Murder probe after
woman’s body found
by David Skentelbery
————————————————-POLICE at Warrington have launched a murder investigation following the death of a 32-year-old woman.
The woman’s body was found at a house at Latchford – and a 62-year-old man was also found in the house suffering from serious injuries to his head and arm.
A police spokesman said: “We are treating the woman’s death as suspicious and we have launched a murder investigation.”
The injured man was rushed to Warrington Hospital where his condition is said to be serious but stable.
Police say they are not actively looking for any suspects.
A post mortem examination is being held to establish the cause of the woman’s death.
But police have not released her identity because members of her family have not yet been informed of her death.
Neil repeats
golf success
by staff reporter
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KEEN golfer Neil Shaw, from Appleton, Warrington, has scored his second success at the Haulfryn 2004 golf tournament over two days in North Wales.
The 10 handicap golfer who is a member at Appleton and Abersoch golf clubs was second in the first day?s stableford at Pwllheil and first in the second day?s medal at Abersoch to achieve overall success.
Neil, who had the longest drive in the medal, was overall winner of the tournament two years? ago and runner-up last year.
Aged 39, he owns a chain of menswear retail shops and has a holiday home at Haulfryn?s flagship park, The Warren, Abersoch.
His brother Nick, 33, who is also from Appleton, was third in the stableford and third over the two days of the tournament.
The presentations were made at The Warren by the Group?s Deputy Chairman Richard Minoprio who plays off 12 and was a competitor on both days of the tournament.
Clampdown on yobs
in the streets
by David Skentelbery
————————————————-
TOWN Hall bosses at Warrington have approved a procedure under which police can use new powers to clear gangs of rowdy youths from the streets.
Members of the borough council’s executive board have delegated responsibility for dispersal orders to their chief executive.
But they are insisting on widespread consultation procedures before a decision is made to support or not support authorisation of a dispersal order by the divisional police commander.
The new measures can be used under the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003. The legislation states that the council has to agree before the police can authorise a dispersal order.
But it does not define how the council should give agreement – and the executive board has decided the responsibility should rest with the chief executive.
Council chiefs broadly welcomed the new powers, although there were some reservations.
Coun Colin Froggatt (pictured) warned that dispersal powers should not be used in such a way as to enflame a situation. He saw the new powers as preventative measures.
Coun Mike Hannon said consultation should be very thorough as there were a number of sensitive issues. However he welcomed the measures as they would improve the ability of the police to deal with disturbances caused by groups.
Coun Linda Dirir said the behaviour of large gangs led to a lessening of the quality of life for other people. But she warned that if groups were ordered to disperse there had to be somewhere for them to go.
To apply for a dispersal order, police will first have to designate an area where there was persistent anti-social behaviour and a problem with groups causing intimidation. Such designation would have to be publicised – and the designation would last for up to six months.
In such areas, police and community support officers would have the power to disperse groups if their presence or behaviour resulted, or was likely to result, in a member of the public being harassed, intimidated, alarmed or distressed.
Individuals could be excluded from an area for up to 24 hours.
A group of people would not have committed an offence if a police officer chose to use the new power. However, if individuals refused to follow the officer’s directions to disperse, they would commit an offence and would be liable to a fine or jail term of up to three months – or both.
Police and community support officers would also have the power to take children under the age of 16 home after 9pm if they were not under the control of an adult.
Chiropody expansion
plan thrown out
by John Hendon
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PLANNING bosses have thrown out proposals to extend a chiropodist’s surgery at Stockton Heath, Warrington.
After visiting the site in Ellesmere Road and hearing of strong objections from nearby residents and Stockton Heath Parish Council, they rejected the scheme.
The ground floor of the mid-terraced property is already used as a chiropody surgery and the plan was to change the use of the first floor to a second surgery. Currently it is used for offices and storage although a planning consent dating from 2002 would allow it to be used as a self-contained flat.
Members of the borough’s development control committee decided the proposal would result in damage to residential amenity and also cause increased car parking problems.
Although the applicant had negotiated an agreement to use the car park at nearby St Thomas’s Church, councillors pointed out that there was no guarantee patients would use the car park.
Residents pointed out that some of them already have to park 70 yards away from their homes because of the existing congestion.
MP offers support
for dementia victims
by Lesley Wilkinson
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SUPPORT for people suffering from Alzheimers disease and their carers has been offered by Warrington North MP Helen Jones.
Following Alzheimers Awareness Week on the theme of children, younger people and dementia, she spoke on the topic at a meeting of local Labour party supporters.
She said that more than 750 people in her constituency have the disease and praised the initiative that was designed to help children and younger people understand the impact of dementia. Packs and videos have been made available to schools.
” We need to understand that dementia is caused by a disease of the brain and is not a normal part of ageing. We must help everyone – whatever their age – cope with the impact of dementia,” said Helen.
“More than 750 people in Warrington North have dementia and more than three times that number are affected by the consequences. The disease has a huge impact on the whole family and helping children and young people understand it can be crucial in helping everyone involved cope that much better which is why this campaign is so important.”
Free swimming
for children
by staff reporter
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FREE swimming sessions for children are being offered at Fordton Leisure Centre, Orford – thanks to a ?2,474 grant from Warrington Primary Care Trust.
The Free Swimming Week takes place from Monday August 2 to Sunday August 8.Youngsters can have as many free sessions as they want during this time.
The trust has provided the scheme to encourage children to enjoy the benefits of swimming and to take up the sport.
Peter Harrison, area sport and leisure officer said: “The council is always keen to help encourage young people to get fit and healthy. Now thanks to the trust we are able to get the message across to children that swimming is not only good fun but it has a big health benefit too”.
The project is designed to promote the Government’s drive to encourage a healthy lifestyle amongst children.
Leaflets on health issues will be available on a stand in the foye
r at Fordton. Further details about the scheme are available from the centre on 01925 572504.
