Doctor collects clothing
for tidal wave victims
by Lesley Wilkinson
A WARRINGTON GP, who was born in Sri Lanka, was so moved by reports of the earthquake in Asia that he has launched an appeal to collect clothing and bedding for those affected.
Dr Sri Kumaraswarmy, of Bold Street Surgery, who was born in the capital Colombo and has a home there, is planning to visit the country next week with his wife Leela.
He said: “It was terrifying and terrible to see the places where we have stayed destroyed and to see everything gone. It was frightening to see, as we know many people there – fortunately my family escaped as my home is about a mile from the site.
“I immediately started an appeal and the response has been tremendous. There are collection points throughout Warrington, and people from neighbouring areas such as Rainhill and Runcorn are also contributing.” The doctor is collecting summer clothes, bed linen, towels and children’s toys to help the million people who have been displaced following the earthquake.
Anyone interested in helping can take items to the surgery or ring them on 244655, or drop off items at Dr Kumaraswarmy’s home at 35 Shackleton Close, Old Hall.
He said volunteers have been sorting clothes into male, female and children’s. These have been packaged up into hundreds of family bags that will be distributed when he and his wife visit Colombo.
He is also collecting cash donations which will be used to buy food supplies for the families.
Dr Kumaraswarmy is arranging for a container to take the goods to Sri Lanka. He will cover all transportation costs himself.
The couple will be in Sri Lanka to receive the goods and will hire lorries to transport goods. They also hope to give people mosquito nets to protect them and provide a water tank.
Dr Kumaraswarmy visits the area about four times a year, and was there in November. He works for a charity providing spectacles for those oversees.
“It will take a long time for them to recover from this disaster,” he said. This is just the tip of the iceberg, there will be a lot of work to do to help the community recover,” he said.
Meanwhile, a Stockton Heath singer, who hails from the Philippines, is organising a fund raising event to help the victims of the earthquake.
Sandy Robinson, of Lilac Grove, is holding the event at the Hanover International Hotel on January 20. It will feature a buffet, disco and she will perform.
She said: “I am from Asia and have a lot of friends in Thailand and Indonesia. I was very sad to see this news and want to do something to help.”
Tickets for the evening are ?20 and are available from Sandy on 07900 341 970.
Today (Wednesday) the Mayor of Warrington, Coun Ted Lafferty, will lead a three-minute silence at noon in front of the Town Hall as part of the national act of remembrance for all those who lost their lives in the Tsunami disaster. Everyone is invited to observe the silence and the union flag will be flown at half mast all day.
Children escape death
as “tornado” strikes
by David Skentelbery
and Lesley Wilkinson
THREE children dodged death or serious injury by minutes when a tornado slammed into a row of terraced cottages at Lymm, near Warrington.
The climbing frame on which they had been playing was hurled into the air, over the house, over the road and the nearby Bridgewater Canal before landing, a twisted wreck, in a field.
Four cottages were badly damaged – three of them being made uninhabitable.
The roofs were ripped off two, with slates, bricks and masonry being scattered over a wide area. A third had six holes punched in the roof and its dormer extension destroyed.
Three families had to be evacuated from the homes in Warrington Lane, Agden after the thunderbolt struck on New Year’s Day.
Donna and Darren Pybus and Jane and Howard Ellis had to move into hotels. Peter and Gill Critchley and their three children – whose house was on the market – and to move prematurely into a new home they are buying.
Only Muir and Lesley Miller were able to stay in their damaged home.
The tornado – first reported by Warrington-Worldwide yesterday (Tuesday) caused extensive damage in the Lymm area and is believed to have also toppled a tree at Dunham Park, Altrincham, killing an eight-year-old boy.
Fire crews and electricity workers were called to the scene in Warrington Lane to make the properties safe.
Mrs Critchley said: “We were terrified. We saw the tornado coming towards us over the fields.
“Our children, Harry, aged nine, Charlie, six and James, three, had been playing on their new climbing frame – a present from Father Christmas – but came running to point out the tornado.
“Minutes later the climbing frame was hurled over the house, over the road and the canal and ended up in a field.
“Trees were uprooted, our garden shed somersaulted down the garden, fences were blown over and the roof of Donna and Darren’s house was completely blown off.
“Three quarters of the roof went at Jane and Howard’s home and our roof was left with holes all over the place. The rain was coming in everywhere.
“It really was terrifying.
It was a terrible start to the New Year – but it could have been worse.
I dread to think what would have happened if the children had still been on the climbing frame.”
At Willow Pool Garden Centre, about half-a-mile away in Burford Lane, customers were stranded in the tea rooms when the “whirlwind” struck.
An 80ft high oak tree, more than 100 years old, was uprooted, metal fence panels twisted, a gazebo and display tents ripped up and cars damaged by flying debris.
Manager Diane Kahraman said: “About 10 minutes before we felt that something bad was happening.
We had a blizzard, with hail, snow, rain and strong wind – we were terrified.
“The weather calmed down for a second then there was a terrible noise as a whirlwind started at the back of the centre.
It came from the far end of the garden centre and pulled fences down and the wind tunnels were lifted and twisted.
“The back gates were thrown about 15 or 20 feet into the air and landed on two staff cars in the car park, pulling the windscreen and bonnet out.”
The oak tree landed on the cattery next door.
“I was by the tills when the madness happened.
It was one of those things that you could not get to grips with – you could see it coming but could do nothing about it,” she said.
Owner of Rosewood House Boarding Kennels and Cattery next door, Liz Phillips, said the tree fell on their fences and kennels roof.
But no animals were at that end of the kennels at the time.
Fences were damaged, roof tiles ripped off, six trees uprooted and a greenhouse damaged.
It could be several months before the families can move back into their homes in Warrington Lane.
Mother and children
escape kitchen blaze
by John Hendon
A WOMAN and two teenage children escaped unhurt when fire ravaged the kitchen of their home in Wellfield Street, Warrington.
The blaze was caused by a tumbledrier which caught fire due to the filter being blocked.
Fire crews were quickly on the scene but extensive smoke and fire damage was caused in the kitchen and smoke spread throughout the ground floor of the property.
A Fire Service spokesman said no smoke alarms were fitted in the property and the woman was fortunate to discover the blaze in its early stage. She tried to tackle it herself at first but was driven back by dense smoke.
He added: “Tumbledriers should never be left unattended – and the filters should be checked regularly as they become a fire hazard if they become blocked.”
Diabetes sufferers can
learn how to cope
by staff reporter
PEOPLE with diabetes at Warrington are being given an opportunity to learn more about living with the condition at a new monthly drop-in centre.
The diabetes patie
nt education programme, which begins on January 11 will enable people to talk to a range of health professionals, including a specialist nurse, GP, dietician, podiatrist and pharmacist. A patient with diabetes will also be available to answer questions. In addition, Diabetes UK will be providing free information leaflets.
Sharon Fisher, a community diabetes specialist nurse with Warrington Primary Care Trust, said: “For people to be actively involved in making decisions about their healthcare they need the information to make informed choices.
“No appointment is necessary. Anyone with diabetes, or who is caring for someone with diabetes, is welcome to attend.”
The sessions, which are free of charge, will be held at Alford Hall Sports and Social Club, Manchester Road. They will run from 1.30pm to 4.30pm on the second Tuesday of every month, except August and December.
For more information call Warrington PCT’s Patient Advice and Liaison line on freephone 0800 389 6973.
Couple beaten-up in
attack on wrong house?
by David Skentelbery
A COUPLE were beaten up by thugs who burst into their home at Warrington in the early hours of the morning – after apparently mistaking it for another house.
The raid was at a house in New Road, Latchford and took place at about 3.45am.
Two men forced their way into the house and attacked the male occupier with what is believed to have been a knuckle-duster and a metal bar.
When the woman tried to call police, the phone was snatched from her and she was also attacked.
Eventually the pair left – and police believe they had realised they had broken into the wrong house.
Neither of the victims of the attack suffered injuries serious enough to need hospital treatment.
One of the attackers was about 6ft 2 inches tall, of slim build and in his early 30s. He had short, dark brown hair.
The second man was about 5ft 11 inches tall, also slim and was in his early 20s. He had a pale complexion and a skinhead haircut. Both men had strong local accents.
Anyone who can help police with information about the incident is asked to call DC Nick Gee on 01244 613884.
Lib Dems call for more
“early years” spending
by John Hendon
LIBERAL Democrats at Warrington are calling for the Chancellor to spend his Child Trust Fund money “where it matters most” – by investing in children’s early years.
Coun Ian Marks, the Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Warrington South, said: “Expert opinion confirms what common sense tells us. Children well-taught and well-cared for in their early years have a far better chance of living fulfilled and rewarding lives.
“The Government’s Child Trust Fund by contrast delivers few real benefits. It is expensive and would cost about ?1? billion.
“We would use this money to improve early years’ support. This means reducing class sizes for our youngest children and setting up Early Years centres to provide better health, education and family support for every child – when it counts. Here in parts of Warrington we have the Sure Start schemes which we support, but in many places in the country there is virtually no co-ordinated support for struggling parents until children start school.
“These centres would be of benefit to both young children and their parents. Our youngsters would be provided with the basic skills to get the most out of education later on. At the same time their mums and dads would be given the skills to cope with the pressures and frustrations of parenting.”
Offices plan for
rugby clubhouse
by David Skentelbery
PROPOSALS to convert squash courts into offices at Warrington’s premier rugby union club have caused a planning row.
Lymm Parish Council is opposing the proposals put forward by Lymm Rugby Union Club for their clubhouse in Crouchley Lane.
The scheme is due to be considered by Warrington Borough Council’s development control committee tonight (Wednesday).
Parish councillors say the site is not a suitable location for a commercial property.
But planning officers are recommending the scheme be approved and suggest that the change of use will have no more impact on the openness of the Green Belt and could cause less disturbance for nearby residents as they will result in less of the clubhouse being available for evening use.
The squash courts were built to cater for the “squash boom” of the 1970s, but in recent years have been used very little. The rugby club says a commercial use within the club building will enable the club to continue to operate viably alongside the new use.
Nearby residents are not objecting to the change of use although they say the club should be required to repair a wall between their car park and Crouchley Lane before providing any additional car parking.
They also say the entrance to the site should be moved to the corner of Crouchley Lane to improve road safety.
Wolves claim “first”
for UK sports clubs
by staff reporter
IN what is believed to be a first for UK sport, Warrington Wolves Super League Rugby Club is taking community relations and the learning agenda to a new level.
It is adding to its current schools and community links with an all embracing approach that will involve a whole learning floor dedicated to the education of children through to senior citizens, and in another part of the stadium, a purpose built Primary Care Trust providing a whole range of health services.
The developments, planned for completion in March, are all part of a deliberate strategy to use sport to reach those people turned off by learning at colleges and using heath services located in large imposing buildings, and those often excluded from traditional training opportunities.
While to follow on from the above facilities, the Wolves are planning in another part of the stadium a construction skills learning centre to teach building skills such as plumbing and bricklaying. This facility is planned to be completed by the middle of next year.
Warrington Wolves chief executive Andy Gatcliffe has brought together TUC Learning Services, the Learning and Skills Council, Warrington Primary Care Trust, Warrington Borough Council, colleges and the North West Development Agency to help realise this bold move that will tackle some of the area’s most pressing problems in learning and health.
Fans who take up the learning opportunities at The Halliwell Jones Stadium could be joined by their heroes as Warrington Wolves players are encouraged to learn skills in subjects including IT, plumbing, and bricklaying that will enhance their own career prospects for when they have to retire from the game. Six current players are already undertaking Modern Apprenticeship programmes with the support of the TUC and the club.
All of the planned facilities will be housed within the club’s modern Halliwell Jones Stadium close to Warrington town centre.
The NHS complex will occupy the ground floor of the Martin Dawes Stand behind one of the goalposts and will include surgeries and health advice clinics. The Lever Faberge Community Stand will be extended to include the skills centre offering foundation to Level 1 training in a range of practical construction skills, while the Learning Suite – substantially supported by the Learning and Skills Council – will be housed on the first floor of the North Stand.
The Learning Suite will include fitness facilities for the elderly and a fully equipped TUC Learning Centre with the latest IT as well as access to Learn Direct and Warrington Collegiate courses. Rooms will also be set aside for a social inclusion programme and adult learning courses.
Mr Gatcliffe said: “We – like many sporting clubs – have been actively involved in community work for some time. We are indeed well-known for our work in this area and our community development programme has been recognised nationally, with the club recently being awarded the Sports Industr
y Sport in the community award.
“But these developments take community relations to a new level – a joined up approach that will promote social inclusion and enable a range of local organisations to pool their resources more effectively. This is no longer just about supporting the Wolves but sport supporting your well being, helping you learn new skills, get a job, and generally boosting your confidence and self-esteem.”
