Friday 31st August 2007

Councillor urges people
to oppose tip expansion
by David Skentelbery

A COUNCILLOR is calling on people to object to a new plan to extend a major landfill site onto top quality farm land – even though the official deadline for objections has passed.
Coun Jacqui Johnson, of Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council, says objections can still be made to the plan to extend the Risley Landfill site, off Silver Lane, Risley – and will still carry weight.
Borough planners threw out an earlier scheme in April – and the parish council has already decided to oppose the new scheme submitted by Biffa Waste Services, which members claim, is virtually identical to the one already rejected.
On the previous occasion, the proposal was also opposed by local residents, councillors, the Ramblers Association, Warrington branch of the CPRE and by Birchwood Town Council, and the parish councils at Croft and Rixton with Glazebrook.
The existing, approved landfill site covers some 20.5 hectares and the plan involves extending the tip onto adjoining farm land, much of which is classed as the best grade.
Currently, landfilling operations are due to end in October next year. But increasing the size of the tip would extend its life to 2010, with another year for restoration. Municipal, commercial and industrial waste would be tipped on the site.
It would be restored to woodland, scrub, rough grassland and wildflower areas. A footpath and Silver Lane Brook would be realigned.
Ironically, parts of the site no longer used for tipping, provide a habitat for the brown hare, whose numbers are in decline, and have been designated as a sanctuary for the animal.
Coun Johnson said: ?Objections or comments should have been sent to the borough council by August 22, although in fact, they can be submitted after that date and will still carry weight.?
Residents – and nearby farmers – have lived uneasily with the Silver Lane tip for years.
There have been complaints of smells, noise and litter, including plastic bags, being blown across adjoining farm land from the tip.
Silver Lane runs parallel to the M62 and an easterly extension of the tipping area would take it in the direction of Glazebrook.

Mum’s exam success
is a confidence booster
by staff reporter

A WARRINGTON mum who went back to college to improve her confidence has claimed top results.
Kirsty Allen, of Woolston, enrolled on the Public Services national diploma course at Warrington Collegiate as a way of gaining qualifications to go into the police but said she was apprehensive about returning to study.
The 24-year-old, who is mum to three-year-old Leah, said: “It was very hard knowing everyone would be much younger than me but age really was no issue. I was just one of them.
“After I had Leah I didn’t know what I wanted to do and thought I needed to build up my confidence so I decided to go back to the Collegiate and do public services and I really enjoyed it.
“I want to join the police and this was a great way of getting the experience and qualifications.”
Kirsty, who previously worked in catering and is now a part time waitress is hoping to join Cheshire Constabulary.
“I am going to start applying now. I know Cheshire are recruiting next year so I will be looking there.
“I am an active person and I need something which challenges me so that is why I chose the police.
“Everyone is proud of how I have done and I am really happy because I didn’t think I could do it,” she said.

Farmer loses battle
for green belt house
by John Hendon

FARMER John Bryan has lost a battle for planning permission to build a house at Park Lane/Firs Lane, Appleton, Warrington.
A Government-appointed inspector has reject his appeal against Warrington Borough Council’s decision to refuse planning consent.
The inspector has ruled the house would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt.
He said the appellant’s case relied heavily on the assumed benefits of allowing the house to be built in place of a poultry rearing enterprise which already has planning consent. But the two cannot be compared, says the inspector, and in case the argument assumed the poultry enterprise would be undesirable because it would not be well run.
“There is no reason why a properly managed and regulated use of this kind should cause problems,” he said.
A council spokesman said: “The decision provides a useful benchmark for cases involving development where non-compliance with policy is justified on the basis on the potential impact of permitted but yet to be implemented development.”

800 runners in road race

It was a case of best feet forward for Nabilah Salihi and her colleagues from Warrington-based fit out specialist Morris and Spottiswood when they took part in the 24th Birchwood Road Race.
Assistant quantity surveyor Nabilah, implementation manager Richard Magnall, quantity surveyor John Smith and office manager Clair Brindle, joined forces to take part in the gruelling 10km race which is organised each year by local running club Spectrum Striders.
As well as entering a team, Morris & Spottiswood, which has offices in Leacroft Road, Birchwood, was also one of the main sponsors of the event, which saw more than 800 competitors donning their running shoes, and also included a 2km fun run which took place before the main race.
Organisers handed over a prize to every participant – a 100 per cent cotton white bath towel.
“It was great to be involved in the race which was not only fun and but also good for fitness,” said Nabilah, who is a member of the Striders.
“Everyone got into the spirit of things and even rain failed to dampen everyone’s spirits.”
“We were delighted that so many people took part and really appreciated the supportive crowd that turned out to cheer everyone on,” says Spectrum Striders chairman and race organiser Julian Spencer. “It was a great day and we hope that the event will have raised between ?200 and ?300 altogether.”

Shortlisted four times
in “excellence” awards
by business staff

SUBSIDARY companies of Warrington-based CCTV specialist AD Group have been shortlisted as finalists in an impressive four categories at the forthcoming Security Excellence Awards.
The winners will be announced at a high profile ceremony to be held at the Hilton Hotel, Park Lane, London, on October 10 in front of hundreds of the UK’s most influential security professionals.
AD Group company Dedicated Micros – which has its headquarters at Daresbury – is a finalist in the Best Security Partnering Initiative award for its DM Fusion installer programme which has been created to support key professional security installers in the UK and Ireland.
In the International Achievement category another AD Group company – D-Tec – which has been favoured as a result of the success of its Video Smoke Detection technology in providing the first line of defence against fire in landmark installations worldwide such as the Sydney Harbour tunnel in Australia and the world’s largest privately owned aircraft hangar in Dubai.
A further AD Group subsidiary, TSS is a finalist in two areas – Best Security Innovation for PatrolVu, a mobile CCTV system to tackle crime hotspots, and Best Integrated Security Solution as a result of the positive impact its solutions are having on anti-social behaviour in Barnsley, South Yorkshire.
Group chairman Nigel Petrie said “The fact that Group companies appear on the shortlist in four categories of the Security Excellence Awards confirms once again our position as the leading provider of state-of-the-art CCTV solutions on the ground, in the air and on the move, based, crucially, on our own hardware and software technology – one of the few companies in the sector who have the R&D resource to do this.”

Village shops blacked
out by power failure by staff reporter