Village dispersal order
“a complete failure”
by David Skentelbery
THE controversial Dispersal Order introduced at Culcheth, near Warrington to combat hooliganism and anti-social behaviour, has been a complete failure.
This is the view of borough and parish councillor Keith Bland, following the expiry of the order at the end of January – and also following some of the worst nights of violence the village has ever experienced.
Coun Bland said: “It is no use the police telling us the Dispersal Order worked because it didn’t.
“It may have had some beneficial effect for the first two or three months but after that it caused more trouble than it was worth.
“The word on the street is that local youths regard the order as a challenge. It was a complete waste of time.
“At first it simply moved the problem elsewhere – away from the village centre to places like the linear park. But latterly problems came back to the village centre as the kids openly defied the order.
“I do not blame our local police officers individually. They did their best. But they just do not have the resources.” Friday, January 14 was probably the worst night of disorder Culcheth has ever experienced. Up to 80 drunken youths ran amok in the village, fighting, vandalising property and terrifying many residents.
At least two people were badly beaten up.
Police were swamped with 999 calls and claim the youths dispersed when they arrived.
But many residents claim the trouble continued well into the night – and in the following week.
Coun Bland has produced a damning list of other incidents in the village. It includes:
The Millennium Garden trashed, with plants uprooted and soil thrown around.
A telephone kiosk in Common Lane smashed twice.
Tiles ripped from the roof of Culcheth Methodist Church, leading to rain damage.
Stones thrown at cars passing through the village on a Saturday night.
Eggs thrown at the doors and windows of houses in Newsholme Close.
Youths walking through the village carrying air rifles.
Culcheth Library being forced to appoint a security guard on the evenings it is open.
Coun Bland added: “I believe it is only a small gang of youths causing the trouble, leading others on. I do not know why they want to hang around the streets at night but their behaviour is totally unacceptable.”
A police spokesperson said: “The Dispersal Order has been used as a tool by police to assess the extent of the youth disorder problem in Culcheth. Officers have closely monitored the number of incidents that have occured and intelligence has also been gathered against those youths who persistently harass, intimidate or alarm members of the local community. This evidence will now be used to seek Anti Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) against identified nuisance youths.
“There has been a big reduction in certain types of crime across the area while the order has been in place. Criminal damage decreased by 23 per cent in December, compared with the year before and over the past 12 months incidents of disorder have reduced by 41 per cent.
“Two people have been arrested for breaching the order and six youths have been summonsed for breaching the order. Three youths have been nominated for an ASBO and three people have received a warning under the Harassment Act. Police have already begun looking at other effective measures they can take to deal with youth disorder in the village in the longer term.”
Cricketers must
score as fundraisers
by staff reporter
MEMBERS of Appleton Cricket Club, near Warrington, will have to prove they can score as fundraisers before the parish council will pledge more cash support towards the cost of a new pavilion.
Councillors have decided to put off a decision on a second request for funding from the club until they have seen how successful the club’s own fundraising is.
Appleton Parish Council agreed more than a year ago to give a ?1,000 grant towards the cost of a ?265,000 improvement scheme at the club’s ground off Lyons Lane.
But the club has now asked if the grant could be increased.
Efforts to raise money from other sources, including the England and Wales Cricket Board, are being made and the club is also organising a series of fundraising events.
Coun Brian Axcell (pictured)said: “It is good to encourage local sport. We should try to get as many youngsters as possible involved in local sport.”
But the council agreed to wait until they had seen the results of the club’s own fundraising before they decided whether or not to increase their grant.
Seats still available
for tsunami concert
by staff reporter
SEATS are still available for a unique concert to be held at Warrington’s Parr Hall on Sunday (February 6) in aid of tsunami disaster survivors.
The concert will feature seven choirs and amateur societies with a total cast of 200.
Groups taking part are Warrington Light Opera, Warrington Male Voice Choir, Warrington Musical Society, Lymm Young Voices, CODYS, C.A.T.S and Centenary Operatic and Dramatic Society.
The concert is supported by Warrington Borough Council and tickets are ?5. The performance starts at 7.15pm Further details from Light Opera chairman, Malcolm Kindon, on 01925-852958.
Rates relief for
business minnows
by Terry Johnson
MINNOW businesses in Warrington could cut their rates by up to 50 per cent this year – thanks to a ‘helping hand’ from bigger, more prosperous companies!
The borough council is urging small businesses with a rateable value of less than ?10,000 to apply for sliding-scale reductions from April 1.
The smallest firms, with a rateable value of less than ?5,000, would pay only half their expected business rates.
The relief is being funded by a supplement on the rates bill of larger businesses.
Town hall says around 3,300 small businesses in the Warrington area stand to benefit.
Performance spokesman, Coun John Morris, said: “Small businesses play an important role in the economy. We are committed to helping ensure they continue to flourish”.
Rate relief application forms from 01925-443210.
Restaurant plan
still opposed
by John Hendon
A NEW plan to convert the former Lloyds-TSB bank in Warrington Road, Culcheth into a 72-seater restaurant is to be considered by Warrington’s development control committee.
But the committee are to visit the site a second time before reaching a decision as the scheme is still being strongly opposed by neighbours and Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council.
Coun Les Hoyle said there were concerns that parking provision would be inadequate.
An earlier proposal was thrown out by planners on the grounds that residents of Newsholme Close would suffer a loss of amenity due to noise and other increase activity. This is currently subject to an appeal.
The new scheme proposes an extra six car parking spaces to allay fears of on-street parking and a brick wall and acoustic timber panel fence to reduce any impact on the nearby houses.
But the objectors are maintaining their opposition to the scheme. They say there will still be a loss of residential amenity, inadequate parking space and increases in traffic and anti-social behaviour.
They say the site is more suitable for housing or offices and that there is already an adequate number of restaurants and eating places in the village.
News in brief
Works blaze
FIRE crews were called to fork lift truck manufacturer Jung Heinrich, in Europa Boulevard, Warrington, when an electric fault caused a fire. The blaze was out by the time they reached the scene but crews ensured the premises was safe.
Plans withdrawn
PLANS for a brick wall and entrance gates at the home of property developer Brian Foden at Barondale Grange, Stockport Road, Thelwall, Warrington, have been withdrawn.
Disabled access
A NEW disabled access ramp will be installed at Latchford Post Office, Knutsford Road, Warrington, following the grant of planning consent.
Barn conversion
PLANNING consent is being sought for the conversion of an existing barn in Long Lane, Warrington, into a dwelling.
