy
pre-Christmas period
by Lesley Wilkinson
A BUSY few months is planned by Warrington?s Walton Lea Project, a charity which provides work and education for people with learning disabilities.
An Open Day, Christmas festivities and the opening of a new garden centre in Orford, are just three of the highlights.
The project is based at a Victorian Walled Garden at Walton Lea and workers grow and sell plants, fruit and vegetables.
An Open Day will be held on Tuesday October 30 from 11am to 3pm when visitors will be offered free drinks and cake. Events will be officially opened by the Mayor of Warrington, Coun Celia Jordan.
The project has a van, which provides a mobile shop in the local area selling produce. To complement this it has recently opened Long Lane Garden Centre at Warrington Business Park, Long Lane, Orford.
On Friday November 16 the project stages “Spice Girls on Tour” from 7pm at Walton Community Church Hall. The event is an evening of flowers, cookery demonstrations and fun, in conjunction with St Johns Church, Walton. Tickets, including supper, are ?6.
The next event is a Wreath Making and Supper, at ?18, to be held at the project’s base from 7.30pm on Tuesday December 4.
On Saturday December 8, Wreath Making will be held at Long Lane from 10am to 12noon. Tickets are ?10.
A similar event will be held from 7.30pm at the project on Thursday December 13. Tickets are ?18 including supper.
At the Long Lane centre there will be a session on Fresh Table Arrangements on Saturday December 22 from 10am to 12noon. Tickets are ?15.
The project is open to visitors on weekdays from 9.30am to 3.30pm. Further details about events are available from the project on 860143.
Motorway lighting
upgrade to start
by staff reporter
A FIVE-month scheme to improve lighting at the M56 Junction 9 interchange with the M6 at Lymm, near Warrington, gets underway this Sunday, October 28.
Engineers will replace existing overhead lights on the link roads connecting the two motorways as the final phase of a lengthy programme of upgrades to the ageing lighting system in the area.
Highways Agency project manager John Mather said: “This project will bring the lighting on the link roads up to the current standard and make things much clearer for motorists.
“The existing lights are very old now and need replacing. We ask for motorists’ patience while we carry out the work as it will benefit them in the long run.”
The upgrade will affect link roads from the M56 west bound to the north and southbound M6 and A50 and link roads from M6 northbound onto the M56 westbound and A50.
Work will be carried out overnight and outside of rush hour periods but some weekend closures will be needed to link roads leading to the A50 roundabout. Clearly signed diversions will be in place.
The scheme is due to be completed by late March 2008.
