Fire crews rescue man
from blazing house
by David Skentelbery
FIREFIGHTERS rescued an unconscious man from a blazing house at Warrington early today.
The blaze in Boyle Avenue, Orford caused extensive damage to the whole house as a result of the flames spreading through open doors.
It is believed to have started in the living room – probably started by a cigarette end – but spread throughout the property.
A 23-year-old man was found lying unconscious in the kitchen and was rushed to hospital, being revived on the way.
A Fire Service spokesman said: “He was extremely lucky – if it hadn’t been for his aunt, who lives opposite, raising the alarm this fire could easily have proved fatal.
“There were fire alarm fitted and they were activated. But he either didn’t hear them in time, or didn’t hear them at all.
“We would advise people to keep internal doors closed. If they are open there is nothing to stop the fire spreading through the house.” Fire crews dealt with a number of other calls in the Warrington area.
A delivery vehicle belonging to Iceland and parked behind the store in Crosfield Street was torched by vandals and completely destroyed.
Arsonists started a fire at a council flat in Marron Avenue, Longford. The front door was badly damaged and the property smokelogged.
Vandals set fire to a large industrial bin in a compound at the rear of the Cockhedge Centre but there was no damage to other property.
Scandal of pensioners
who live in poverty
by Terry Johnson
A PENSIONER-poverty scandal of “lost credits” has been revealed in Warrington, according to a councillor.
Latest Government figures show that 3,281 of the town’s pensioners are missing out on money that is rightfully theirs.
This is an estimated ?131,015 loss to the local economy.
The cash is there to be claimed by over-60’s on low incomes. It ensures that a single person has ?109.45-a-week to live on and a couple ?167.05-a-week.
But the rub is that the pension top-ups are means-tested. A nest-egg in the bank could reduce or prevent benefit entitlement.
Coun Roy Smith, Warrington Liberal Democrat spokesman on health and community services, said: “It is a scandal that so many poorer, older people are missing out on money they should be getting as of right.
“This represents a loss to the local economy of ?131,015.
“In the short term, I hope everyone who is unsure about their entitlements rings the Pension Service helpline to find out if they are missing out.
“In the long term, we need to provide pensioners with a decent pension that isn’t falling further and further below the poverty line each year”.
Nationally, l.7m pensioners miss out on Pension Credit. Application can be made on freephone: 0800-99-1234.
New IT centre for
the disabled
by Gary Skentelbery
ACTRESS and local resident Sue Johnston and Nick Cochrane who played Andy McDonald in Coronation Street, teamed up with disabled people in Warrington to celebrate the opening of a new computer centre which has been especially adapted for their needs.
?Discover IT? is a joint initiative between Microsoft and disability charity Leonard Cheshire, and is housed in the Warrington Disability Partnership building in Beaufort Street. Viscount Ashbrook, Patron of Leonard Cheshire in the North West and Vice Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire, also attended the launch.
The centre, containing 10 computers complete with Internet access, a wide range of software and special adaptations funded by distribution company Bunzl, is the fifth Discover IT centre to be launched by Microsoft and Leonard Cheshire in the U.K this year.
Warrington man Joe Robertson who had a stroke five years ago and is now a volunteer at Warrington Disability Partnership, performed the ribbon cutting ceremony at the launch and is looking forward to using the new centre.
He said: ?Most of my family are conversant with computers and keep telling me how easy it is. My daughter travels a lot so email would help me keep in contact with her. I also want to be able to access information on the internet, both to help me advise people when I volunteer at the disability information point at Warrington market, and to satisfy my interest in travel and different cultures.?
The centre will offer a wide range of activities, such as one to one training, a drop in service and regular Wednesday workshops which will explore special interest topics such as digital photography and genealogy. The centre will be supported by a full-time tutor on-hand to offer advice and informal guidance.
Viscount Ashbrook said: ?There are 34,000 disabled people living in Warrington and this centre will provide them with access to computers on their own terms to do practical, fun things. Discover IT is a valuable resource for the local community.?
Picture shows from left, Deputy Mayor of Warrington Cllr. Linda Dirri, Nick Cochrane who played Andy McDonald in Coronation Street, Deputy Mayor’s Consort Alan Dirri, Kate Higgins, Viscount Ashbrook, David Neil and Patrick McGurik IT tutor.
Lifestyle issues
under the spotlight
by Terry Johnson
WARRINGTON?S ageing population and lifestyle issues come under the spotlight of healthcare experts on December 15 and 19.
Primary Care Trust staff hold public meetings at the Halliwell Jones RL Stadium, Winwick Road, to examine how the budget for spending on local health should be focused.
Alison Cooke, the PCT’s chief executive, said: “These events are to share some very important issues that will affect the future health of Warrington people. We want to understand what people think is important – whether they have ideas about how we can do things differently.
“We will then use this input to guide how the PCT works and develop future services”.
Any person with a health interest can attend the events: December 15, 9.30am-12.30pm; Dec 19: 6.00pm-9.00pm.
Refreshments will be served and the PCT contribute to travel costs and child care. Details from Pat Unsworth, 01925-843635.
Christmas is coming!
by Gary Skentelbery
VISITORS to Walton Hall gardens can step back in time to a Victorian style Christmas at the annual Winter Wonderland.
The wonderland is taking place every Saturday and Sunday from December 3-18 between 11.00am to 4.00pm and there will be something for everyone.
There will be all sorts of festive activities including:
Meeting Father Christmas in his workshop ? and having a photo taken
A walk through the grotto with a magical woodland setting
Childrens? entertainers
Train rides operating each Sunday
Morris Dancing and folk plays
Yule log making, pot decorating and a chance to make your own Christmas decorations.
A traditional Christmas festive fayre and plant sale
The traditionally decorated Heritage Yard will be brought to life with local schools performing plays and singing carols.
The Parr Brass Band, Norman Roy Band and Greenalls band will be playing music on separate days and Cheshire schools will be singing festive songs.
The children?s zoo will also be open along with the Heritage Centre, coffee shop, pitch and putt, crazy golf and the formal gardens.
Entry to the Heritage Yard is free but there will be charges for some activities.
For more information contact Paddy Davidson, Event Co-ordinator on 01925 261957 visit [email protected]
Stolen meat found
in the bath!
by Terry Johnson
MEAT-raiders who dumped their butchers’ shop haul in the bath of a Warrington house have been arrested by police carrying out a drugs search.
Cheshire Police raided the house at Orford acting on drugs intelligence.
They found evidence of drugs…then discovered the bath at the property had been filled to the brim with stolen cuts of meat!
More pieces of meat were found in the kitchen – t
he burglers’ total haul worth ?400.
The meat had been taken from a local butchers just hours earlier.
Said a police spokeswoman: “Three people were arrested at the scene, including a 36-year-old woman on suspicion of burglary and for being wanted by police.”
A 32-year-old woman and 31-year-old man were arrested for suspected burglary.
New community dance
team for Wolves
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON Wolves new Community Learning & Sport Foundation is developing a new community dance team.
The team will help promote health and physical activity amongst girls and will work with Warrington Wolves to promote and increase female participation in sports through Sport England’s Girlpower project.
As a registered charity, The Foundation focuses on using the positive power of sport to promote active participation in sport and learning, with the ultimate aim of helping to improve the quality of life for everyone involved, working with the local community through innovative sporting and educational programmes.
With support from the highly successful Wolves Community Team, this initiative is regarded as an important weapon for tackling children’s inactivity. Following the success of the clubs Primary LINK Programme, which delivers coaching into all Warrington’s Primary Schools, the Cheerleading / Dance concept is being incorporated into the same “winning formula”.
The Wolves would like to thank both IndepenDance and the Starlites, who have done such a tremendous job entertaining the crowds at The Halliwell Jones Stadium. It is hoped that these two excellent dance groups will continue to perform on match days.
Meanwhile the Wolves are busy developing the new team and inviting girls of all ages, including members of the current teams, to join them.
Existing members of IndepenDANCE and the Starlites can remain with their present teams as it is felt the new organisation will complement the established groups.
“Invisible keyboard” makes
music from movement
by Terry Johnson
AN ?invisible keyboard in space? comes to Warrington’s Pyramid Arts Centre later this month.
Called Soundbeam, the state-of-the-art equipment converts physical movements as small as a blink of an eye into sound.
The ultra-sonic beams are linked to a standard keyboard to help teach young people with learning disabilities to produce music.
The speed, angle and size of movement all affect the pitch and tone of sounds produced.
The initiative is part of the nation-wide Music Leader project, which aims to improve the quality and diversity of music opportunities for children and young people – by supporting and training their teachers.
The launch session at The Pyramid on November 24 runs from 9.30am-4.00pm. Places can be booked with Emma Walsh, 0161-236-0201.
By 2010 Youth Music aims to reach three million children and young people.
Turning students’ ideas
into real business
by Terry Johnson
WARRINGTON Collegiate students will this week be inspired to turn their business ideas into reality.
They will be taking part for the first time in national Enterprise Week with a flurry of events celebrating students’ entrepreneurial spirit.
They range from women-in-business workshops, enterprise activity in schools to a business masterclass.
EW local organiser, Joanne Mason, said: “We are strongly committed to providing our students with positive learning experiences to help them develop crucial skills. Enterprise Week is an ideal platform for us to show how young people and staff can be enterprising in everything they do”.
She added: “Students will get the chance to meet and work with local entrepreneurs, businesses and the Warrington community. They will be able to engage in real issues and make their own decisions.
“Those on the BTEC business course have spent six weeks planning and co-ordinating a talent contest at Parr Hall. They’ve done everything from sorting out finances and keeping track of invoices to arranging the acts, promoting the event and producing tickets and programmes”.
A key feature of the college’s input to EW is providing business advice…and at the same time having fun!
