Medical centre plans
run into a brick wall
by David Skentelbery
BOLD plans to provide an urgently needed new medical centre for Appleton, near Warrington, have run into a brick wall – only a month after optimistic predictions that an agreement might be near.
Members of Appleton Parish Council expressed anger and disappointment at the refusal by Warrington Borough Council to make land available for a new rugby pitch in a field used occasionally for overflow car parking at Walton Hall.
The provision of the additional pitch would have enabled Warrington Rugby Union Club to relinquish its pitches in Bridge Lane, Appleton which could then have been used for the medical centre.
Clerk Peter Briggs told the parish council that the borough had informed him that a review of the future use of Walton Hall was being carried out and it would be “inappropriate” for the borough to compromise the capacity of the car park while options for the future use of the Walton estate were still being considered.
However the borough, the rugby club and Warrington Primary Care Trust all remained committed to finding a solution to the problem of providing a new medical centre.
Coun Frank Stansfield expressed surprise that “intelligent people” could not resolve the problem of using the field at Walton for both car parking and rugby.
He said: “The car park will only been needed in the summer and the rugby club will only need the pitch in the winter. I would have thought a pitch of sufficient quality could have been provided.”
The council decided to inform the borough of their “disappointment” that no agreement was yet possible and to ask for suggestions for an alternative site for the medical centre.
It was only at the previous month’s meeting that representatives of the borough council, the rugby club, the PCT and the Cobbs Residents Association had all expressed optimism that they could be near an agreement that would allow a new medical centre to be built on the site of the old rugby club in Bridge Lane – destroyed by fire two years ago.
The scheme would mean doctors from the existing practices at Appleton and Stretton moving to Bridge Lane.
The rugby club would move permanently to Warrington Sports Club, where they have been playing temporarily since the fire. But they made it clear they would need an additional pitch – ideally on the adjoining Walton Hall overflow car park.
Volunteers help with
canal clean-up project
by Lesley Wilkinson
A JOINT project helped give a facelift to a section of the Sankey Canal between Fiddlers Ferry Power Station and the Fiddler’s Ferry Yacht Marina as part of Mersey Basin Week.
Members of the Sankey Canal Restoration Society (SCARS) and rangers from Warrington and Halton Borough Councils met beneath the power station towers to continue a reed-clearing project along the canal.
The team worked throughout the day, aided by refreshments and new waders bought with money donated by the Mersey Basin Campaign. A 40-metre long narrow stretch of canal was cleared, and reeds were piled along the hedge-line to rot down.
SCARS aims to achieve full restoration of the canal and they meet each month to continue with the task. The project at the power station is to clear a passage along the bank to allow increase water flow to the marina.
Explosion: fire crews
work through the night
by John Hendon
TWENTY four hours after an explosion which rocked an industrial estate at Warrington, fire crews are today still on the scene.
They are cooling down an acetylene cylinder which became overheated during a blaze which followed the blast at the premises of DEP Partington, on the Palatine Industrial Estate off Wilderspool Causeway Initially, people living within 500 metres of the scene were advised to stay indoors and keep doors and windows closed.
Roads were sealed off – including Wilderspool Causeway, Flers Avenue, Menin Avenue, Causeway Avenue, River Road, Kemel Avenue, Priory Street, and Canberra Avenue.
Traffic was diverted away from the area – but this led to major tailbacks on other roads.
At the height of the blaze, about 40 firefighters were at the scene, using six appliance and an aerial appliance.
A single storey building, believed to be used for metal working, was badly damaged. But the fire crews managed to prevent flames spreading to two adjacent buildings.
Eventually police reduced the exclusion zone around the scene to 50 metres, which meant only the industrial estate itself was sealed off.
But Priestley College was forced to close all day.
No-one was reported injured in the incident and the cause is now being investigated.
The explosion was first reported in yesterday’s Warrington-Worldwide
MP welcomes new laws
to control fireworks
by staff reporter
NEW laws governing the use of fireworks have been welcomed by Helen Southworth, MP for Warrington South, and she is urging police to take action against those misusing fireworks.
She said that many people in the town are concerned about fireworks and has written to Cheshire’s Chief Constable outlining her fears and urging police to use the new penalties.
Mrs Southworth said: “Many parents in Warrington know that in the wrong hands fireworks can be very dangerous. I’ve heard of cases where families have been disturbed late at night, children have been threatened with fireworks and elderly relatives feeling trapped inside their homes.
“The new offences that came into force this week give the police the power to fine those who cause disturbance late at night, let off fireworks in the street and fine youngsters who carry fireworks in public,” she added.
The new laws mean people misusing fireworks will face an ?80 on-the-spot fine. Under the law youngsters under 18 are not allowed to carry most adult fireworks in a public place, only authorised people are allowed to carry display fireworks and adult fireworks cannot be used between 11pm and 7am except on Bonfire Night, New Year’s Eve and certain other events.
The MP said she is sending out a newsletter to ensure that everyone is aware of the new regulations.
College opens new
language centre
A NEW high-tech Language Centre at Priestley College, Warrington, was officially opened by Judith Edwards, regional director of the Department for Education and Science Standards Unit.
Head teachers and heads of languages from secondary schools throughout the borough attended the opening and toured the centre.
The new facility will help students on a range of language courses. The previous facilities of cassette driven, manual language labs have been replaced with a system based around information technology.
Seventeen personal computers have been installed, all connected to a master unit that is driven by the tutor, for use in classes and practical exercises.
An interactive whiteboard and a TV tuner card, for recording language programmes have also been installed.
Carol Mtitimila, language co-ordinator, said, “The new system has taken a little time to get used to but the benefits for all concerned are enormous, particularly with the system’s ability to allow a much greater level of interaction than before.”
Car driver robbed
by masked men
by David Skentelbery
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a 54-year-old man was attacked and robbed of his Jaguar car at Stretton, near Warrington.
The man was about to get into his racing green, G-registered S-type Jaguar at the top end of Sparkhall Close when he was confronted by two men wearing balaclavas.
One was armed with a cosh and the other with a hammer.
The victim was struck about the head and body, although did not require hospital treatment.
His attackers grabbed his keys and drove off in the car, along Sparkhall Close.
The two men are described as being between 24 and 25 yea
rs-old, of medium build and wearing black clothing. One had an Irish accent.
Anyone who witnessed the attack, recognises the men from their description or who has seen a green S-type Jaguar is asked to call Det Constable Hughes at Warrington CID on 01244 613834.
Sentencing delayed
by staff reporter
SENTENCING of businessman Christopher Guest More, of Lymm, near Warrington, which was due to take place at Chester Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday) was put off until today.
More, who has pleaded guilty to assisting an offender, is now due to be sentenced today.
Police are still searching for More’s son, Christopher Guest More Jnr, aged 26, who is wanted for questioning in connection with a horrific murder at Tabley near Knutsford in June last year.
More Jnr is known to have flown to Spain shortly after the murder of drug dealer Brian Waters at Tabley.
A ?10,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the conviction of people wanted for questioning in connection with the murder.
Two men have already been given life sentences at Chester Crown Court for the murder.
