Youth centre scheme
thrown out by planners
by staff reporter
PLANNING chiefs at Warrington have thrown out proposals for a new youth centre after hearing of strong opposition from nearby residents.
They have refused permission for the centre to be built on a recreation field off Manchester Road, Hollins Green ? close to Hollins Green CE Primary School.
Nearly 60 local residents had lodged objections to the project, proposed by the Hamilton Davis Trust.
The decision was taken despite evidence of a severe shortage of youth provision in the area.
Planning officers said the recreation field at recently been granted ?village green? status which reinforced its importance as a community resource.
Residents said it was the only land in the village that was not built on and construction of a youth centre would spoil the recreation field.
They argued that the site was too narrow, and that extra traffic would cause danger to children using the playground. The area was already congested and the development would block access by emergency vehicles.
Other objections included removal of woodland, loss of the village green and the risk of disruption to residents.
The parish council was concerned about the impact of the proposed development on neighbours. It supported further youth provision in the village, but claimed the site was unsuitable and would mean a loss of green space.
Members were concerned about the proposed car park near the infants school and children’s play area, and that it could add to street-parking in Birch Road/Manchester Road.
Planners said the benefits to the community of the scheme had to be weighed against the adverse impact on the area – and on balance they recommend refusal of the development.
Businessman’s gift could
be a winner for Red Cross
by John Hendon
WARRINGTON businessman Dave Watson is gambling on his gift to the Red Cross proving a real winner.
The leisure company chief has given the charity a six-year-old thoroughbred racehorse ? and its winnings over the next three years will support Red Cross work among vulnerable people in crisis across the world.
It?s a first for the charity and one of the most unusual gifts it has ever received.
In what is a first for the charity, Mr Watson, managing director of Camden Leisure, in Tanners Lane, will make sure the Grey Gelding Topinambour races in Red Cross colours for the next three years.
A percentage of its winnings will go to Red Cross humanitarian work in the UK and overseas.
Currently, the British Red Cross is helping those affected by the crisis in the Middle East and has launched an appeal to support the work of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent movement in the area.
A life long supporter of the Red Cross and racehorse enthusiast, Mr Watson said; “My father was a great believer in the Red Cross after seeing them in action during his military service. This is my way of remembering my Dad and giving something back to a great organisation”.
Karen Jones, senior fundraiser for the Red Cross in Cheshire said; “We are very grateful to Dave and of course Topinambour. It’s a very exciting initiative and something completely different – everyone in Cheshire branch will be cheering him on”.
College pilots get a
taste of the high life
by Mark Hemmings
STUDENT pilots from Warrington?s Priestley College have tasted “the high life”.
Attending the International Youth Day at the Farnborough Air Show the students met with representatives from the industry who spoke to them about careers in aviation.
Students attended lectures on subjects ranging from robot wars, the career of an airline pilot and future aircraft technology.
Student pilot Dominic Slater said: “The Airbus A340 and A380 aircraft are huge. It was amazing to see their co-ordinated routine in the flying display. We were fortunate that our host for the day was a Boeing 757 pilot and he proved to be a great source of encouragement for our future flying careers.”
Jasmin Munir, aged 18, said: “We attended a lecture on future flying training and received a lot of interest from national organisations who were eager to learn all about flying at Priestley.”
Jasmin has already achieved his first solo flight.
Another student, Amy Worsley met Carolyn Grace, the only female Spitfire display pilot in the world. Amy said: “Carolyn was delighted to meet our group, especially as we have several young ladies learning to fly and she emphasised that women pilots can still always succeed in a male dominated industry.”
Life comes down to earth for the student pilots who now face Ground School exams before achieving their first solo flights later this summer.
Garden centre to help
make Britain beautiful
by staff reporter
BENTS Garden Centre, near Warrington is set to help make Britain beautiful! Chosen as one of six garden centres across the country to take part in the Make Britain Beautiful Campaign, the Glazebury firm is looking for help from local primary school children.
The nationwide campaign, which has been launched by The Eden Project and the Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Centre (NFBIC) aims to turn dull and lifeless areas in the community into lush, vibrant ones.
Bents would like children (aged 11 and under) to nominate a garden in need of a facelift, belonging to a friend, relative or neighbour.
Children need to draw their favourite flowering bulb, propose a garden in need, explain their reasons and then hand it in to Bents. Five winning entries will be chosen and each will receive bulbs to make their nominated garden come alive with colour.
The deadline for entries is Saturday September 30. Entry forms are available from Customer Services at Bents Garden Centre, Leigh Library or can be downloaded from www.flowerbulbs.co.uk
Matthew Bent, Managing Director at Bents Garden Centre said: “We are delighted to have been asked to be involved with this initiative and are looking forward to receiving the entries.
“It is such a simple idea but one which achieves so much – not only helping to improve our local environment, but at the same time getting children involved in the community and making them aware of their surroundings.”
Local firm is a
“Green Hero”
by Mark Hemmings
A WARRINGTON company, has been presented with an inscribed plaque to mark their achievement as one of Britain’s first Green Heroes.
Environmental Crop Management Ltd, of Appleton Thorn, received the award, which was presented to Peter Clare, ECM’s managing director by leading botanist Professor David Bellamy.
The Green Heroes shield is a new annual award presented exclusively to councils and companies that have not only won a Green Apple Award for environmental best practice – but have also demonstrated their commitment by helping others to follow their environmental lead.
On receiving the shield Peter Clare said: “We are thrilled to win another award for our pioneering environmental work, and would like to thank all the farmers for adopting our environmentally friendly agronomy”.
National Organiser Roger Wolens said; “They are one of our first Green Heroes and they fully deserve this recognition. Tree Appeal will also plant a broad-leaf tree in their name to further help the environment”.
News in brief
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 2, 4, 7 and 16. One winner scooped the ?334 jackpot prize and the ?25 consolation prize was won by “Sue”. Next week’s jackpot is likely to be ?150.
Parking restrictions
NEW parking restrictions are to be introduced in East Avenue, Grappenhall Road and London Road, Stockton Heath, Warrington from today (Friday). There will be no waiting at any time
on the south side of Grappenhall Road and the south west side of East Avenue and limited waiting on another section of East Avenue, on the south west side and on the south east side of London Road.
Road closures
TEMPORARY road closures are to be introduced in a number of roads at Latchford, Warrington for about eight weeks from September 11 while carriageway reconstruction takes place. Roads affected include Loushers Lane, Secker Avenue, Minerva Close, Clarke Avenue, Woolacombe Close, Pearson Avenue, Wash Lane and Common Lane.
One way road
ONE way traffic operations have been introduced in Green Lane, Padgate, Warrington while electrical cable laying goes on . Diversions are signposted and it is expected the work should be completed in about seven weeks.
