Hall restoration scheme
sparks massive opposition
by David Skentelbery
THE long-awaited plan to restore Warrington’s historic Bewsey Old Hall is set to go before planners – and has triggered massive opposition.
Planning officers are recommending the scheme, put forward by urban regeneration specialists Urban Splash, be rejected when it goes before members of the development control committee on November 9.
The hall and single storey kitchen wing is Grade II* Listed Building, an adjoining farmhouse and flat at the western end of the three storey hall are Grade II Listed.
It is also the site of a Scheduled Ancient Monument Site – a moated area and fishponds – and parts of the building date from the late 16th century when it was the home of the Boteler family – Lords of the Manor of Warrington.
The hall stands in a wooded setting, protected by Tree Preservation Orders.
Urban Splash’s proposals involved conversion of the hall into seven apartments and the construction of a new, modern style block of 48 apartments – 18 per cent of which would be “affordable.”
They also include landscaping, car parking, provision of a heritage trail, a ranger station and a bat roost.
The new apartments are required to provide funding and it is estimated the developer would make a profit on cost of 21.5 per cent, compared with the normal acceptable range of 15-20 per cent. This is considered acceptable due to the risks involved the project.
It would be intended to preserve important landscape features such as the moat, fishponds, a maze and hedgerows. Some trees would be lost, but would be replaced where appropriate.
Ten years ago a plan to refurbish the hall and use it as a heritage centre, including visitor spaces, exhibition space, associated offices, shop, ranger office, education suite and teashop were approved, but never implemented.
Opposition comes from Cheshire County Council’s conservation officer, the Bewsey Old Hall Conservation Project, Great Sankey Parish Council, the Maltings public house and 18 nearby residents.
The Conservation Project says the scheme contains little if any additional public benefits and has insufficient parking space.
Scale and massing of the new development would be oppressive and out of character with neighbouring properties.
Kate to throw a
fundraising party
by Lesley Wilkinson
INSTEAD of spending money on herself, a Warrington woman has decided to host a fundraising party for the NSPCC to mark her 30th birthday.
And within weeks of telling family and friends about her plan, the 120 tickets at ?30 a head for the bash at the Lymm Hotel were sold out.
Kate Lomas-Jones, of Whitefield Road, Stockton Heath, is holding the party on Friday December 14.
She is hoping to raise at least ?2,500 for the charity – and possibly even more.
Kate, a sales rep in Manchester, said: “I thought it was ridiculous to spend a fortune on a party when I could put the money to something great.
“So instead of presents and celebrating myself, I decided to organise a fundraising event.”
Kate, who is married to Mark, has won the support of the business community in Lymm and Stockton Heath, who have provided more than 50 raffle prizes including meal vouchers from restaurants, plants and a Christmas tree.
The evening includes a raffle, auction, a drag queen, DJ and the Craikers band.
Kate said: “I really am grateful to my family and friends and all the businesses who have helped.
“I am sure it will be a wonderful night – and it’s good that the money will be going to a good cause.”
Lasers – a local weapon
against climate change
by John Hendon
LASERS can be used to sample atmospheric conditions and help manage the local environment better and respond to climate change, a conference was told at Warrington.
The North West Photonics Association was also told at its meeting at Daresbury Laboratory how the latest developments in materials science hold out the prospect of cheap plastic solar cells much more efficient and easier to install than anything currently on the market.
Professor Allan Boardman, director of the North West Photonics Association, said: ?Climate change is a major global issue. It?s easy to think that when the world is changing, there?s little we can do locally to alleviate the effects.
?But new research shows using lasers to sample the atmosphere around the town where we live can give us vital information that will allow us to manage our local environment.
?Lasers can reveal the chemical make up of the atmosphere and warn us that, for example, smog conditions are developing at a time of year that we wouldn?t expect them. We can use that information to help manage emissions around our towns and so keep the air clean and healthy.?
Professor Boardman said another way photonics would help respond to climate change would be through cheap, convenient renewable energy.
?Solar cells help us to generate clean electricity for our homes and workplaces, but today?s solar cells which use silicon are expensive, difficult to install and only about 30 per cent efficient. Plants are much more efficient.
?Researchers are following nature?s lead and developing new organic solar cells which offer not only much greater efficiency than we have at the moment, but which will be cheaper and much easier to install. This could be an important step to reducing our dependence on fossil fuels for power generation.
?Climate change is a global issue, but photonics is showing us ways in which we can manage and improve our local environment to respond to the challenges it poses.?
Pupils get back to
nature – in the garden
by Lesley Wilkinson
YOUNGSTERS at a Culcheth school have been getting back to nature by growing their own vegetables and flowers.
Already pupils at Newchurch Primary School have enjoyed home grown potatoes, cooked by the school canteen staff, and freshly picked and chopped raw carrots.
Sheila Glass, Year 2 teacher and science co-ordinator, said: “The children were quite excited when the school cook boiled the potatoes for them.
“The carrots were a good size – the youngsters were really pleased to have grown their own vegetables.”
The school’s Eco team have been working to develop the school grounds for a few years and have gained a Green Flag first award.
They planted seeds and grew their own flowers and vegetables, including sunflowers and sweet peas. The broad beans and runner beans matured during the school holidays.
Sheila said: “It is good for children to see that vegetables don’t come ready prepared.
“My class were very excited to discover the beans dried up, they enjoyed opening the pods and looking at the beans.”
Mayor slams councillors
for missing army service
by David Skentelbery
WARRINGTON?S Mayor has chastised fellow councillors for failing to turn up for a church service honouring war veterans.
Only four of the 57 members of the borough council turned up for Regimental Sunday – the annual service and parade which has taken place in the town for 65 years and is organised by the council and the Regimental Association of the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment.
Mayor Celia Jordan told the council: “In my role as Mayor and as the conscience of the council, I have to express my disappointment that only four councillors were present at Regimental Sunday – especially at a time when fellow Warringtonians are on active service in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
Coun Jordan added: “No-one has not got it in their diaries.”
On a lighter note, she said: “It has been suggested to me that the missing councillors be put on a charge – perhaps ?10 for the Mayor’s charity fund.”
Council leader Ian Marks said he had been unable to attend because of an important family commitment. Labour leader Coun Terry O’Neill said he normally attended but had also h
ad been prevented by an urgent family matter.
Deputy Labour leader Coun Mike Hannon said he normally attended but had been on holiday.
Coun Hitesh Patel said: “Not every elected member is a Christian and feels comfortable attending a church service.”
More than 20 civic parties from other authorities across Lancashire and Cumbria attended the service, together with senior army officers and hundreds of veterans.
Coun Jordan said she realised some councillors would have good reasons for not attending but found it embarrassing that only four turned up.
The four councillors who attended the service were deputy Mayor Graham Welborn, deputy leader of the council Keith Bland, education chief Sheila Woodyatt and former Mayor George Warburton.
Wolves’ fans can
meet the stars
by James Parr
MEMBERS of the Warrington Wolves Supporters’ Trust will get the chance to meet some of their favourite stars at their November meeting.
Players sponsored by Squadbuilder will be in attendance to answer fans’ questions about their careers so far.
Also, members will get the chance to sponsor Wolves’ former press officer Gina Coldrick, who will be running the New York Marathon in aid of the XIII Heroes charity this weekend.
Anyone who wants to sponsor Gina should visit www.xiiiheroes.com” and follow the donations link to register payment.
XIII Heroes is a charity set up to support players who have suffered life-changing injuries as a result of playing rugby.
Gina will be part of a team of six members with Rugby League links.
The Warrington Wolves Supporters’ Trust meeting will take place in the Vice Presidents Lounge, The North Stand, at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, on November 26.
