Kelly’s got art
all stitched-up
by Terry Johnson
NEWCOMER Kelly Broughton, from Warrington, hopes to already have her distinctive art medium “stitched up”.
Kelly is a modernist embroidery-artist with a BA Honours degree.
She is staging her first post-graduate show at Stockport Art Gallery from September Nov 17 and hopes that her drawings with contemporary embroidery will prove a hit.
Kelly, 22, from Fearnhead, said: “It’s a great opportunity to prove that the old-fashioned concept of embroidery has come a long way in the 21st century.
“I am taking part in Stockport’s Art Link exhibition to show this startling development”.
Kelly studied at Birchwood High and Priestley College, Warrington, before taking her degree at Manchester’s Metropolitan University.
So far, she admits to having had difficulty getting much profile for her work in her home town.
But a selection can be seen at the website www.artinthecity.co.uk Her exhibited pictures will be available for sale, or loan to businesses.
Pets on parade at
children’s zoo
A PET’S parade, special displays and competitions were highlights of a hugely successful animal extravaganza at Warrington Walton Hall children’s zoo to mark the opening of new gates.
Attended by hundreds of families, the “animal ark” event celebrated the unveiling of the gates at the zoo, situated in a corner of the showpiece park, and other updating.
The new gates have been funded by the mini-zoo’s Animal Adoption Project, with townspeople adopting an animal for ?12 a year.
The celebrations included RSPCA and birds of prey displays, a charity barbecue by Warrington Mayor, Coun Hans Mundry and entertainment provided by the Heswall Concert Band.
Keith Inman, chairman of Friends of Walton Estate, said: “The event was a huge success. All our animal adopters are to be thanked for their involvement”.
Details about the animal adoption scheme are available from the zoo rangers on 01925-601617.
New computer will
track down crooks
by staff reporter
A NEW computer database which will make it easier for police to keep tabs on criminals has been hailed “a welcome tool” in Warrington.
Some of Britain’s most dangerous, violent criminals and sex offenders can sometimes slip through systems and re-emerge, undetected, in other parts of the country.
But a new, information-sharing computer system aims to better protect the public by making re-offending harder.
Warrington North MP Helen Jones said the database would be an asset to Cheshire Police.
It provided, for the first time, complete and up-to-date information on the most dangerous offenders, including a photo-library with distinguishing marks and tattoos.
The new VISOR system was asked for by police and probation officers managing sex offenders.
Association of Chief Police Officers’ spokesman, Terry Grange, said: “It is a major advance in our ability to manage dangerous people. The combined efforts of police and probation will be greatly enhanced by it.”
Mayor’s tribute
to Mo Mowlam
by staff reporter
THE Mayor of Warrington, Coun Hans Mundry, has paid tribute to the late Mo Mowlam, the former Northern Ireland Secretary, whose death following a lengthy battle with cancer, was announced last Friday.
Coun Mundry said: “Warrington has great affection for Mo Mowlam and we were very saddened to hear of her death. Our thoughts and prayers are with her husband Jon and family.
“She was a great ambassador for peace and Warrington will always be indebted to her for her active support for the campaign for the town’s peace centre. Her energy and commitment were an enormous boost towards the ultimate success of the project. She has a special place in the hearts of the people of Warrington.”
Mo Mowlam visited the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Peace Centre on several occasions and took a keen personal interest in the peace initiative in Warrington following the Bridge Street bombings.
“Second market” plan
for green field site
by Terry Johnson
BACKERS of a new retail market close to the M62 in north Warrington look like being on collision course with town-centre market traders – and Warrington Borough Council.
Plans for a second town market have been put in by Stockdeal Ltd.
The company proposes a market at the existing car boot site in Townfield Lane, Winwick.
Planning permission will be severely tested by ancient Charter rights granted to Warrington Market 750 years ago.
These establish a protective non-trading ‘ring’ by any rival market. Green Belt restrictions could also prove a stumbling block to the latest application.
Planners in Warrington continue to be deluged by schemes for further town-centre apartment buildings.
Pembroke Properties Ltd. wants to erect a four-storey building on the Museum Street site of the former Christadelphian Hall, providing 20 apartments.
Qhotels Group Ltd. has put in plans to expand The Park Royal International Hotel at Stretton.
A two-storey side and rear extension would enlarge the leisure club and add eight new beds at the Stretton Road hotel.
Warrington Model Club’s bid to continue model aircraft flying close to the Gatewarth Waste Water Treatment Works at Great Sankey depends on the outcome of a backdated planning application.
Planners seek details
of housing scheme
by David Skentelbery
PLANNING bosses want more details of a controversial plan to build houses on an industrial site off Longshaw Street, Warrington.
Members of the borough’s development control committee deferred consideration of the scheme because they wanted more information of the traffic implications of the scheme.
Nearly 100 residents are opposing the scheme because they fear cul-de-sacs will be converted into a through road, that three and four storey houses will result in a loss of privacy and that there will be more noise, disturbance and congestion.
The outline application is for residential development on 4.3 acres of land at present occupied by Marsden Vanplan Ltd.
A report by planning officers states that the site, part of which is overgrown, is currently in use for the assembly of vans and is dominated by a large industrial building.
The site is no longer considered suitable for van assembly and the idea is to fund relocation of the building by selling the land.
Planning officers say because it is only an outline plan it is not possible to make judgements on many of the concerns expressed by residents. It is not known yet if it is intended to open up cul-de-sacs for access and there is no evidence to suggest the scheme would result in a significant loss of residential amenity.
But the scale of the development is likely to have implications for education provision, affordable housing, open space, play provision, off-site recreation facilities, etc., so conditions are recommended to ensure these matters are addressed.
It will also be necessary to investigate the site for contaminated land.
Gas cylinders
in shed fire
by staff reporter
FIREFIGHTERS were called out to deal with a blazing garden shed containing two liquid petroleum gas cylinders at Culcheth, near Warrington during the night.
The blaze completely destroyed the shed at a house in Eden Avenue and fire crews had to cool down the gas cylinders to avert an explosion.
A Fire Service spokesman said: “The house had been vacant for some time and the shed was packed with stored items, including the gas cylinders.
“It was quite a substantial fire, but there was no damage to the adjoinin house.”
Fire crews from Birchwood and Warrington were involved in the operation.
