Struggling club wants
to sell land for houses
by David Skentelbery
ONE of Warrington’s oldest social clubs is threatened with closure – unless it can sell off part of its car park for housing development.
The Alford Sports and Social Club, off Manchester Road – the former Thames Board Mills club – is seeking outline planning consent for residential development on the car park off Bennett Avenue.
An application to build four two-bedroom houses on the site was approved 16 years ago but never actioned.
But an outline application for residential development earlier this year was refused.
A protest petition signed by 26 nearby residents has been sent to the borough council claiming that Bennett Avenue is too narrow for the increased parking problems that would arise from extra traffic.
They also claim there would be safety hazards for local children, increased noise, congestion and pollution.
A report to be considered by the borough’s development control committee says the new application says the planning consent is needed to finance improvements to the club and secure its future.
“Details of the current operation of the club indicate that it is at best only marginally viable. Figures show it has recently ceased to break even.
“The club provides accommodation, in some instances without charge, for a number of community groups and charitable organisations.
“There is legitimate concern that the inability to release additional capital through the development now proposed will ultimately result in the loss of this facility within the community,” the report adds.
Officers are recommending the scheme be approved.
College pair are
“faces of the year”
by staff reporter
TWO members of staff have become the “Faces of the Year” at Warrington Collegiate – on giant posters all over the town.
Performing arts tutor Mark Edgington and school links officer Melina Allen are catching the eyes of passers-by on giant posters for the college’s summer promotional campaign, ‘The Sky’s the Limit’.
Mark, 29, of Ellison Street, Stockton Heath, is no stranger to the limelight as he is often centre stage in his job in performing arts.
But he still took a little persuading to model for the publicity shots.
He said: “Last year’s model, Dan Buchanan went down a storm, but this year the college was after someone a bit older. After quite a bit of persuading by the marketing department, and the fact my colleague Melina agreed to take part in the campaign, I relented.”
Melina, 41, of Winwick Park, Winwick, said: “A few people have stopped me to ask if it is me in the posters, and my children Chloe, Bethany and Michael keep asking me if I’ve suddenly become famous. I think my husband Paul is also quite proud … he keeps taking his pals past the poster sites.”
The two of them can be seen on billboards, telephone boxes and bus shelters all over Warrington. A huge 17ft banner of Mark is displayed on the tower at the college’s Winwick Road campus.
Last year’s ‘face’, student Dan Buchanan went on to take part in various modelling assignments during his stint as the “Face of the College.”
Man stabbed as
gang raids flat
by John Hendon
A MAN was stabbed in the face when a gang of hooded thugs burst into a flat at Fearnhead, Warrington.
The man – a visitor from the Liverpool area – was staying at the flat and was there with a woman when the raid took place.
He suffered a two inch cut to his nose and required hospital treatment at Warrington.
Police are appealing for anyone who may have seen an aluminium coloured new-style BMW in which the offenders are believed to have made their getaway late on Monday night (August 8).
It is believed there were between four and six men in the gang. All were wearing tracksuits and wore hoods to conceal their identity. All were carrying knives and one had a machete. The victim did not recognise any of them.
Anyone who can help police with their enquiries is asked to call Det Con Becky Stokes on 01244 613834.
MP hits out over
“suicide manuals”
by staff reporter
MP Helen Jones has hit out at people who distribute “suicide manuals” for the young.
She has called upon the Attorney General to investigate whether legal action can or should be taken against those who write, publish, sell or distribute information on the internet about how young people can commit suicide.
The Warrington North MP said: “This type of material is frankly unacceptable.
We have already seen the tragic death of a 19-year-old as a direct result of such material and I strongly believe that the government needs to look at this as a matter of urgency particularly when these ‘manuals’ are readily available to those who are young and vulnerable.”
Town centre
busking contest
by staff reporter
BUSKERS, street musicians and singers are being invited to enter a busking competition in Warrington town centre during the week August 22-26.
Performers will be given a prime town centre spot – in Sankey Street or Bridge Street – and will have an hour to impress judges from the borough council’s town centre management team.
They’ll also be able to pocket any money given them by members of the public.
A borough council spokesman said: “Each act will be judged on entertainment value, musical ability, range and quality of material, and visual impact.” Three music stores are awarding prizes.
First Prize will be a voucher worth ?200 to spend at Dawsons Music, Second Prize will be a voucher for ?100 from Back Alley Music and third prize will be a ?50 voucher from Aardvark.
Repeat bookings at a prime town centre site also be awarded.
“We are looking for a range and variety of musical entertainers, from guitar based singer songwriters, covers acts, brass ensembles, string quartets, a cappella, choral groups, church choirs, in fact any kind of good, entertaining music, as long as it can be performed without the benefit of amplification or a PA system,” the spokesman added.
Pre-recorded backing tapes will not be permitted. Entries are welcome from school, community and faith groups but performers must be aged 16yrs or over. There is a non-returnable entry fee of ?5.
Entrants can supply a demo tape/disc and photos (non-returnable) with their application, if they wish and application forms can be obtained from assistant town centre manager Alan Storton. But the closing date is this Monday August 15.
Lorry crash
blocks motorway
by staff reporter
FIRE crews raced to the M6 near Warrington early today to make the motorway safe after an articulated lorry careered out of control, crashed through the central reservation barrier and ended up blocking the outside lanes on both carriageways.
The driver was unhurt and no other vehicle was involved in the crash.
A Fire Service spokesman said: “It was a very dangerous situation, with the outside lane blocked in both directions.
“We reached the scene before the police and made the motorway safe until they arrived.
“Fortunately, no one was hurt. Traffic was light at the time – but it could have been very different if it had happened at a busier time.”
News in brief
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery organised by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 3, 8, 9 and 11. There was one winner for the ?148 jackpot and the ?25 consolation prize was won by C Snelson.
Housing veto
PLANS to build four three-storey houses in Bewsey Road, Warrington at the Linacre Plant premises have been thrown out by borough planners.
Phone mast
PLANNING chiefs have given the go-ahead for a 15 metre high telecommunications mast at Hanson Construction in Antrim Road, Warrington.
Annual meeting
THE annual general meeting of Old Orford Residents
Association will be held on Tuesday, August 30 at the community flat in Alder Lane.
