Police warn of flood
of counterfeit banknotes
by David Skentelbery
POLICE at Warrington have issued a warning about a large quantity of counterfeit bank notes believed to be flooding the town.
In particular, they are warning businesses and individuals in the Latchford area.
It is believed a large quantity of fake ?20 notes are circulating in the Latchford area.
They are said to be good copies ? but fail to pass an Ultra Violet test. They all bear the serial number CA 94573922.
A police spokesman said: ?We are advising businesses to use a Ultra Violet scanner on any ?20 notes they receive.?
It is believed there may also be fake ?10 and ?5 notes in circulation in the area.
Anyone who comes across a counterfeit note or has any other information is asked to contact PC Jamie Thompson at Stockton Heath Police Station on 01244 612632.
Keep warm and keep
well this winter
by staff reporter
OLDER people across Warrington are being urged to keep warm and well this winter – which is forecast to be one of the coldest for 10 years.
Warrington Primary Care Trust (PCT) has produced a winter warm pack for people whose health could suffer in the cold which is being distributed through health teams and social workers.
Information booklets are also being distributed to clinics and GP surgeries across the town.
Older people are being urged to:
Keep themselves and their homes warm
Keep well by having their flu vaccine
Keep safe by avoiding slips, trips and broken hips.
These important messages were highlighted to 130 older people at a Keep Warm, Well and Safe event run by Warrington PCT in partnership with other local organisations at the Gateway recently. Those who attended also received a free health check.
Brenda Lyons, 84, won a hamper as first prize at the event. She said: “I collected lots of information which will help keep me well. I would urge anyone who thinks their health could suffer in the winter due to the cold to contact the PCT for a winter warm booklet.”
Jannette Norton, a health improvement specialist at the PCT, said: “It’s really important that older people are equipped to keep well this winter, which is predicted to be particularly cold.
“People aged over 65 are urged to have their flu jab to protect them against flu and its dangerous complications. It is also important to keep homes warm and there are benefits in place to help with fuel payments. I would encourage people if they are concerned to contact the Winter Fuel Payments Helpline 08459 15 15 15 for advice.”
For copies of the Keep Warm Keep Well booklet contact Jannette Norton on 01925 843725. For information about local health services, including the falls management and prevention service, contact the PCT’s freephone helpline 0800 389 6973.
Pupils put on haka of a show!
SUNDAY?S Rugby League international between England and New Zealand at the Halliwell Jones Stadium featured the traditional Maori war dance, the Haka, by the Kiwi team.
But if the performance sent a shiver down the spine of those watching, there were also displays of local pride from Warrington school children performing their own unique Hakas.
The youngsters were from more than 100 who took part in the Warrington Wolves? Schools Haka programme ? an initiative in which school children attended a Haka workshop at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in conjunction with the borough council?s dance development officer.
Rugby League development officer Neil Kelly said: “The day consisted of learning about the culture and traditions of the New Zealand people and most importantly of all, learning about the Haka.
“Warrington Wolves’ New Zealand based players were on hand to help out and the children got stuck into painting their faces like a New Zealand Maori warrior.
“Then they started creating their own Haka while getting to meet the real Kiwis to see what it is all about up close and personal.”
The youngsters performed their own versions of the Haka before the match ? to enthusiastic applause from the near 8,000 crowd.
Fire crews tackle blaze
– with help from Sam!
by David Skentelbery
FIRE crews extinguished a blaze in a ground floor flat – despite receiving some unwelcome “help” from a dog named Sam.
The dog had been rescued from the flat in Kingsway North, Warrington and was placed in the back of a fire engine for safety.
But firefighters using hosereel jets to tackle the blaze suddenly lost their water supply.
A quick check revealed that Sam had managed to get into the fire engine’s cab, placed his paw on the dashboard – and pressed a button which cut off the power supply.
Firefighters also rescued four fish in a tank which had badly polluted by the fire and transferred them to a washing up bowl.
The flat was badly damaged and the occupier was taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.
A Fire Service spokesman said: “The occupier was alerted by a smoke alarm and was just carrying his dog out when we arrived. We could have done without the assistance of the dog after that!”
MP wants commitment
on new youth centre
by David Skentelbery
WARRINGTON North MP Helen Jones is calling on the borough council to commit itself to a new youth facility at Culcheth.
Ms Jones ? who lives in Culcheth ? is worried that the scheme could be dropped following the decision of Warrington Primary Care Trust not to proceed with proposals for a new medical centre on the site at Shaw Street.
She says she has had a large postbag from people criticising the PCT for not consulting residents properly on the new health centre scheme.
The proposal would have seen a new health centre (for two of the three Culcheth GP practices) and pharmacy alongside a youth/community hall, sports changing facilities and an office for the parish council.
Some residents expressed concerns that the new health centre would be on the outskirts of the village and would prove much more difficult to access for those who are infirm, elderly or disabled. People also felt it was inappropriate for a youth facility and changing rooms to be situated next to a medical centre.
Most people contacting to the MP felt that any new provision should be based in the centre of the village, close to the existing services and were annoyed that no consultation had taken place.
Ms Jones called on the council to use the land at Shaw Street to build a new purpose built youth facility and to ensure the young people in the area were consulted and had input into any proposed scheme.
She said: ?Judging from my postbag it is clear that many residents had significant reservations about the proposed new medical centre. The existing services are central to the village and to the elderly population of the village and people clearly felt that the change would not be one for the better. The PCT failed to consult with the residents properly or they would have known this.
“There was also some reservation that a medical centre be placed next to youth, community and sporting facilities. The village is short of youth facilities and I believe that the chance is now there for the borough council to commit to building a purpose built youth club on the Shaw Street site. Any such facilities tacked onto the medical centre and parish council office would have been restricted in size.
“If a new youth facility is to be built I believe full discussion and consultation needs to take place with local youngsters so that, as far as possible, the facility offers them what they want and need rather than what we older people think they want.”
Police to host
carol service
by staff reporter
CHESHIRE Police are to host a carol service in St Elphin?s Warrington Parish Church on Sunday, December 18 in aid of local charities.
The Cheshire Constabulary Band will be featured, along with ch
ildren?s choirs from local schools.
After the 6.30pm service there will be light refreshment ? mince pies, tea and coffee ? at the Parish Church Community Centre.
There will be a collection to raise money for the charities, but admission is free and all are welcome.
Church hosts “green”
coffee morning
by staff reporter
STOCKTON Heath Methodist Church is hosting a coffee morning on Saturday (November 12) ? combined with a display on how to be eco-friendly.
The event at the Walton Road church takes place between 10.30am and 12 noon.
Edna Brereton, ?Green Co-ordinator? at the church, said: ?The church is working towards becoming an eco-congregation by thinking how eco-friendly products, etc., can be used within the church buildings and encouraging those who use the church and church hall to make changes in their lives by recycling and using products which protect the environment.?
