Asbestos warning after
vandals start
basement blaze
by David Skentelbery
FIRE chiefs at Warrington today issued a warning about deadly asbestos in a derelict building hit by vandals during the night.
The blaze was in an old works building adjoining the Cairo Street Chapel and fire crews had to be decontaminated after tackling the outbreak in a basement boiler room.
Pipes in the basement were lagged with asbestos which is now crumbling with age and the disturbance caused by the vandals and the subsequent fire fighting operation will have disturbed the deadly substance.
A Fire Service spokesman said: “This is the really bad asbestos and it must be everywhere.
“It was probably kids who started this fire and they must have the asbestos all over them – in their clothing and everywhere.
“Our fire crews wore breathing apparatus but they still had to go through a special decontamination unit after the incident. Their kit has had to be sent away for professional cleaning.
“This building is unsafe and really dangerous. The police have sealed it off, but it is impossible to keep kids out of it if they are determined to go in.
“We are raising the issue with the borough council. The upper floors are dangerous and could collapse.”
In a separate incident, fire crews were called to disused works buildings in Howley Lane where vandals had started a fire.
A spokesman said: “It took 45 minutes for us to extinguish this fire and during this time we could not be elsewhere. There was a time when there wasn’t an available fire engine in Warrington.
“If a serious incident had occurred elsewhere we could have been in difficulty. The hooligans who start these fires should be aware of the dangers they are causing for other people.”
Police step-up security
for election campaign
by John Hendon
POLICE in Warrington have embarked upon a policing initiative designed to ensure that the democratic process is not disrupted by security concerns in the run-up to the General Election.
They stress there is nothing to suggest a threat to anyone or any site in Warrington or the rest of Cheshire.
Aim of the initiative is to ensure voters, candidates, canvassers and election scrutineers feel safe and secure during the election.
The police briefing at present is intended to provide reassurance to all while encouraging the public to remain vigilant.
Managers of facilities which are hosting election meetings or visits from national political figures, and organisations in the public eye will be briefed on security and on steps they may take to deter anyone who might try to use hoax calls to disrupt their business. Anyone responsible for hoax calls will be prosecuted.
Chief Superintendent Derek Barnett, the officer leading the initiative, said “The Constabulary’s newly-formed Area Support Group – officers trained to preserve public order – will be available and may be deployed if any individuals or groups attempt to disrupt proceedings in an unlawful manner.” Returning Officers for each parliamentary constituency are being briefed by the police on steps that can be taken to make polling stations and counting centres more secure on election day – May 5. Voters will also note the presence of police officers at polling stations during the day with regular visits being undertaken by local officers to provide reassurance.
Any allegations of electoral fraud reported to the police by the Returning Officer, or by any member of the public, will be investigated and if offences are committed, prosecutions will follow.
Re-enforcing the message, Chief Superintendent Barnett said, “The Cheshire Constabulary is politically impartial, but dedicated to the principle that everyone should be able to participate in the democratic process without fear of disruption , disorder or fraud.”
Woman cheated council
of ?8,000 in benefits
by court reporter
A WOMAN who falsely claimed ?8,270.08 in benefits from Warrington Borough Council has been ordered to do 120-hours community service and pay back the overpayment and ?100 costs.
Marie Gaskin, 32, of Boulting Avenue, Dallam, pleaded guilty to five offences and was sentenced at Warrington Magistrates’ Court.
She claimed the money by failing to declare that she and her partner were both in paid employment.
The court was told that between April 2001 and September last year, Gaskin defrauded the council of ?6,096.82 in Housing Benefit and ?2,173.26 in Council Tax Benefit.
Adrian Webster, the council’s benefits manager, said: “Benefit cheats must realise that they cannot abuse the benefit system and steal from the rest of society. They are not just defrauding the government, but their own tax paying neighbours and communities in Warrington.
“Fraud is theft and this case is a clear demonstration of our determination to tackle benefit fraud. We are introducing new methods of data matching – the message now is benefit cheats will be caught – and we are reducing the amount of money lost through fraud and abuse.”
Exhibition charts 150
years of art and culture
by David Skentelbery
AN exhibition celebrating the history of the original Warrington School of Art and covering more than 150 years of culture, science and the arts in the town, has gone on show at Warrington Museum and Art Gallery.
The exhibition, which runs until September, is on the Mezzanine floor above the main gallery.
In includes paintings, prints and photographs, many of which have not been seen for decades, some for more than a century and some that have never been on show before. It is part of a drive to display works from the collection on a more regular basis.
Warrington has one of the earliest municipal museums in the country.
A public library opened in the town as early as 1760. But the present museum, art gallery and library dates from 1848.
The shape of the building has changed and developed over many years and it originally incorporated the Warrington School of Art. The dynamic and inspirational head of the school, J Christmas Thompson, taught lessons in what is now the museum’s Bird Room.
Some students, notably Sir Luke Fildes, Henry Woods and John Warrington Wood, went on to earn great acclaim in their chosen careers and it is largely due to the school’s success that there is an art gallery in Warrington today.
What older people want
– group wants to know
by John Hendon
OLDER people in Warrington are being urged to have their say on what it is like to live in the town today – the good and the not so good.
The Warrington Older People’s Engagement Group – made up of the borough council, local health care organisations and others – is keen to involve older people in shaping how services are planned and delivered.
An action plan is being drawn up to promote the quality of life and well being of older people in the, ensure that services meet the needs and of older people and provides opportunities for older people to have their voice heard.
Over the next few months the group will be meeting with older people to find out:
The important issues and priorities to ensure a good quality of life in older age.
How services could work better or differently.
How older people can become involved in shaping the future
The group is keen to hear the opinions of as many people aged 50+ as possible and will be contacting individuals and groups and talking to them about their life in Warrington.
Helen Sumner, strategic director of community services, said: “There is a growing interest in active ageing and the contribution older people can make. Nowadays, older people with housing, health, care and social needs have high expectations of what services they want and how they want them delivered, to remain in control of their lives”.
Any group or individu
al who would like more information or two arrange a meeting should contact Mark Torkington on 01925 444096.
WI aims to make
car park safer
by staff reporter
LYMM Women’s Institute, as part of their “community challenge” has launched a campaign to raise money for a handrail to make a village car park safer.
The rail will be attached to the wall between the upper and lower car parks in Pepper Street, Lymm.
The next event is a sale with bric-a-brac and white elephant stalls, collectables, good quality clothing, toys, books and other items at Lymm Village Hall on Saturday, May 7.
The WI is urging people who have suitable items for the sale to take them to the village hall early in the morning. The sale starts at 10am.
