12-storey blocks would
change the face of town
by David Skentelbery
PLANS for two tower blocks which would ?change the face of Warrington? are to be considered by borough planners next week.
The two blocks would provide 111 apartments, up to 12 storeys high, on the banks of the Mersey at Howley.
Planning officers are recommending the scheme submitted by developers Ascenture Properties Ltd be approved.
But they accept that the visual impact of the 118 ft high buildings would be ?dramatic and wide-ranging.?
The spire of St Elphin?s Parish Church, at 281 ft high the third highest church spire in Britain, can be seen from across Warrington and the two new buildings would inevitably cause some obstruction of the view, the planners say.
In a report to next Wednesday?s meeting of the borough council?s development control committee, they say the obstruction of the view is not regarded as a ground for refusing the scheme.
?The spire and the two towers would be seen together from ? for example ? the railway and from Bridge Foot.
?Panoramic views of the spire from across large parts of the town would remain.
?Obstruction by the new buildings would be mostly confined to those from the immediate south of the site. At a distance of 300 metres from St Elphins it is considered that sufficient spacing would exist to generally prevent an unduly harmful clash between the two.
?The historic views of the northern bank of the Mersey and of its backdrop ? which includes St Elphin?s ? would inevitably change, but the alteration of this skyline would not necessarily lead to demonstrable harm.?
Ascenture have agreed to pay ?85,000 towards the cost of pedestrian links in the area and at least ?150,000 for two off-site affordable units. The applicant may also be willing to contribute ?50,000 towards the cost of a new medical centre.
Officers say the principle of multi-storey development is acceptable ? but they do concede that the decision on this application is likely to pave the way for other similar multi-storey developments on adjoining land at Howley.
Around the world in music
A MUSICAL trip around the world is being offered by the award-winning North Cheshire Concert Band at the Pyramid Centre, Warrington, on Saturday November 19 from 7.30pm.
The Music From Around the World concert will include the folk song suite by Vaughan-Willams and Percy Grainger’s Lincolnshire Posy, both described as “quintessentially English pieces” by organisers.
Also featured will be the overture to Die Fledermaus by Johan Strauss and Joquin Rodrigo’s Adagio for Wind Instruments.
The Warrington-based band is a wind orchestra with about 40 players, and has won several awards in competitions.
Tickets are available from the box office on 01925 442345.
Celebrating 25 years of
making the roads safer
by Lesley Wilkinson
AN organisation that has helped more than 1,000 motorists and motorcyclists take and pass the advanced driving test, celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.
Warrington Group of Advanced Motorists, which held its inaugural meeting at Wilderspool Leisure Centre in 1980, has expanded since its formation and would welcome new members.
Founder member Peter Marsland, said many of the founders were still active members.
The first meeting was attended by the then Mayor, Coun Jack Punshon, and representatives from the local police, road safety office and the Institute of Advanced Motorists.
Peter said: “Long before government road safety targets, traffic calming measures and the breathalyser, the Institute of Advanced Motorists understood that it was the drivers and riders who caused the accidents not the vehicles on the roads.
“Law enforcement and better road engineering are to be welcomed but driver and rider education is the key to reducing road deaths and injuries.?
To mark the anniversary the group is offering a special lessons and test package to drivers and motorcyclists aged 17 to 25, those statistically most at risk of accidents. Further details are available for drivers from Ian Bell on 01925 634484 and for motorcyclists from Gordon Blackshaw on 01925 860967.
Pupils go “green” for
environmental day
by staff reporter
A TREASURE hunt and litter picking were just some of the activities at an “Environmental Day” at Birchwood CE Primary School, Warrington.
The school’s Green Council, made up of pupils from Years 2 to 6 organised the day, which was part of the “Excellence and Enjoyment” agenda aimed at enriching the school curriculum.
As well as taking part in activities including cake sales, writing poems and songs and drawing posters about looking after the environment, the green fingered pupils made food balls for birds and also went outside to plant bulbs, measure trees and carried out litter picking.
Rangers from Birchwood Forest Park visited the school for the day to help the children with their activities and to teach them about the environment and how they can help look after it.
Headteacher Elizabeth Williams said: “It was a great success. Themed days such as this one are a great way for the children to learn about a subject in a fun way and they really got into the spirit of it. We had a lot of activities planned for the day so the children could get involved with lots of different topics to help increase their knowledge of the environment.”
Road accident
victim dies
by David Skentelbery
A MAN has died in hospital at Warrington following a road accident on October 8.
Police have renewed an appeal for witnesses of the crash at the junction of Wilderspool Causeway and Greenalls Avenue, Warrington.
The man, a 19-year-old from Latchford, has not yet been named by police.
He suffered head and chest injuries when his car, a blue Renault Clio, collided with traffic lights.
Anyone who can assist police is asked to call PC Ian Dodd 01244 613928.
Music for Youth offers
a chance for fame
by John Hendon
MUSIC for Youth, the charity dedicated to promoting music in education, is coming to Warrington.
It will hold a music festival, featuring every kind of music, at Great Sankey High School on Saturday, March 25, next year.
Altogether, more than 60 regional festivals are being held all over the country for music groups ranging from orchestras to duos, from jazz and folk groups to samba bands and steel pans, as well as choirs, chamber groups, brass and wind bands.
Local groups are invited to enter ? and there are no entry qualifications or fees.
The regional festivals, the first stage of the National Festival of Music for Youth, are presented in collaboration with The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and start at the end of February 2006.
They provide first and formative performance opportunities for more than 40,000 young instrumentalists and singers aged from 3-21 years old.
The musicians perform in front of musical experts who give each group encouraging verbal and written reports on the day. Entry forms are now available from Music for Youth or online www.mfy.org.uk closing date Monday December 5. But recorded entries (especially those for rock and pop groups) can be accepted up to March 1.
At the end of April, invitations to perform at the National Festival of Music for Youth in Birmingham are issued to about 300 groups from across the country. The National Festival of Music for Youth takes place over six days from July 10-16. There is also a training course for choral teachers and conductors, Singposium 2006 on July 11.
The final stage of the Music for Youth year is the Schools Proms held in London, when 30 groups that have performed at the National Festival are given the ultimate accolade, an invitation to play at the Royal Albert Hall on November 13, 14 or 15 2006.
Entry f
orms are available now from Music for Youth, 102 Point Pleasant, London SW18 1PP.
Mystery man killed
walking on motorway
by John Hendon
POLICE are seeking witnesses after an unidentified man was killed on the M56 at Frodsham last night (Wednesday).
The westbound carriageway of the motorway was closed for three hours after the incident.
A man aged about 30 was struck by a heavy lorry in lane one of the motorway while apparently walking on the carriageway. He was killed instantly.
Police say he was of proportionate build, with short brown receding hair. He was wearing blue denim jeans, a blue sweat shirt, a blue padded jacket and white training shoes.
Traffic was diverted along the A56 through Frodsham while the motorway was closed.
Anyone who witnessed the accident or who can help identify the deceased man is asked to call the Cheshire Police motorway unit on 01244 615269.
Tsunami exhibition
at the Peace Centre
by staff reporter
AN exhibition of photographs taken by a Warrington GP and his wife during a mercy trip to Sri Lanka following the Boxing Day tsunami is to go on show this Saturday (November 5).
Dr S Kumaraswarmy, of Bold Street Surgery, and his wife Leela, originate from Sri Lanka and have been heavily involved in relief work since the disaster.
The Mayor, Coun Hans Mundry will open the exhibition at the Young People’s Peace Centre at Great Sankey at 11am.
In February, Dr Kamaraswarmy arranged for two thousands bags of clothing collected in the Warrington area to be delivered to Sri Lanka.
Now he is intent on arranging for three houses ? costing ?3,000 each ? to be built.
Work has started on the first and the doctor and his wife are busy on fund-raising to ensure the other two are built.
The exhibition ? the brainchild of local supporter Geoff Settle ? will feature photographs taken in Sri Lanka and a showing of a DVD made by the doctor and his wife.
The event is seen as a way of thanking Warrington people for their generosity.
A number of framed watercolours and prints prints from artist Dermot Cavanagh?s school of art have been donated and will be raffled at the event.
Dermot ? the ?Awash with Colour? artist from the television programme ? will be in Warrington and has agreed to drop in at the exhibition around lunchtime.
News in brief
Very nasty
COMEDY act Nasty Girls, who were due to appear at Warrington’s Pyramid Arts Centre on November 12 have been forced to cancel because of the non-availability of one of the four girls.
Road humps
WARRINGTON Borough Council is planning to introduce road humps in Grange Avenue, Latchford. Anyone objecting should contact council solicitor Howard NOrris in writing by November 24.
Speed limit
AN order has been made to introduce a temporary road closure and 30mph speed limit, when appropriate, on Westbrook Way, Warrington, from its junction with Burtonwood Road to Cromwell Avenue, from Monday, November 14 for a period of about six weeks, while structural maintenance work is carried out on the carriageway.
Takeaway refused
PLANNING bosses have thrown out proposals for a hot food take-away shop in Huntley Street, Great Sankey, Warrington.
