Housing plan for
garden centre site
by David Skentelbery
A CONTROVERSIAL plan to build 14 mews houses on the site of a garden centre at Culcheth, near Warrington, is to be put to planners this week.
The application by garage proprietor Owen McKay involves the site of the Culcheth Garden Centre in Church Lane.
Culcheth Parish Council is not opposing the scheme ? and local borough councillor Keith Bland is supporting it.
He says it will cause less traffic on Church Lane than the garden centre.
He said: ?This application is just what the centre of the village needs and a lot of work has been done with the developer to achieve what it is felt is good for the village.?
But there are objections from local residents who say there are already too many cars parked on Church Lane.
The parish council agreed that parking provision for the proposed houses is inadequate.
Planning officers are opposing the scheme however and recommend that it be refused.
They say it would add further to an already excessive oversupply of housing land.
Their argument is that there are no special circumstances to outweigh the harm that adding to the oversupply of housing land would cause ? and they claim inadequate parking provision and poor design would harm the character and quality of the street scene in Church Lane.
The scheme will be considered by Warrington?s development control committee on Wednesday.
150 symbols of hope for
women who live in fear
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON-based charity The Relationships Centre marked White Ribbon Day by releasing 150 white balloons to represent the two women a week who are killed through domestic violence.
The balloons rose into the sky from the Town Hall lawn after being released by Warrington South MP Helen Southworth and local pop star Kerry Katona.
White Ribbon Day is the International Day Against Violence Towards Women, with the white ribbon being an international symbol of hope that women and girls will be able to live free from the fear of violence.
Globally, violence against women causes more deaths in the 15-44 age group than traffic accidents, malaria, cancer or war.
Kerry Katona said: “Wearing this white ribbon is about challenging the acceptability of violence by helping women to break the silence. I am really proud to be involved in such a cause and if I can help to raise awareness I will.?
The campaign aimed to challenge the acceptability of domestic and sexual violence in society by getting people to talk, to use their voices and to break the silence.
Anyone requiring further information about The Relationships Centre or wanting to obtain a White Ribbon should contact them on 01925 246910.
Think twice about
strange delivery notes
by staff reporter
TRADING Standards Officers are advising Warrington residents to think twice before responding to unexpected delivery notes.
The borough council’s Trading Standards department has received a number of enquiries from householders who have received a post card inviting the addressee to ring a number in order to arrange delivery of a portable radio.
There is no direct suggestion these are goods ordered by the recipient or that they are a prize of any sort. However, some recipients may be inclined to ring the number on the card in the belief that these are either goods they may have ordered or that someone else has ordered on their behalf or out of sheer curiosity.
However, as stated in the small print on the card, this number is a premium rate number and callers are likely to be charged about ?6 for the call.
The advice from Trading Standards is to think twice before responding to unsolicited requests to ring up to arrange delivery of goods. The chances are the cost of the call will be high and the value and quality of any goods sent will be low.
Coun Pat Wright, the council?s executive member for Community Services, said: “Sometimes it is easy to forget if you are waiting for deliveries, especially at this time of year when we are all busy planning events and Christmas shopping. I would urge residents to think carefully and keep a note of the goods they are expecting. If any residents do receive delivery cards and are unsure what to do, they should contact the council’s Trading Standards’ team.”
For further information please contact Trading Standards on 01925 442678.
Security gates worry
theme park neighbours
by David Skentelbery
PLANS for new gates and a security hut at the Gulliver?s World theme park at Warrington are worrying local residents.
Ten neighbours have objected to the proposals ? and local councillor Judith Wheeler has also expressed concern about a lack of detail in the proposals.
The objections are based on claims of inadequate consultation, possible noise and lighting problems and the highway problems in Shackleton Close and Cromwell Avenue.
Planners say in the context of the well-screened woodland setting, the replacement of an existing security barrier with gates and the construction of a security hut is not considered detrimental to the character of the locality.
But residents say the scheme could affect neighbours, wildlife and traffic.
They claim the proposal would provide the necessary infrastructure for Gulliver?s World to seek an extension of operating hours, which would be highly intrusive on the locality.
A bumper year for
hospital “Friends”
by John Hendon
WARRINGTON Hospital’s League of Friends has enjoyed a bumper fundraising year, collecting almost ?150,000.
Through a combination of the hospital lottery, other fundraising efforts and donations, exactly ?148,000 was raised in 2004-05 – and used to buy medical equipment across the hospital.
The biggest buy was a Doppler Ultrasound Scanner to be used in vascular surgery, costing ?39,153. Other sizeable purchases included an anaesthetic machine for the Critical Care team (?26,668) and seven patient trolleys for the Accident and Emergency department (?15,000).
The League also has a further ?50,000 available for additional purchases.
Pam McLean, League of Friends Secretary, said: “The past year has been one of our best ever and that was down to the generosity of members of the public, patients and hospital staff. They have given their support to the League with their donations, by taking part in the lottery and supporting our other activities so faithfully and enthusiastically.
“We work in a close partnership with the hospital, our volunteers and our supporters and we are very grateful to have that excellent backing – long may it continue!” The League of Friends has also announced that vice-chairman David Eden has become acting chairman, following the resignation of Alan Woodward after 16 and a half years. David has been a member of the League for 12 years and his post will be made official at the Annual General Meeting.
David was born in Liverpool, but has lived in Warrington for 37 years. Before retiring, he worked for Shell for 27 years and in the further education sector. He has been married to Barbara for 46 years and they have two sons.
David was officially welcomed to his new role by Allan Massey, North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust Chairman. He said: “I know everyone here would like to thank Alan Woodward for his hard work over the years, while wishing David every success in the years to come.
“I would also like to thank the League of Friends for the invaluable role they fulfil, by raising money and through the numerous other ways they help to make a difference to patients and visitors on a daily basis.
“They have made and continue to make an invaluable contribution to Warrington Hospital for which patients, their families and staff are very grateful.”
