Boy airlifted to
safety from quarry
by John Hendon
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A 13-year-old boy was airlifted to safety after plunging 20 ft down a disused quarry at Lymm, near Warrington.
The youngster had been playing with friends in Helsdale Wood, off Oughtrington Lane, when he fell down a ravine and became wedged between two rocks.
Police, fire, ambulance services and an air ambulance were used in the operation.
The youngster was conscious and talking to his rescuers, although at times he was incoherent, a Fire Service spokesman said.
Fire crews used extension ladders to reach the boy and managed to move him to a safer position. He was then strapped to a special stretcher and hoisted to the surface by a specialist line rescue team which was drafted in from Knutsford.
He was then flown to hospital by air ambulance, although his condition is not known at present.
Helsdale Wood is a local beauty spot at the rear of Lymm Oughtrington Park Cricket Club’s ground. A public footpath runs through it and there are several deep ravines and disused quarries a short distance from the path, some of which are regularly flooded.
It is understood the alarm was raised by one of the boy’s friends.
Air base hangars:
‘We don’t want them!’
by David Skentelbery
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THE Burtonwood Association – the trans-Atlantic organisation which keeps alive the memory of the giant US air base near Warrington – has moved swiftly to distance itself from a campaign to save the last remaining aircraft hangars.
Association officers say they cannot support a petition being organised by a splinter group which believes the five hangars should be preserved as historic buildings.
Pete Boardman, acting curator of the association’s heritage centre, said: “We, as an association, are not supporting this campaign, although we have some sympathy with its aims.
“We have accepted the hangars cannot be saved. English Heritage says they are not unique and that there are many other examples of similar wartime hangars in the North West.
“What we are desperate to find is a new home for our heritage centre which has to close on October 31.”
More than 1,000 people have signed a petition, organised by the splinter group from within the association, calling for the hangars to be saved.
They say the 70-year-old buildings are a vital part of the heritage of the Warrington area.
But Mr Boardman said: “The real issue is our heritage centre, which is currently in the Header House, a former warehouse on the base.
“We have been given notice to quit and the centre will close on October 31. Then we will have just three months to find a new home for our exhibits, which provide a fascinating glimpse of what it was like at Burtonwood during the war and in the years after.
“If we don’t find somewhere, I don’t know what will happen to the material.”
Header House has to be demolished to make way for a new “urban village” being built on part of the base site.
A three-quarters of-an-acre site has been allocated for a new heritage centre – subject to the association being able to build it by 2008. After that, the site would revert to the developer if no progress had been made on the heritage centre.
Mr Boardman added: “We are negotiating to try and find a new home. But nothing is settled yet.”
The heritage centre opens every Sunday, between 2-4pm.
Storm over restaurant
plan for former bank
by John Hendon
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A CONTROVERSIAL plan to convert a former bank into a restaurant is to come before planning chiefs at Warrington for the second time.
Members of the borough council’s development control committee put off a decision on the last occasion to allow time for them to visit the site of the former Lloyds TSB bank at Culcheth.
They heard the scheme has caused a storm of protest in the village, with 17 neighbours lodging objections and Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council also opposing the proposals.
Objections are based on fears of noise and disturbance late at night, smells, parking problems and congestion on Warrington Road.
Residents also say there is no need for another restaurant in Culcheth – and point out that the applicants were also involved in the ill-fated plan to convert the former Croft Post Office into a bistro.
This scheme won planning consent but never went ahead, and plans to convert the building for residential use have now been approved.
Last year, planning permission was given for housing on the Culcheth site and the parish council argues that this would be a more suitable use.
Parish councillors say if the restaurant scheme goes ahead there would be noise from a proposed outside patio. Existing parking in the area is already inadequate, with the Harrow Inn having permission to develop as a family restaurant and already intending to clamp non-customers who use its car park.
Planning officers are recommending the scheme be approved however. They say there would be no significant loss of residential amenity, noise and smell problems can be controlled and that existing car parks in the village centre will be able to cope.
A change of use from a bank to a restaurant would not reduce the vitality or viability of Culcheth Shopping Centre, they believe.
‘Choir sq-welshed!’
by Gary Skentelbery
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WARRINGTON Male Voice Choir failed in their bid to win the Llangollen International Eisteddfod, considered by many to be the Olympics of the arts of song and dance.
But after finishing joint 5th they are still considered one of the top five choirs in the world!
WMVC chose to open their performance with a piece which they have made their own, Richter’s “The Creation”.
Secondly the test piece “Bonjour Mon Coeur”, a medieval madrigal by Lasso.
Lastly, a piece specially composed for WMVC by Goff Richards, a musician of international repute, and a resident of Warrington. Written as a way of expressing the choir’s committed policy of helping to strengthen reconciliation between the people of Northern Ireland and Warrington. “The River of Life” is a thrilling, emotional setting of appropriate biblical text.
Joint 5th place, beaten by the Welsh on their home turf, and one English Choir specially created for the competition.
Proving yet again, that WMVC prefers to concentrate on it’s primary role, which is to raise funds for other charities rather than plough its resources into exclusive competitive work?and they take comfort in being aware that in the view of the international panel of adjudicators, they are still rated as one of the top 5 choirs in the world.
Carol joins
budding writers
by Gary Skentelbery
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CULCHETH mother of two Carol Mtitmila is celebrating after having her work published in a new collection of short stories, “Prize Flights.”
It is one of a collection of 20 short stories in the first ever High Sheriff’s Cheshire Prize for Literature, published by University College Chester’s publishing company, Chester Academic Press.
High Sheriff, Simon Sherrard presented Carol with her prize.
Mother of two Carol, moved to the town two years ago. She is a Modern Languages teacher at Priestley Sixth Form College.
The book, priced ?6.99 is available from all branches of Bookland or direct from Chester Academic Press at University College Chester.
Entries for this year’s Cheshire Prize for Literature are being accepted this time for poetry, the first prize being ?2,000.
Poet Laureate, Andrew Motion is one of the judges and entry forms are available from Maureen Sands 01244 375444.
Planting a tree for
woodland birthday
by John Hendon
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A TREE planting ceremony takes places at Lymm today to mark the fifth anniversary of the creation of Spud Wood.
Lord Clark, chairman of the Forestry Commission, and Warrington South MP Helen Southworth will be present, along with local rangers, members of Oughtrington Community Association and pupils from Oughtrington Primary School.
Spud Wood was originally named by pupils from the school, as it was formerly farm land used for growing potatoes. In fact, potatoes can still be found growing among the trees.
Mrs Southworth (pictured)said: “I am delighted Lord Clark is visiting today and seeing this wonderful project that was planned and planted by children from Oughtrington Primary School and members of Oughtrington Community Association.
“Protection and development of local green spaces is very important and this project is a shining example of what a community working together can achieve.”
Director of the Mersey Forest Paul Nolan said: “Five years ago The Mersey Forest Team grasped the opportunity to turn this land into a woodland amenity, local fund raising meant that The Woodland Trust could buy the old potato field.
“Working with members of the local community association and children of the primary school were central to the planning and planting of their new wood. The sense of pride this ‘hands-on’ approach creates among local residents is key to safeguarding woodlands like this.”
Lord Clark said: “Over the last 10 years the Community Forest Programme has created many new woodlands close to where people live making a real difference to communities and to their quality of life. This is a fine example of that work.”
Later, Lord Clark and Mrs Southworth were visiting a Woodland Trust site at Grappenhall and the Grappenhall Heys Walled Garden 11.30.
The garden is the site of a former manor house owned by the Parr Family and was donated to the Woodland Trust in 1992.
In the late 1970s the house was destroyed by fire and demolished leaving only the house’s footprint and walled garden. The gardens have been restored true to the Victorian style and access paths improved to provide green space for residents in the neighbouring new housing schemes.
Wildlife is also benefiting from restored and improved water features, wooded glades, hedgerows and wildflower meadows.
Teenage “garden busters”
to revive allotments
by Terry Johnson
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TEENAGE ‘garden busters’ will be following their green-fingered grandfathers in a project to revive allotments fervour at Warrington.
The keen youngsters are backed by ?25,000 of Heritage Lottery funding to breathe new life into the Victoria Park allotments and explore the heritage of these urban sites.
Armed with spades and forks, the students will spend three days a week working for the Young People’s ‘New Routes’ Allotment Project.
They will clear wasteland to provide allotment sites for lease to the local community.
Then they will develop a students’ allotment – eventually aimed to be self-financing – and a community garden.
The youngsters will plant vegetables, fruit and plants, maintain the allotment site and sell on their produce to the community.
Leader of the project, Nick Cooper, said: “Youngsters involved have learned new skills and gained personal motivation.”
Animal sanctuary to
stage “celebration walk”
by Terry Johnson
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A WARRINGTON animal sanctuary is inviting people to join a ‘celebration walk’ with their dogs as it opens its latest, state-of-the-art kennels block.
Dog-lovers can take their pets ‘walkies’ along a special course of up to a half-mile in the grounds of Cheshire Dogs’ Home at Grappenhall.
The sponsored walk takes place on August 22, from 10.00am, to raise vital funds.
The 12-acre home site was bought to provide overspill kennels for the long-established Manchester Dogs’ Home to relieve holidays overcrowding there.
The new kennel block can house 70 dogs.
The sponsored walk at Warrington will provide a ‘fun day for all the family’, said spoeswoman Cynthia Marks.
“People can take as long as they like to walk the course”, she stated. “Each participant will receive a rosette, a certificate and a free bag of dog food.” Trophies will be awarded for Most Laps Walked, Most Money Raised and Oldest Dog.
The kennels will be open for anyone wishing to re-home a dog.
People wanting to join the walk should contact 0161-205-7136 for application and sponsor forms.
News in brief
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Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery organised by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 4, 6, 7 and 12. There was one winner for the ?200 jackpot and the ?25# consolation prize was won by “Les”.
School fence
PLANS for a security fence at Evelyn Street Primary School, Warrington have been submitted to the borough’s planning department.
Nursery plan
A PROPOSAL to convert a house in Hollins Drive, Winwick, Warrington into a day nursery have been drawn up by the Safehands Day Nursery.
Bungalow estate
ARENA Housing are seeking planning consent for a small development of seven bungalows with an ancillary office on the site of the former school in Stocks Lane, Penketh, Warrington.
