Death tragedy lane
may re-open soon
by David Skentelbery
A NARROW, winding lane at Grappenhall, near Warrington, which was closed after two teenagers tragically drowned when their car plunged off the road into the Bridgewater Canal – looks set to be re-opened soon.
Warrington Borough Council highways chiefs say the temporary closure of Stockton Lane has already gone on longer than was anticipated and that, following consultation with the police, a suitable scheme is being drawn up to make safe the dangerous bend where the tragedy occurred.
They say there will be consultation with residents and the scheme will take into account the re-development of the Grappenhall Sports Club and Tennis Club which is currently taking place in Stockton Lane.
It was on November 28, 2004 that the car carrying four friends plunged into the icy waters of the canal.
Gemma Biggin, 17, from Grappenhall and Stephen Abbott, 17, from Houghton Green, both died but two other boys, Jake Edwards and Anthony Bond, both managed to escape.
At the inquest in September last year, the coroner called for action on what he described as a “gross and obvious danger” on the lane.
He said: “To have a very dangerous bend on a narrow road immediately next to a canal is almost an accident waiting to happen and just because there has not been a fatality does not lessen the risks.” The inquest heard the stretch of road did not meet the criteria for crash-barriers and, indeed, that crash-barriers might make the bend even more dangerous.
Mike Biggin, Gemma’s father and a member of Grappenhall and Thelwall Parish Council, said: “It is inevitable that the road will be re-opened, especially as the sports club is being re-developed.
“I have no details, but I have heard that the proposed schemes involves widening the road and a barrier. I would say to the highways planners that they should review the whole length of Stockton Lane.
“There are other equally dangerous bends, close to the canal, including some much nearer to the sports club. It is an extremely dangerous situation.
“I hope the planners get off their backsides and go and look at the scene instead of just going on statistics. We do not want any more tragic accidents on this road.”
Students get down
to studying rocks
by Lesley Wilkinson
GEOLOGY students from Warrington had the opportunity to study rock formations when they visited the Bowland Fells in Clitheroe for a coursework project.
The group from Priestley College studied the carboniferous rock formations and discovered fossils and ore minerals, which had been mined in the past for lead and barium.
They used skills they had learned in the classroom and a range of specialist equipment to complete sedimentary logs, quadrat sampling and looked into fossil diversity and geological structures.
The trip was to complement the A2 syllabus and follows a recent visit to the Sedgwick Geological Trail in Cumbria.
Geology tutor Gillian Finucane said: “The outdoor study trip was excellent for the students as once again it allowed them the experience of fieldwork.
“It is important that our students have a thorough understanding of the practical aspects of Geology with many of them contemplating studying the subject at a higher level as we approach the summer,” she said.
Princess Anne in
town next week
by staff reporter
PRINCESS Anne will be visiting Warrington?s Gateway, the largest one-stop-shop for help and advice in the North West, on Monday February (February 27) to unveil a commemorative plaque to mark the official opening of the building.
During her visit, the Princess Royal will also take the opportunity to meet with and talk to staff and volunteers from the 25+ tenant organisations and projects based at the Gateway.
Alan Kemp, chief executive of Warrington Housing Association said: ‘We’re delighted Her Royal Highness is visiting the Gateway. In the short time the building has been open to the public, it has become a key resource for local people.” As Patron of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux the Princess will then tour Warrington CAB’s new premises within the Gateway, taking time to talk to staff and volunteers about the valuable services they provide.
District manager Steve Cullen said: “Our trustees, staff and volunteers are very excited about the visit and look forward to meeting Her Royal Highness.
The Princess has a very keen interest in the work of the CAB and the vital services that we provide for the local community”.
Princess Anne will also be visiting the Save the Children charity shop in Stockton Heath.
Residents’ anger over
“undrinkable” water
by John Hendon
ANGRY householders have slammed water bosses over the “totally undrinkable” supply they get from their taps.
Residents of the Locking Stumps area of Warrington say they are being forced to buy bottled water or use filters to make the supply useable.
They claim their complaints to United Utilities have been to no avail.
Residents’ spokesman Christopher O’Neill said: “The fluoride content of the water is really terrible. Our water is thick and white.”
“With all of the pipeline replacement that has been going on from metal to plastic, we seem to be feeling the bitter effects of this.”
The problems started in December. Engineers have responded to complaints by visiting the area and carrying out tests – but say the water quality is within the required standards.
But Mr O’Neill said: “It tastes awful, even to the point of making you feel sick. If you shower or bath in it leaves you feeling as though you’ve just come out of a swimming pool.”
“We are not getting the correct standard of water. Now that the control of water is out of government hands, quality and service seems to have disappeared completely.”
A spokesperson for United Utilities said: ?We have visited Mr O?Neill to check the water supply. We did discover that chlorine levels were slightly higher than normal.
?Some customers do notice slight increases in chlorine, but it is completely harmless and will disappear if the water is poured into a jug and left standing in the fridge.?
Speeding traffic – “a
relatively small issue”
by David Skentelbery
SPEEDING traffic on narrow, winding Lumb Brook Road, Appleton is a “relatively small issue,” according to highways chiefs.
Mark Tune, accident and road safety manager for Warrington Borough Council, attended a meeting of Appleton Parish Council to discuss various traffic issues.
But he said a seven day survey had shown that out of 11,000 vehicles, only 42 were travelling faster than 56 mph.
The average peak hour speed was only just above 40mph which indicated that the existing 40mph limit was the correct one, he told the council.
An earlier survey has show that out of 30,236 vehicles, 79 were travelling at 65-70mph and 64 were logged at more than 70mph.
Mr Tune said there would always be some drivers who ignored speed limits.
This happened everywhere and when one looked at the “bigger picture” Lumb Brook Road was a relatively small issue.
. Traffic calming was very expensive and, given the low accident rate, he would not expect the road to figure in any priority list.
But Mr Tune did put forward proposals to solve the problems of speeding traffic on the sharp bend at the junction of Lumb Brook Road with Dingle Lane at Wright’s Green.
Cars frequently leave the carriageway because of the speed they are travelling and endangering pedestrians walking at the side of the road.
Mr Tune suggested a number of flexible bollards which would spring back into position if struck by a car – but would probably leave a mark on the car.
Coun Brian Smith, who campaigned for years to get the 40mph speed limit on Lumb Brook Road, said he was encouraged by the bollard proposal. But he was disappointed traf
fic calming could not be considered.
“It is difficult to believe that only 42 cars were travelling faster than 56mph out of 11,000,” he said. “I’m sure I could count that many in a couple of hours.”
Coun Smith said he would continue to campaign for measures to slow traffic down.
Mystery of man
found dead
by staff reporter
POLICE at Warrington are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a man.
The man, in his mid-40s, was found dead at a house in Longford Street.
A post mortem operation has been carried out and police are awaiting the results to establish the cause of death.
Several people have been helping police with their enquiries.
MP urges people to
take hearing test
by Lesley Wilkinson
PEOPLE are being urged to take a five-minute hearing test over the telephone by a Warrington MP.
Helen Jones, MP for Warrington North, is backing the RNID (Royal National Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing) Breaking the Sound Barrier Campaign – which is supported by a host of celebrities including Cliff Richard, Eric Sykes and Alan Titchmarsh.
It aims to reach the four million people in the UK who are thought to have hearing difficulties, but are doing nothing about it. More than 180,000 people have already taken the hearing check.
The specially developed telephone hearing check, available by dialling 0845 600 55 55, features TV personality Eamon Holmes. It has been validated by audiology expert Professor Mark Lutman of Southampton University, and is supported by specialists throughout then country.
Helen said: “Most people don’t realise how important their hearing is until they start to lose it. I urge concerned people in Warrington to take RNID’s telephone hearing check.
“Hearing loss can lead to stress and difficulties in communicating, both at home and at work. Yet digital hearing technology can transform lives for the better and reconnect people back into society,” she added.
RNID’s chief executive Dr John Low said: “By the time we reach 50, over 40 per cent of us will experience some level of hearing loss, which happens naturally as we get older. But it can have a profound impact on our lives, leaving many of us feeling isolated.
“The hearing check will take just five minutes, putting you back in touch with friends, family and colleagues,” he added.
Recent Ipsos MORI research shows almost half of adults believe that embarrassment about not being able to hear prevents people with hearing difficulties discussing their problem with others, or having a hearing test.
RNID has been pursuing a long-term campaign to improve quality, access and take-up of effective hearing aids, and currently over half a million people have benefited from digital hearing aids available free on the NHS.
