Police crackdown
on traffic offences
by John Hendon
POLICE are drafting in a team of specialist officers to crack down on traffic offences in the Warrington area.
Speeding motorists, drink drivers and those who don’t wear seat belts or use their mobile phone while on the move are being targeted in the operation.
A team of six officers ? mainly motor cyclists ? will be patrolling the streets of Warrington on the look out for offending motorists in the run-up to Christmas.
With four motorbikes and two Volvo T5s at their disposal, the team is intelligence led and is also working closely with the Force Automatic Number Plate Recognition Unit to deny criminals the use of the roads.
Supt Gary Finchett, operations manager for the Northern Area, said: “This time of year is our busiest for serious and fatal RTCs because the weather starts to deteriorate, commuters are travelling early in the morning or late at night in the dark and the temptation for motorists to drink and drive is higher in the build up to the festive season.
“This drive to tackle offending motorists will hopefully reduce the chances of someone being seriously or fatally injured on the roads. But this team of officers will also be able to tackle local issues such as car cruisers who gather in groups in public areas and cause disruption for local residents.”
Sgt Mike Jones, of the Northern Area Specialist Investigation Unit added: “We will be challenging and changing driver behaviour by targeting drivers without insurance, the ‘amber gambler’ at traffic lights and those that continue to drive while under the influence of alcohol. These are the drivers who are more likely to be involved in road traffic collisions and also fail to stop. At the end of the day it’s about making the roads in Warrington safer for everyone.”
The crack down forms part of a multi-agency strategy which aims to achieve a 40 per cent reduction in serious injuries and deaths by 2010, and a 50 per cent reduction in injuries.
TV funny girl to
appear in town
by Lesley Wilkinson
COMEDIENNE Miranda Hart, well-known from television’s Vicar of Dibley and French and Saunders, is set to perform at the Pyramid, Warrington, on Friday October 28.
She has recently had successful sell-out shows at the Edinburgh Festival and Soho Theatre, London.
Her show, “It’s All About Me!” is a mix of stand-up and character comedy. Much of her on-stage persona comes from her personal life with references to living with agoraphobia, suffering from shyness and coping with her height at over six feet.
She has also appeared on television in William and Mary and Smack the Pony. She has appeared on Radio 4 in a comedy quiz, and appeared in the Time Out award winning play, “Come Out Eli.”
The previous evening (Thursday October 27) youngsters in Warrington will be treated to a visit from probably the world’s only stand-up comedian for children, James Campbell, who is appearing atthe Parr Hall.
His Comedy 4 Kids show is described as similar in style to Eddie Izzard’s work, and organisers say that youngsters love his absurd and silly connections.
The show, aimed at children aged five to 11, uses popular cultural references from television and songs. It is expected to be popular with all the family.
Bus pay dispute
looks set to end
by David Skentelbery
TALKS to end the pay dispute involving bus drivers and garage staff at Warrington Borough Transport look set to succeed.
A threatened overtime ban has been called off and a new two-year pay deal is being put to staff this week.
The Transport and General Workers? Union is recommending its members to accept the offer.
WBT managing director Nigel Featham said: ?I am pleased to say the pay talks are now heading towards a quick resolution, without the inconvenience an overtime ban might have involved, and bus services will continue to run as normal.?
The pay offer is for a 7.4 per cent increase, backdated to last April, plus a further increase of 4.8 per cent starting next May.
Warrington-Worldwide broke the news of the dispute last Wednesday when it revealed that an overtime ban was threatened.
The company had made contingency to minimise the impact of any overtime ban, including other staff driving school buses.
Walking – and cycling
– back to happiness
by Lesley Wilkinson
WALKING and cycling can help transform a town centre ? that?s the theme of a Streets Ahead conference at the Gateway Centre, Warrington, on November 12.
It focuses on the ways that urban design can transform a town centre and is sponsored by Southport-based Urban Engineering, manufacturers of cycle stands and storage and town centre furniture.
The conference for national cycling organisation CTC and Cycle Campaign Network, is being hosted by the Warrington Cycle Campaign.
It will feature a range of speakers including Lutz Groll, of Warrington’s twin town Hilden, in Germany, where 24 per cent of town trips are now made by cycle. The increase in cycling there has come from a civic campaign aimed at reducing maximum vehicle speeds.
Speaker John Adams will talk about Risk Compensation for urban areas. Other speakers from around the country will talk about urban design, and discuss how to make changes so that the European model of more relaxed driving and pleasant town environments can be achieved.
It is expected that members of the public, urban planners, cycling and pedestrian campaigners, local authority officers, politicians and health officials, will attend the conference.
Delegates will discuss how cycling can cut traffic congestion and pollution, lead to healthier lifestyles and provide a better environment for motorists, pedestrians, children and cyclists.
Anyone interested in registering for the conference, which costs ?15 including lunch, can find out more at www.warringtoncyclecampaign.co.uk/streets-ahead
Chris Mayes, chairman of Warrington Cycle Campaign, said: “Promoting cycling is a win, win situation in which everyone gains and we are delighted that we have been chosen to host this national conference.
“Warrington Cycle Campaign is very active both locally and nationally, and locating the conference in Warrington is excellent for anyone involved in cycle promotion in the Northwest,” added Chris.
Second appeal
for witnesses
by staff reporter
POLICE have issued a second appeal for witnesses, following a serious road accident at Warrington which resulted in a pedal cyclist being taken to hospital.
The 47-year-old man suffered leg injuries after his cycle was in collision with a Nissan 4X4 vehicle on the A49 Winwick Road, outside the Matalan store on Saturday morning, September 24.
Police appealed for witnesses immediately – but now they have re-appealed for help.
Anyone who has information is asked to contact PC Andy Hunt on 01244 613813.
Children help judge
literary competition
by Lesley Wilkinson
TWO former pupils from Lower Whitley Junior School, near Warrington, are joining the judging panel for this year?s Cheshire Prize for Literature.
The competition for children’s writers reaches its final on Thursday October 27 at the University of Chester’s Molloy Hall. The winning entry will be read by best-selling children’s author and former Children’s Laureate, Michael Morpurgo.
More than 200 entrants from throughout the county are competing for the ?2,000 first prize, and two runners-up prizes of ?500.
Junior judges Faye Clayton, formerly of Lower Whitley Junior School, and now attending Manchester High School for Girls, and Helen Morrell, formerly of the same junior school, and now attending Frodsham High School, will join four other children from across Cheshire on the judging panel.
Administrator of the compe
tition Bill Hughes, said: “It will be fascinating to see to what extent the children’s panel agrees with the adult panel. In the event of disagreement, Michael Morpurgo himself will be reading the short list, so we can make use of his independent, expert, opinion.”
The top 12 entrants will have their work published by the University of Chester Press.
