Omega project still
worries highways chiefs
by David Skentelbery
OUTLINE plans for the long-awaited Omega project ? which could provide thousands of new jobs for Warrington ? comes before planners next week with highways chiefs still saying they cannot support it.
An outline planning application for the first two phases of the giant project, straddling the M62 at Burtonwood, will be considered at a special meeting of the borough council’s development control committee on Thursday (October 19).
The application was originally to have been dealt with a month ago but was cancelled at the last minute to enable councillors to visit the site and for further information.
Planners are recommending approval – but the borough council’s own highways officers say they cannot support approval of the proposals.
They say that given the already congested nature of Warrington’s road network, almost all junctions on the west side of the town and also junctions around the town centre are likely to suffer some impact.
There is also opposition from villagers at Burtonwood, who are organising a protest petition. They say the development will bring traffic chaos to the village.
The main traffic impact will be in the north west quadrant of Warrington where as many as 55 junctions will be affected, with at least 100 additional passenger car units travelling through them. Eight of these junction are “critical to the operation of the road network” say the highways experts.
They say they are not happy with improvement works proposed at Junction 8 of the M62 where high traffic flows on the motorway would force motorway traffic to re-route through local roads, causing much increased levels of congestion.
The Highways Agency has also expressed concerns. Although they have reached agreement with applicants Omega Developments Ltd, on the first two phases of the project, they say it will cause traffic flows significantly exceeding those originally envisaged and effectively prevent further phases of Omega was ever coming forward.
Officials at the Government Office for the North West say they need to decide whether the scheme should be “called in” for a decision by the Secretary of State and have directed the council not to grant permission without special authorisation.
Nearby residents have lodged objections on the grounds of noise, pollution, traffic congestion, vibration and the inadequacy of Junction 8 which, they say, is “disgraceful and a scandalous waste of pupil money.”
Planning officers say the council has to decide whether the “need” for Omega’s first two phases outweighs the negative impacts. They are recommending that outline planning consent be approved.
It is seven years since the green light was given for the new Junction 8, which is intended to cater for the Omega development.
The company has already contributed ?35 million towards motorway widening and the new junction and has pledged a further ?33 million on further highway improvements.
The Omega site – which includes part of the former US airbase at Burtonwood – first went on the market in 1987 when it was described as the North West’s “jewel in the crown.”
Since then the Swedish furniture giant IKEA, Marks and Spencer and a number of other firms have built stores on part of the land, but the majority remains empty.
Stalwarts open
new look store
by Gary Skentelbery
TWO women who clocked up more than 100 years of service between them working at Culcheth’s CPS store were given the honour of officially opening the new look Sainsbury’s in the village.
Violet Amos and Melinda Brown, who are now both retired, performed the official ribbon cutting ceremony as the supermarket giant moved into the village following the takeover of the well-respected family owned CPS foodstore which has been at the heart of village for 42 years, as a third-generation family business.
Sainsburys have carried out a major makeover of the ground floor of CPS – enlarging the trading area and installing windows along the side elevation so the ‘new store’ faces the main car park. New store manager Neil Davison has pledged to carry on the good community work of former owner Stuart Nelson and as part of the opening celebrations presented new football kits to Culcheth Under 11’s, and Newchurch and Culcheth Primary schools.
Sainsbury’s have donated the kits as part of their community grant scheme. They will also be supporting the annual Victorian Day organised by Culcheth Lions and the Culcheth Community Day organised by Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council.
Neil said: “It is our aim to carry on the CPS tradition of being a community store, supporting the local community.”
As well as a major investment providing the store with a makeover a further 33 new jobs have been created, mainly for local people.
CPS has its roots in Leigh where Stuart’s grandfather bought Central Provision Stores. Stuart’s father, Bill Nelson, acquired a corner shop in Culcheth and CPS opened its doors in 1964.
Stuart has retained ownership of the CPS Centre, an umbrella for multiple businesses situated above the Sainsbury’s store.
Students’ hike to
fund Kenya trip
STUDENTS needing to raise more than ?1,000 each to take part in the trip of a life time helped swell the coffers with a 10 mile fund raising walk along the Sandstone trail and Delamere Forest.
The group, who are all from Warrington?s Priestley College, will travel to Kenya in February next year on an official college trip to complete a range of fieldwork and cultural activities.
To fund the trip, students are having to come up with a range of fund raising initiatives to obtain the money they require and these have even included making plans as dramatic as swimming with sharks.
Although a tiring experience the students enjoyed the day out in Cheshire.
Geography tutor Geoff Ruddall said: ?Although I?m sure the students are feeling the effects of walking such a distance, it has helped them greatly in their fund raising drive.
?Two years on from our last trip to Kenya, everybody is thoroughly looking forward to returning, especially with our current mission to build a school in Runo, which continues to gather momentum.?
A reminder about
the elections…
by John Hendon
REMINDERS have been sent to all households in Warrington which have not registered their details to vote in elections.
There has already been a great response from residents to the annual canvass, in which Electoral Registration Forms with information about how everyone who is entitled to vote at Parliamentary and Local Government elections can register their details are delivered to every house across the borough.
But there are still some people who haven’t registered and should fill in the forms and return them.
If the reminder is not returned, canvassers will call during November.
Anyone who doesn’t register their details will not be able to vote.
The forms contain details about how to register by phone and by using the internet and more than 18,000 voters have registered their details in this way – reducing the cost of canvassing for the council. Everyone is being urged to do the same.
Telephone registration means registration updates are immediate and more accurate and there are reductions in the costs of canvassing for the council.
Youth club set to
relaunch itself
by Mark Hemmings
WARRINGTON?S Birchwood Youth Club will relaunch itself as a youth and community centre when it opens its doors again next Tuesday.
The building opposite Risley Police Station on Delenty Drive, is inviting young people and their parents to come along and get a taste of all the new club has to offer.
Closing its doors due to lack of funding and the resignation of the previous management committee, an appeal brought several people forward who wished to be involved.
Thanks to a ?2,000 grant from Birchwood Town Council, local youngsters will once again have a place to meet their friends and enjoy a wide range of activities on a Wednesday evening.
Late bus service
for village revellers
by Lesley Wilkinson
A LATE night bus to transport revellers in Stockton Heath during the Christmas season is to be provided.
Stockton Heath Parish Council heard that Warrington Borough Council was planning to provide the service to take people from the village to outlying areas of south Warrington and the town centre.
The service was suggested from midnight until 1.30am, but members agreed to ask for it to be started at 11.30pm.
Chairman Coun Celia Jordan said a similar service in Warrington town centre had proved popular.
“It costs ?2 a trip, so is cheaper than a taxi. It prevents the anti-social behaviour which occurs when people are waiting for taxis,” she said.
Members agreed to support the service subject to cost. They agreed not to make any financial contribution to the service at present.
Parish council to
launch website
by Lesley Wilkinson
A PROPOSED new website for Stockton Heath Parish Council was given its first outing at the October meeting.
Coun Lynn Pester showed members the prototype of the site, which once approved by Warrington Borough Council, will be set up free.
Members agreed that the site should include contact details for councillors and agendas and minutes for meetings.
It will also feature local history, links to churches, names of the fallen from the war memorial and links to local clubs and entertainment.
News in brief
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 9, 10, 11 and 16. The jackpot of ?251 was not claimed and will be rolled-over to next week.
Footpath closure
WARRINGTON Borough Council plans to make an order introducing a temporary footpath closure in Winwick Road, Warrington from November 6. It is expected it will be in operation for four weeks while a footway chamber is constructed. An alternative route will be available for pedestrians on the opposite side of the road.
Hotel gates
PLANS have been approved for the reinstatement of a boundary wall and iron gates at the Albion Hotel in Battersby Lane, Warrington.
Art exhibition
MEMBERS of the Studio 77 Art Society are to hold an exhibition at Newchurch Parish Hall, Culcheth near Warrington on December 9. Some of the paintings will be for sale.
Speed limit
A 40mph speed limit will be introduced in Grappenhall Lane and Barleycastle Lane, Appleton, Warrington – unless objectors can persuade the borough council not to make an order. Objections must reach the Town Hall legal services section by November 2.
[ 17.10.2006, 17:06: Message edited by: DS ]
