Councillors survive shock
“no confidence” vote
by Lesley Wilkinson
EIGHT parish councillors who supported the controversial proposal to demolish historic Stockton Heath Primary School, near Warrington, have survived a shock vote of no confidence in them.
The move ? at the annual parish meeting ? was defeated by six votes to four.
But all six votes against the no confidence votes were cast by members of the council.
The four who supported the resolution were all members of the public ? including former councillor Patrick Mullee, who resigned his seat over the issue.
Councillors were caught by surprise when the vote of no confidence was moved.
At first, chairman Maurice Leslie said a motion could not be moved from the floor.
But a check of the rule book by Coun Leslie and clerk Peter Briggs revealed the move was in order.
Councillors and residents could vote ? provided they lived within Stockton Heath.
The eight councillors named were Peter Walker, Maurice Leslie, June Daynes, Graham Roughsedge, Sheila Dean, Lynn Pester, Tudor Pole and Celia Jordan.
There were angry exchanges between public and councillors prior to the motion being put.
Coun Peter Walker said he regretted what was happening.
He said: “We live in democracy, people disagree and arguments take place where one group tries to persuade another of their view. I take the view that the children’s education outweighs the merits of a building.?
But Mr Mullee said more than 5,000 people had signed a petition favouring refurbishment of the existing building, rather than demolishing it and replacing it with a new one.
He said when the parish council refused to support the ?save the school? action group, residents had been forced to turn to Walton Parish Council for help and it had backed the campaign. Many local businesses also supported them.
The meeting was told that following the decision of the borough council?s development control committee to refuse to allow the demolition plan, education chiefs had approached the government seeking an extension of the time limit and additional funding to cover the extra costs of refurbishment.
They had also asked if the funding could be used on another site and had started a search for suitable land elsewhere.
But this was difficult as most of the pupils came from west of London Road where there was little vacant land.
Bus driver robbed
at knife-point
by David Skentelbery
POLICE are hunting for a man who robbed a bus driver at Warrington after threatening him with a knife.
The attack took place after the offender boarded the bus in the early evening at Stirrup Close, Fearnhead.
He threatened the driver with a knife, demanded money and grabbed a small amount of cash before leaving the bus and walking off in the direction of Crab Lane.
Police say he was aged about 17-18, 5ft 7 inches tall and had short, sandy coloured hair. He was wearing a black tee-shirt with a motif on it and also a large, gold coloured chain. He was wearing white trainers.
Anyone who can help police is asked to call PC Ian Allen on 01244 613845.
Police have also reissued an appeal for help in connection with a burglary at the Bargain Booze shop in Cawdor Street, Stockton Heath, Warrington on March 6.
The company has offered a reward for information leading to the conviction of the offenders ? two men in their early 20s who entered the shop, threatened the woman assistant with a handgun and took cash from the till.
One was about 6ft tall, of stocky build and wore a black balaclava while the other was about 5ft 8 inches tall, of slim build and wore a stocking mask.
Warning over “Number
One” lottery scam
by John Hendon
A LOTTERY scam is operating in Warrington – and residents are being warned by the borough council’s Trading Standards not to be caught out.
Trading Standards has received calls from residents who have received mailings stating that they have won the Spanish Lottery. In order to claim their prize, however, recipients are asked to pay a fee or give their bank account details – and no prize is ever forthcoming.
According to the Office of Fair Trading, this bogus lottery is now Britain’s number one con trick and those who have fallen for the con have lost as much as ?25,000.
Trading Standards is advising people not to enter any foreign sweepstake or lottery that asks for money in advance or for bank details.
A council spokesman said: ?Be suspicious – if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
?If you are unsure about a mailing you have received or for more information, contact Trading Standards for advice on 01925 442678.?
Cash prizes on offer
to council tenants
by staff reporter
HOUSING bosses offering cash prizes worth thousands of pounds to tenants across Warrington. Amongst the prizes on offer are regular cash prize draws worth more than ?4,000 per year, a gardening competition worth more than ?1,000, cashback for paying by Direct Debit, cash reward for people moving house, help for keeping estates and garden tidy and annual awards for customers who have made a positive contribution to their community. Golden Gates Housing ? the borough council?s housing arm ? is calling the scheme Golden Tenant Rewards. It is open to more than 9,000 homes across Warrington, though some elements have conditions, such as theneed for customers to keep a clear rent account. GGH chairman Doreen Moors said: “The scheme is our way of rewarding good customers and we are already looking at other things to add.” For more details, tenants can pick up a leaflet at any GGH office, telephone free on 0800 195 9 195, or look at the website www.goldengateshousing.org.uk
New regulations for
skips on roads
by staff reporter
SKIP firms across Warrington are now responsible for making sure their customers have the correct permits.
Fee for a permit is ?20 ? and householders will have to pay the fee to the skip company.
Currently, it is a requirement of the Highways Act for any skips placed on the road to have a skip permit and permission is granted by the borough council.
But after after corresponding with local skip firms, the council is now operating a system whereby skip hire companies are responsible for obtaining the permits on behalf of their customer.
The aim is to streamline the system, especially during the summer months when demand is high, making it easier for anyone hiring a skip as they only have to deal with the skip company. This will also enable the council to monitor cases of skips being placed on the highway illegally and arrange for their removal.
Members of the public should note that skips are not permitted if they are placed on the footpaths, verges or on the carriageway and are causing an obstruction and should be reported to the council’s customer care number 01925 442599.
Anyone using a skip must remember to make sure that it is adequately lit and coned as unlit skips are a danger to motorists, cyclists and pedestrians – and any unlit skips should be reported to the council immediately.
Further assistance can be obtained from the Highway Assets Team on 01925 442511/2605 ? and unlit or illegal skips can be also be reported to the team.
Two men arrested
after club raid
by staff reporter
SWIFT action by police in Warrington had led to the arrest of two men within hours of a burglary which took place in the early hours of the morning.
Officers from the Warrington Central Investigation Team (IT) made the arrests following a burglary at a social club in the Longford area of the town in which a quantity of alcohol was stolen. The officers were acting on information received from the public.
A 42-year-old man and a 35-yearold man both from Warrington, arrested on suspicio
n of burglary, are currently being interviewed.
A quantity of alcohol has also been recovered by police.
Last chance to see
Oakley exhibition
by John Hendon
ANYONE who hasn?t yet been to see the Peter Oakley exhibition at Warrington Museum has only until this Saturday to do so.
The exhibition of the Warrington artist?s painting and printmaking career comes to an end then, after attracting large numbers of local enthusiasts over the last month.
Gallery Four at the Museum is transformed into a resplendent space full of light, colour for the exhibition which is a celebration of Oakley?s 50 years of exhibiting, painting and printmaking.
It is the third in a series of events that the museum’s exhibition team has worked on together with Warrington Visual Artists Forum.
Shortly, the Museum will be staging an exhibition entitled ?Carved Earth Sculptural Ceramics? by Halima Cassell.
