Murder inquiry starts
as youth dies in hospital
by David Skentelbery
AN 18-year-old youth injured in a street fight at Warrington has died in hospital almost a week after the incident.
Stuart Lowe, from Padgate, was being treated for serious head injuries in the neurological unit at Walton Hospital, Liverpool, where he had been transferred from Warrington Hospital.
He was injured in a fight in Sankey Street in the early hours of Thursday last week, which was first reported by Warrington-Worldwide on Friday, October 19.
Police then said they were treating the incident as a racially motivated attack.
Two youths, both aged 17, have since appeared before Halton Youth Court, charged with wounding or possessing an offensive weapon.
Police said they are now treating Stuart’s death as murder but that no decision had yet been made as to whether the two youths would face further charges.
They are still seeking witnesses of the incident and of an earlier incident at Bank Quay Social Club in Liverpool Road.
Four months on – bus
interchange is
still not completed
by David Skentelbery
WARRINGTON?S ?8 million bus interchange ? which was officially opened in July ? has still not been completed.
A proposed coffee shop and a number of retail units are still empty.
On Monday, at the next meeting of the borough council, Liberal Democrat councillor Bernard Long is to ask questions about the causes of the delays.
He says: ?Despite the widely reported success of the new Warrington Bus Interchange it is disappointing to note that the development has not been completed and that the retail units and the planned coffee shop remain empty with apparently nothing happening about this.?
He asks why the retail units and coffee shop have not opened and also what plans are in place for getting them open.
The facility bus interchange was built by the borough council and Bovis Lend Lease, the company behind the Golden Square Shopping Centre redevelopment.
It is designed to make bus travel easier and more enjoyable and its 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 are CCTV cameras, taxi ranks and bays for National Express buses ? and it is sited close to Warrington Central railway station.
The facility won a special Cheshire tourism award for its contribution to attracting visitors to the county.
However, the fact that the questions being asked about the bus interchange have been tabled by a member of the controlling Lib Dem-Tory alliance suggests that whatever the answers given to Coun Long?s questions, they will not reflect badly on the council.
Firms win regional
business “oscars”
by James Parr
TWO Warrington-based companies are celebrating after being named as winners in this year?s the prestigious North of England Business Excellence Awards.
Premium Appliance Brands won the Special Award for Leadership while Warrington Housing Association was given the Special Award for Customer Service at the annual awards ceremony held at the Hilton Hotel in Manchester.
Often described as the ?Business Oscars?, the awards are open to private and public companies of all sizes and reward those who have achieved the highest standards.
Premium Appliance Brands designs and sources appliance ranges such as cookers, dishwashers and washing machines to supply distributors and retail chains.
Warrington Housing Association provides 1,200 affordable homes in the town and owns the Gateway Resource Centre, which brings together 30 organisations in Warrington.
All companies who entered were judged against the Business Excellence model, which covers the whole spectrum of business performance from financial results to quality of management.
Chief executive of award organisers North of England Excellence, David Teale said: “We are delighted to see that not only private companies but also many public and voluntary sector organisations in the North are committed to achieving world-class standards. The winners have spent years improving their performance and are now feeling the benefits in terms of better service, efficiency and results. The awards recognise their achievements.”
Meanwhile, Premium Appliance Brands is launching a brand new range of drink-inspired gift products as endorsed by wine expert Oz Clarke.
A connoisseur range of five gift products will be launched in time for Christmas after PAB gained the license for the range by acquiring small appliance firm, Catalyst Home Products, earlier in the year.
The five items that make up the connoisseur range will consist of a wine-chiller, electric corkscrew, drinks maker, ice shaver and wine server.
“Stay safe, stay alive”
says training chief
by staff reporter
BUSINESS owners across the North West are being told to ?Stay Safe ? Stay Alive? by not risking their own safety to protect their profits.
The call from the Les Taylor-Duff, managing director of Warrington-based Safety Training Ltd comes as the rate of robberies with violence has been on a worrying increase.
A major reason why the rate has suddenly gone up is due to business owners attempting to detain thieves, which usually sparks a violent reaction.
Les said: ?In 38 per cent of violence by shop and small business thieves, their conduct was believed to be due to drug abuse, with a further 14 per cent being due to alcohol abuse.
?I would stress at this point that having a go is not the safest thing to do. Remember that your safety is of paramount importance not only to you, but to your family and relations at home.?
Last year, the Health and Safety Executive published Violence at Work, with new findings from the British Crime Survey showing that in 1999, workers in England and Wales were exposed to a total of 1.3 million violent incidents.
Les is now recommending that business owners become more aware of the dangers, but equally become more vigilant and improve their security appearance.
He added: ?I would not advocate making your business an easy target, but certain measures can be taken to warn off thieves and robbers, like adopting a zero tolerance attitude.?
Other suggested ways of improving business security are to advertise the fact CCTV is being used, have regular security awareness training for staff and contact local police crime prevention officers for advice and guidance.
Les is looking for feedback on the subject or if anyone has an experience of a violent robbery they would like to discuss, they can contact Les at Safety Training Ltd on 01925 712 195.
Town’s submarine to
visit soccer match
by James Parr
WARRINGTON Town FC will be hoping to sink their opponents when the town?s adopted submarine comes to Cantilever Park as part of Remembrance weekend.
More than 30 Royal Navy crew members of HMS Turbulent will be guests of Mayor Celia Jordan MBE for the game against Belper Town on November 10.
The Wire are holding the special civic event to show their support for the Royal Navy.
Sailors will line up alongside the players at kick off for a minute?s silence as a sign of remembrance to all those who lost their lives during conflict.
A raffle will be held in aid of the Mayor?s chosen charities, St Rocco?s Hospice and the NSPCC Warrington branch, as well as a collection for the Royal British Legion being held.
During the visit the sailors will be treated to a detailed history of the club and their ambitious five year plan to reach the Football League.
Currently in the Uni Bond First Division, the club requires four further promotions to reach the Football League.
After fighting off relegation last season the club is currently in the play-off places and has strengthened its sq
uad and coaching staff significantly thanks to increased sponsorship from four new business backers including Arkle Properties, Warrington-Worldwide, Read Property Associates and North West Guards Security.
Club chairman Dave Hughes said: ?We?ve got the Uni Bond League?s online television station coming down on the same day to film the match, so there should be a good atmosphere. We are very pleased to welcome HMS Turbulent to the club and hopefully their presence will attract more fans to come down and support the team as well.
?We?re on a fantastic run at the moment and hopefully we can get a few extra people to the home games to keep us climbing up the table.?
New DVD warns
of perils of drink
by John Hendon
A GROUP of young people from Warrington are releasing a brand new DVD to warn the town’s tipsy teens about the dangers of alcohol abuse.
“I Thought it was a Laugh” has been put together by youngsters, for youngsters, in conjunction with Warrington Primary Care Trust.
Although a recent Trading Standards survey revealed that sale of alcohol to youngsters in the town had fallen, the levels of binge drinking had not, and had actually been on the increase.
These findings are part of the reason why the DVD has been put together and it is particularly aimed at Year Eight high school pupils aged between 12 and 13.
A teaching pack will be launched in conjunction with the DVD and has been released in line with recent recommendations from the new Safe Sensible and Social National Alcohol Strategy and Warrington’s Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy.
Josh Bowen, Andrew Hillam, Vicky Logan and Brad Patzer, all star in the “I thought it was a Laugh”, which will have its first showing at the Odeon Cinema in Westbrook on November 6 at 1.15pm.
Police name boys
killed on motorway
by staff reporter
POLICE have released the names of the two boys killed on the M56 at Preston Brook, near Warrington.
They were Keiran John Coupe, aged seven, and Guy Paul Davies, aged six, who lived on the same street at Murdishaw, Runcorn.
The boys were struck by a number of vehicles as they attempted to cross the motorway pushing their scooters.
Police say three vehicles were involved in the accident.
The father of Keiran Coupe has spoken of the tragedy.
He said his son had been warned not to play near the motorway, which is not fenced near the scene of the accident.
The area is apparently popular with local youngsters who regularly play there and make dens among the trees and bushes.
News in brief
Les Miserables
WARRINGTON-based youth theatre group CODYS is to stage the hit musical Les Miserables at Runcorn’s Brindley Theatre from April 2 until April 5 next year.
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 4, 6, 11 and 16. There were no winners so the jackpot prize will be rolled over to next week. The ?25 consolation prize was won by a member of hospital staff.
School extension
PLANS have been submitted for a single-storey extension at St James’ CE Primary School, Raikes Close, Great Sankey, Warrington.
Permission denied
PLANNING chiefs have refused permission for the demolition of a garage and utility room at Woodydene, Dingle Lane, Appleton, Warrington and the construction of a new, two-storey side extension.
[ 01.11.2007, 14:47: Message edited by: DS ]
