“Low cost” homes project
thrown out by planners
by David Skentelbery
PLANNING chiefs have thrown out proposals for 14 ?low cost? mews houses in Church Lane, Culcheth, near Warrington.
Members of the borough council?s development control committee voted to refuse permission for the housing proposed by local garage proprietor Owen McKay.
The involved the site of the existing Culcheth Garden Centre.
It was supported by Culcheth Parish Council and by borough councillor Keith Bland.(pictured)
He told the committee: ?This is just the sort of housing we want in Culcheth. Then perhaps local people will be able to afford to buy homes in the village.?
Officers recommended the plan be refused because the additional homes would add further to an already excessive oversupply of housing land.
They also criticised the proposed benefit because of an inadequate level of parking provision and ?poor design? which they claimed would detract from the character and quality of the street scene.
Coun Bland said he took strong exception to the remarks about ?poor design? as the applicant had worked hard to provide a design that was in keeping with Church Lane.
He said there was a parking space for each dwelling and there was similar housing nearby. The properties would attract less traffic and parking than the garden centre Most people agreed the development would tidy up the area.
But Coun Albert Clemow said Culcheth people had been fighting for 18 months to stop housing development in the village, using the argument that there was an oversupply of housing land. It was ?unprincipled? to now put forward the opposite argument.
Students get down to
“green fingered” work
by staff reporter
STUDENTS from the Early Years, Education and Health and Social Care department at Warrington?s Priestley College headed for Ambleside in Cumbria with conservation work at the forefront of their expedition.
The yearly trip to the High Wray base camp offers the students the opportunity to team up with the National Trust in the picturesque setting of Lake Windermere.
It is the third time students from the college have spent time at the camp following the strong bond that has been built up between Priestley and The National Trust.
The group spent four days working on a number of initiatives including dredge digging, removing trees and fencing and building bonfires. On top of doing their bit for the countryside the residential trip also proved invaluable experience for some students who were spending their first time away from home.
Bev Whittaker, curriculum manager for the department said: “It was lovely to take the students to High Wray and tackle the challenges that were put in front of us. We were made to feel very welcome by the National Trust and overall it was a worthwhile experience with a range of educational benefits.”
Health boss to stay
in office another year
by John Hendon
THE tenure of Warrington Primary Care Trust chairman Robin Brown has been extended by 12 months by the NHS Appointments Commission.
This is to allow continuity while the Trust makes changes to one year extension to December 31 is to allow continuity while the PCT makes changes to strengthen its commissioning role.
The changes – which affect PCTs across the country – are to ensure the health service is more responsive to the needs of patients.
Mr Brown, 61, who was appointed chairman when the PCT was set up in 2002, said: “I am really pleased that I will be able to oversee the changes which will ensure the PCT becomes much more patient-focused.
?We are working with our staff, patients and the public of Warrington to really improve services. I am very proud of our achievements so far and look forward to working with the PCT for another year to see through some of the important developments we have started, such as increasing choice for patients and expanding the role of services based within the community.” MR brown, a pharmacist from Hatton with his wife Judith, acts as an ambassador for the PCT in the wider community and provides leadership for the PCT. One of his key roles is to ensure that all relevant matters appear before the PCT board.
He will receive ?19,454 a year for carrying out his duties as PCT chairman.
Mr Brown previously served on the Cheshire Family Practitioner Committee and the Cheshire Family Health Service Authority, latterly as chairman. He was also a board member of the former North Cheshire Health Authority.
Police warning over
bogus firefighter
by staff reporter
POLICE in Warrington are warning people to watch out for a conman, who claims to be a fireman, in order to obtain money for his fare home.
A number of incidents have been reported throughout the country ? including Warrington – where the man has claimed to be a fireman with Cambridgeshire Fire Service.
There have been as many as five incidents reported in Cheshire over the last two weeks.
On one occasion, the man claimed he was unable to get into his car and needed his train fare back to Cambridge. He mentioned he had golf clubs in his boot that were worth a considerable amount of money and he would leave these with her if she would lend him the money for the train home. On this occasion the woman told him she did not have any money to give him.
The most recent incident, in Northwich, resulted in a woman giving the man ?40.
DS Philip Gill said: “We are warning women to be aware of this man and the techniques he has been using to con people out of money. He has been operating in Cheshire recently but we believe he has been committing these crimes in a number of towns and cities throughout the country.”
“He may appear to be genuine but he is clearly playing on people’s good nature to steal money. We do not want anyone else to become a victim so if you experience any similar incidents or have any information that can assist the police please contact us immediately.”
“Similarly if you believe you have been a victim and have not reported this please contact the Police.”
Spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Fire Service Hayley Buzzel said. “We have had a number of calls from members of the public trying to trace this man after he fails to send the money back to them as promised. He uses a number of different names, none of which are traceable to Cambridgeshire Fire Service, and we would encourage anyone with information about who this bogus firefighter is to contact police straight away.”
Anyone who can help should call DS Gill on 0845 4580000.
?5,000 raised for
community projects
MORE than ?5,000 was raised for community projects in the Warrington area at a team-building event organised by social housing refurbishment specialist Connaught Property Services.
Connaught and a number of their sub-contractors and supplies working in partnership with Warrington?s Golden Gates Housing were involved in the event at LA Bowl.
Teams competed at pool, bowling and dodgems and prizes were awarded to the winning team at the end of the night.
Financial pledges from Connaught, sub-contractors and suppliers together with a raffle and charity auction held on the night raised a total of ?5,200 which will be distributed to a number of community projects throughout the Warrington area.
Sub-contractors and suppliers involved with the event were Colt Industrial Services, DC Electrical Services, EnviroVent, Firth Power Fix, Birch Skip Hire, Howdens Joinery, JVM Building Services Ltd, Lacy Roofing, OP Building Maintenance, Protek Maintenance, PTS, Remploy, Wolseley Group and Hays Montrose.
David Mawson, Connaught?s area director said “When Connaught undertake a project we aim to not only improve the homes of the tenants but to also contribute where we can to helping local projects. This was an enjoyable team-building evening, which helped raise funds for a number of local pr
ojects. Our thanks to the support from our sub-contractors and suppliers for helping make this event happen”.
ASBO breach man
jailed for six weeks
by court reporter
MAGISTRATES at Warrington have jailed a man for six weeks ? for breaching an Anti Social Behaviour Order for the third time.
Cyril Maher, a 45-year-old Warrington man of no fixed address, admitted breaching the order on three separate occasions.
The court was told officers arrested Maher for the third time and subsequently charged him for breaching an ASBO for a third time by entering Bridge Street- an area of Warrington Maher is prohibited from entering under the terms of the order.
PC Mark Williams, of the Warrington Community Action Team, said: “Maher’s behaviour is totally unacceptable and the sentencing should send out a clear message that we will not tolerate any breaches of an Anti Social Behaviour Orders.
“ASBOs are issued to put a stop to bad behaviour and to protect the local community and we will not hesitate to take further action in future if Maher breaches his order again.”
Maher was issued with a two year ASBO on September 19.
News in brief
Hospital lottery
THERE was one winner of the ?279 jackpot in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital. Two consolation prizes of ?25 were won by D McFarlane and M Evans. Next week there will be a ?200 jackpot plus a special Christmas “bonus” prize of ?250.
Road closure
A TEMPORARY road closure is to be introduced in Dallam Lane, Warrington from Monday (December 5) while work is carried out on a new sewer connection. It is expected the road and footpaths will have to be closed for about three weeks.
Apartments plan
PLANS for four one-bedroomed apartments on land at the rear of Nora Street, Howley, Warrington, have been approved by borough planners.
New hole!
A PROPOSED change of use of farmland off Broseley Lane, Culcheth, Warrington, to enable a new 15th hole to be provided at Leigh Golf Club, Kenyon Hall, has been given the all clear by borough planners.
