Row flares over
“puppet” forums
by David Skentelbery
LABOUR council chiefs at Warrington have been slammed for rejecting a proposal to set up parish or town councils right across the borough.
Liberal Democrat opposition councillors say they have grave doubts about the democratic accountability of the borough council’s alternative suggestion – ward forums.
Coun Roy Smith, Liberal Democrat spokesman for community and wellbeing said: “Ward forums are open to manipulation by local Labour politicians, who will try to pack them with their puppets.”
The borough council’s executive board has decided to support the establishment of a network of ward forums in inner areas where there is not an existing parish or town council.
They now plan a period of consultation with ward councillors, local organisations, the Warrington Partnership and town and parish councils.
Existing ward forums at Fairfield and Howley, Latchford, Bewsey and Whitecross and Westy – set up as pilot schemes – will also be consulted.
But the alternative of creating new parish or town councils in the inner areas of the borough – championed by the Liberal Democrats – is not to be pursued.
Coun Smith said: “We are very disappointed that our proposal to consider the possibility of setting up parish councils in the inner wards of Warrington has been rejected. We have grave doubts about the democratic accountability of ward forums.
“The report to the executive board raises serious questions about the running and financing of ward forums; questions that need to be answered.
“Ward forums are open to manipulation by local Labour politicians, who will try to pack them with their puppets.
” Parish Councils give all local people the chance to participate in the election of the people who represent them. With voters becoming increasingly disengaged from the political process, the setting-up of bodies made up of local elites will make them more disillusioned than ever with politicians.”
Bulgarian MP in town
REMZI Osman, a Deputy in the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria and chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Local Self-Government, Regional Policy and Public Works paid a visit to Warrington’s International Business Centre for meetings with both Business Link Cheshire and Warrington and Warrington Chamber of Commerce.
The visit was part of a series of contacts between Mr Osman, the Kardjali region, Business Link and the Warrington Chamber which also involves the Mayor of Kardjali, seven district Mayors of the region and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Kardjali.
Three in court on
drugs charges
by court reporter
THREE men – one from Warrington and two from Runcorn – are expected to be sentenced for drug offences at Warrington Crown Court today (Friday).
John Alan Maddock, 38,of Stocksdale Drive, Great Sankey, Warrington, Jason Alexandra Dickson, 24, of Palace Fields, Runcorn and Christopher Paul Rathbone, 29, of Sovereign Close, Runcorn were charged with conspiracy to supply Cocaine.
Dickson was additionally charged with possession of a sawn-off shotgun and possession of a kilo of cocaine with intent to supply.
All three have admitted drug trafficking offences.
A fourth man, Lee Thomas Bignell, 24, of Rolands Walk, Runcorn, has already been sentenced for possession of cocaine with intent to supply and possession of a sawn-off shotgun and received five and a half years in prison.
A long-term surveillance operation led by the Cheshire Police Central Drugs Unit, focused on the activities of the drug trafficking team based in the Halton area. The operation gathered the quality intelligence and evidence necessary to dismantle this organised criminal group, took over five months and involved a number of officers.
A pre-planned stop check of a vehicle on Windmill Hill Avenue North, Runcorn, led to the recovery of the kilo block of cocaine. The occupant of the vehicle was arrested, triggering further arrests in the Runcorn area.
Council urged to drop
objection to flats plan
by David Skentelbery
PLANNING chiefs at Warrington are being urged to drop one of their objections to the controversial plan to demolish the Lymm Hotel and replace it with five blocks of apartments.
Officers will ask members of the development control committee not to go ahead with an objection based on a surplus of housing supply within the borough when a public inquiry is held on September 15.
They say this objection is not appropriate and that applicants Linden Homes are likely to make a claim for substantial costs against the borough council if it persists with the argument.
However, the officers say there are still “very strong” planning arguments against the proposal in terms of the nature of the development and its impact on the surrounding area.
The inquiry will be heard at Warrington Town Hall, starting at 10am.
The hotel is famous because soccer legend Pele and the rest of the 1966 Brazilian World Cup squad stayed there – and complained about the noise caused by the adjoining railway line which is now the Trans Pennine Trail.
Borough planners have thrown out Linden’s proposals twice but the company has appealed and the final decision will now be up to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.
Hundreds of people have lodged objections, along with Lymm Parish Council and local members of the borough council.
Linden want to build 53 flats in five four-storey blocks.
After email – now it’s
dmail, with no spam
by John Hendon
A PR company with offices in Warrington has been help launch digital mail – the successor to email.
Chelgate Ltd, in Dallam Lane, will be responsible for promoting dmail.
Digital mail is a new alternative to email which can effectively eradicate the problems of spam and virus infection, and provide an exceptionally fast medium for accessing and exchanging large files such as music, images and film.
As it can be isolated, digital mail is also a safe and secure platform which can not be penetrated by unwanted visitors or observers.
Developed by Dorset inventor, Peter Jackson, dmail originates from the oil and gas industry.
Mr Jackson said: “We had created a global supply network in the industry which needed a secure messaging system which was instantaneous and able to transfer large files rapidly. I developed what is now called dmail to satisfy those requirements.
“Email has now reached a turning point in its short history. People both at work and at home are sick and tired of spam and viruses, and seriously concerned about security and the increasing prevalence of criminal activity on the Internet, especially targeting children. The emergence of digital mail is in effect a response to all those concerns.”
Digital mail differs from email in that it is based upon html text and back-end SQL databases, whereas email supports a myriad of formats and interfaces. Most email accounts have a few megabytes of storage attached, while digital mail accounts will typically include one gigabyte of storage.
Chelgate will be helping launch the dmail beta service early next month. The account team will be led by Michael Hardware, executive vice-president.
He said: “This will be a challenging assignment where a UK company will attempt to challenge the supremacy of the usual US market leaders. MSN and Yahoo are already reacting to the future competition from digital mail by increasing the storage size available on their email accounts, but this only addresses one benefit of digital mail – the real battle is yet to come.”
Camping out
with Gulliver!
by staff reporter
CAMPERS are to be given the chance to stay overnight at the Gulliver’s theme park at Warrington.
Plots will be available to caravans and camper vans which have their own facilities for the weekend of September 11-12.
Familie
s will be able to purchase a two-day pass allowing access to the park for both days over the weekend and will also be given some exclusive ride time for campers only.
Park mascot Gully Mouse will be on hand to help children settle for the night with bedtime stories, cocoa and cookies.
Gulliver’s Warrington has nine “worlds” which include rides and attractions such as carousels, roller coasters, log flumes and dodgems.
Many shows take place around the park and meals are available in one of the cafes or restaurants.
Gulliver’s specialise in providing entertainment for children aged between 2-13 years old which the whole family can enjoy together.
Fire station
open day
by staff reporter
AN open day is to be held at Warrington Fire Station tomorrow (Saturday).
The Mayor, Coun Ted Lafferty, will open the event which will be attended by a number of Warrington Wolves stars.
There will be a tombola and other stalls, food and drink and tours of the fire station and a chance to see some of the latest fire fighting equipment.
Any money raised on the day will go to charity.
