Drug dealer jailed
for eight years
by court reporter
A WARRINGTON man has been jailed for eight years for drug offences.
John Alan Maddock, 38, of Stocksdale Drive, Great Sankey was jailed at Warrington Crown Court after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine.
He appeared before the court with two other menJason Alexandra Dickson, 24, of Palace Fields, Runcorn and Christopher Paul Rathbone, 29, of Sovereign Close, Runcorn, who were also charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine.
Dickson, who was additionally charged with possession of a sawn-off shotgun and possession of a kilo of cocaine with intent to supply, was jailed for 10 and-a-half years. Rathbone was jailed for three years and nine months.
All three had 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.
the court heard 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, which gathered the quality intelligence and evidence necessary to dismantle an 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.
A “first” for town’s
?4 million “Gateway”
by Terry Johnson
THE North-West’s first community caf? run by people with learning difficulties opens in Warrington in October.
The caf? is part of the ?4m “Gateway” initiative in Sankey Street which brings together the town’s voluntary, charitable and community groups under one roof.
It will be run by service users of MacIntyre, a national charity which helps people with learning problems to achieve independent, fulfilling lives.
Up to 10 people will work in the caf? for between two and 18 months, developing skills in food handling, catering and hospitality.
Funded by Warrington Housing Association, “Gateway” will also be home to the Citizens’ Advice Bureau, youth services, Age Concern, the Active Age Centre, Law Centre and Council for Voluntary Services.
Theresa McGinley, MacIntyre North-West manager, said: “Gateway is a fantastic resource for Warrington. It provides the ideal environment for our learners to make the most of their training”.
“Gateway” is in the Martin Dawes call centre building, opposite Warrington Town Hall.
Theatre company launches
innovative productions
by John Hendon
AN innovative, Warrington-based theatre company has launched two productions.
PaperCut Theatre was founded by Warrington theatre director, Julian Waite, to focus on imaginative, involving theatre, using unexpected resources.
It uses modern technology cheek-by-jowl with traditional puppetry, singing and poetry, ingenious moving sets and stunning effect -using the simplest of props like silk sheets and household chairs.
The new company’s ‘Songs of Innocence and Experience’, which uses songs and puppetry, is based on the poems of William Blake.
First performed at Southport Arts Centre, it was recently invited to Manchester’s 24:7 Festival and can be seen at Warrington’s Pyramid Arts Centre in November.
The second production, ‘Creditors’, updates Strindberg’s classic text with the story of a meange a trois – using three chairs, three blank canvases and a bottle of wine.
‘Creditors’ opens at Studio Salford in September, with a regional theatres tour in the New Year.
Residents in new
“civil war”
by Terry Johnson
PROTESTING residents look set to lose a new battle in ancient woodlands where Cavaliers and Cromwell’s Roundheads once skirmished.
The latest fight centres on land at Winwick, north Warrington, where Geldart Properties PLC propose demolition of an up-market detached bungalow to make way for four executive homes.
The bungalow, ‘Ferndell’, off Newton Road, is in an area where Parliamentary forces clashed with Royalists fleeing northwards as England was consumed by bloody civil war.
Muskets and fighting swords have been found in the area.
The latest skirmish involves resident-neighbours and Winwick Parish Council, who claim that demolition of ‘Ferndell’ and new building would result in over-development and loss of privacy.
But Warrington planning officer Jason Lewis says sites within the woodland area were characterised by large houses set within substantial plots.
The size of proposed new homes had been increased. But they had been clustered together and external garages reduced.
“On balance, the proposal would not have a significant harmful impact on the character of the area and the amount of built form is not excessive”, states Mr Lewis.
He is recommending the development control committee to approve the scheme.
MP in campaign to
slash debt problems
by John Hendon
WARRINGTON North MP Helen Jones is driving a local campaign to cut the formidable debt problems of many families.
She advocates a Warrington “action plan” to tackle problem debt and ease the burden of stress that it creates.
Stated Ms Jones: “Efforts are being made nationally to minimise the number of people who get into serious debt. But local action from the public, private and voluntary sectors is also needed for the strategies to work.
“Here in Warrington benefit and tax-credit take up must be promoted, financial literacy improved, formal referral arrangements put in place to help those who get into debt and realistic debt collection methods encouraged.
“The Borough Council, Primary Care Trust, Jobcentre Plus, Sure Start, Connexions, housing associations, businesses and local partnerships are just some of the groups that can help.”
The Labour MP added: “Over the coming months I will be discussing how we can improve things in Warrington with these organisations. It is in our interests to take action on debt.”
The Financial Services Authority found that 6.1m UK families reported some difficulties meeting their debt repayments.
Ms Jones said that some people struggling with heavy debt became victims of “predatory lenders”.
Housing plan thrown
out a second time
by staff reporter
PLANS to demolish a bungalow at Appleton and replace it with a two-storey, five bedroomed detached house has been rejected by Warrington planning chiefs for a second time.
Members of the borough’s development control committee refused to grant permission even after being warned that an appeal had already been lodged in respect of the first application, a public inquiry fixed for next March and that the applicant had indicated he would be applying for costs from the council.
The scheme involves a bungalow in Highwood Road. An identical proposal was put forward in May but refused on the grounds that the house would damage the character and appearance of the street scene, particularly as the majority of properties in the area are bungalows.
Appleton Parish Council and seven neighbours lodged objections, claiming the house would be “overpowering” between two small bungalows and could set a precedent for similar proposals which would substantially change the character of the area.
They claimed the house would rob an adjoining property of sunshine in the garden and would totally dominate neighbouring homes.
Applicants Padiham Property Development said the design, height, scale and materials to be used would enhance the street scene. Existing ground levels would be lowered to reduce the impact of the building.
Police probe raid on
publishing office
by staff repor
ter
POLICE are investigating a burglary at the offices of the Orbit New Services, publishers of Warrington-Worldwide.
Raiders climbed a drainpipe, smashed a window and forced heavy security bars to gain entry to the premises at The New Media Centre, in Old Road, Warrington.
They got away with computer equipment used in the production of the online newspaper and four monthly magazines produced in the office.
The raid was discovered on Monday morning and staff turned in to ensure production was not interrupted.
[ 01.09.2004, 10:15: Message edited by: DS ]
