Police warning on
cash machine crime
by Terry Johnson
SNATCH thieves targeting cash machines and their customers at Warrington have prompted a police warning for people to be ?vigilant and aware?.
A device placed on a cash machine at Lloyds TSB Bank in Honiton Way, Penketh, was probably intended to trick customers into revealing card and PIN details.
The incident followed an attack on a customer drawing cash from a supermarket cash point in Chester. He was sprayed in the face with a substance and left traumatised.
Police say anybody using cash machines should be especially vigilant to people lurking in the immediate area.
Det Insp Giles Orton, of the Economic Crime Unit, said: “We are urging people to be aware of these incidents and be vigilant when using cash machines. Devices can vary in shape and size – if you notice anything abnormal on the machine, do not attempt to remove it. Inform other customers, walk away, and notify police, your bank or the premises where the cash machine is situated.”
As reported by Warrington-Worldwide last week, robbers tore out a cash machine in a night raid on the Spar shop in Fearnhead.
Four men smashed through shutters at 3.00am and snatched the machine before making off in stolen Mercedes and Citroen vehicles.
Family homeless
after house blaze
by David Skentelbery
A FAMILY was left homeless at Warrington when a house was completely destroyed by fire during the night.
The fire, at a council house in Grasmere Crescent, Orford, had been raging undetected for some time before neighbours raised the alarm.
Smoke alarms were sounding – but the family were out.
By the time firefighters reached the scene the whole of the ground floor and the first floor were ablaze.
Four fightfighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the smoke-filled house but were unable to save the contents from destruction.
A Fire Service spokesman said: “The fire had obviously been going for some time before it was discovered.”
The cause of the blaze is being investigated – but discarded smoking materials are suspected.
Street star Helen’s web
chat with young people
by Terry Johnson
CELEBRITY Helen Flanagan will be talking to young people about life on and off ?Coronation Street? in live Webchat backing the ?Talk…Don’t Walk? campaign on Tuesday, March 21.
The Warrington-led project provides a vital helpline for problem-torn teenage runaways.
Actress Helen will be in the chatroom at www.talkdon?twalk.org.uk between 6.00-7.00pm.
She made her first ?Corrie? appearance in January 2000. Her character, Rosie, became angry after her parents divorced and she ran away.
Her relationship with her mother continued to be unstable and in the current storyline Rosie is caught having underage sex with her boyfriend and forbidden from seeing him.
“Young people in the Warrington area will be able to relate easily”, said Helen.
She added: “I have a great relationship with my mum and can talk to her about most things, but I know I am really lucky.
?My character, Rosie, doesn’t have such a relationship and it is great that the Talk..Don’t Walk project doesn’t just help the runaway but works with the whole family to try to help them sort out their problems. If you or you know someone who is thinking about running away and they don’t have anyone to talk to, they should call Talk..Don’t Walk’s helpline or visit their website. There are lots of things that can go wrong if you run away from home.”
Det Con Alison McCausland, project manager, said: ?We want to encourage children and young people to share their concerns and problems before they run and to make them aware of the dangers they are putting themselves in.
?We are grateful that Helen is on board”.
Incinerator protestors
take to the streets
by Lesley Wilkinson
ANGRY protestors took to the streets of Warrington to object to plans for an incinerator yards from their homes.
The residents, who oppose plans for a medical waste incinerator and recycling centre at Athlone Rd, off the main A49 Winwick Rd, gathered in the town centre.
Plans have been refused by Warrington Borough Council. An appeal has been submitted and the case will now be determined by an independent inspector.
Coun Pat Wright, councillor for the area, has led the campaign against the plan.
She said: “There is strong opposition to any form of waste treatment plant on this site.
“The plant will have a detrimental effect on the quality of life of local residents. But it is not just local residents who are opposed, many people from across the town signed our petition because they know that Warrington already takes more than its fair share of waste with the large landfill sites across the town.”
An earlier proposal for a medical waste centre on land off Athlone Road was given planning consent after a successful appeal. But it was unable to proceed because the borough council would not sell land required for the development.
The new scheme requires less land ? and involves land in private ownership.
Students learn about
the nature of pain
by staff reporter
PRE-medical students at Warrington’s Priestley College were given a talk on the nature of pain by University of Central Lancashire senior lecturer, Shelia Ogden.
Just two years old, the college pre-medical course has had a striking increase in students planning a career in medicine.
Jan Costello, curriculum manager for science, said: “As part of the pre-medical course it is essential to give students access to the broadest amount of information on all related subjects.
“The group now have a grasp of the concepts of pain. They also know what it is like to be part of a University lecture”.
Council cleared over
gypsy caravan site
by David Skentelbery
WARRINGTON Borough Council has been cleared of maladministration over its decision to renew temporary planning consent for a controversial gypsy caravan site off Old Chester Road and Warrington Road, Walton.
A resident had complained that the council had unreasonably renewed the temporary consent and failed to take enforcement action on breaches of the existing consent, resulting in a loss of amenity.
But the Ombudsman found no evidence of maladministration.
The inspector who looked into the complaint said the Ombudsman could not question the merits of a decision without evidence of maladministration.
The complainant had been properly notified of the applications and the development control committee had been aware of his objections. The decision was made in full knowledge of all relevant facts and legislation ? and it was a decision a democratically elected body was entitled to make.
A Town Hall spokesman said the council had been able to demonstrate that the site had been adequately monitored.
Sites used by gypsies or travellers in the green belt were sensitive and emotive issues and would continue to require careful monitoring and exercise of planning controls.
