Soldier on strategic
mission to Iraq
by Terry Johnson
A WARRINGTON soldier will be among more than 120 members of the Territorial Army heading to Iraq next month on a special strategic mission.
TA soldier Pte David McGarrity leaves Warrington on a mission to guard the Basra airbase in Iraq.
David, 20, from Birchwood, trains at the Warrington TA Centre, O’Leary Street.
The Basra airbase handles military flights within the Middle East and is also the hub of airlifts from the UK.
David will be on a six-month guarding tour with 120 comrades from the North West’s two TA infantry units.
He said: “I want to go for the experience – I jumped at the opportunity to go.”
The force protection company – known as Normandy Company – includes a former British judo champion, postmen, students, police officers, bar staff, a pie delivery man, builders, a chef, wine shop manager and legal executive.
Former Boteler High pupil Brian has been working as a labourer.
His brother, Michael, 21, also serves in the King’s and Cheshire Regiment.
Children celebrate the
creation of new wood
by Terry Johnson
SCHOOLCHILDREN are celebrating their creation of a community woodland, which is to become a ?textbook? for environmental studies.
Seven years of effort by hundreds of primary and high school children have regenerated a straggling area of trees in Westbrook, Warrington.
The pupils set to work with passion – planting 1,500 extra trees, 30,000 daffodil bulbs, 4,000 bluebells, as well as swathes of winter aconite and wood celendine.
The school-kids fulfilled the dream of pensioner Brenda Bradley, 64, to save the land from development and provide a ?recreation lung? and study area.
They presented their project for ?Our Wood? to business leaders and community groups, who pledged ?60,000 support.
Now the woodland, on the former Burtonwood Airbase, is to be opened to the public by Granada TV’s Fred Talbot on June 28.
Said visionary Brenda, chairman of Great Sankey North Residents’ Association: “Seven years of effort by local primary schools, high school, scout and guide groups and other community interests have made this woodland dream a reality.
“Schoolchildren have shown great commitment to ?Our Wood?. They presented the scheme to businesses, including Fiddler’s Ferry and United Utilities, and obtained community project grants.
“Our first hurdle was to get a proposed electricity sub-station the size of a five-bedroomed house moved elsewhere. Its original site would have destroyed the existing woodland area.
“Home-building is gobbling up the former airbase land. The community effort to preserve this site means that present and future generations can enjoy the peace of a woodland walk and the splendour of springtime bulbs.”
Local schools are now to use ?Our Wood? as part of their teaching curriculum.
Council opposes
police merger
by Lesley Wilkinson
CONCERNS that Stockton Heath may suffer if proposals to merge Cheshire and Merseyside police forces go ahead were expressed by the parish council.
The Home Secretary is planning to merge the two forces from April next year, as part of a national review of policing.
The parish council is writing to the Home Secretary, Police Authority and local MPs, objecting to the move.
Members are concerned that Cheshire police’s rate precept is lower than Merseyside’s and this could result in extra costs for local people.
They feel a remote larger authority would be less able to understand the needs of a village and that Stockton Heath would be less of a priority than it is with Cheshire.
Coun Peter Walker said: “The Home Secretary has said he is going to do it, come what may.”
Painful fundraiser!
by Gary Skentelbery
KIND-HEARTED Colin Mairs from Bunzl Cleaning and Hygiene Supplies, Woolston, went through the pain barrier when receiving a full body wax and head shave to raise money for local charity Warrington Disability Partnership.
Thanks to sponsorship which was matched by the company Colin raised nearly ?800 towards WDP’s appeal for a ?12,000 re-fit of the wheelchair accessible narrow boat ‘Wizard’.
Under the professional care of Beauty Therapists Kelly Chorley and Leigh Allen at JLJ Hair Company, Manchester Road, Colin survived an hour’s waxing to raise the money for the Wizard appeal.
Jon Menzies, WDP’s Fundraiser said: “Colin has gone above and beyond the call of duty to help raise money for the Wizard re-fit and we would like to thank him and also Bunzl for matching the money raised.”
If anyone else would like to help WDP with the Wizard re-fit appeal please call 01925 240064.
New property
bidding service
by Terry Johnson
WARRINGTON tenants of Golden Gates Housing are to get a 24-hour bidding service for lettings and call-free access to housing/rents enquiries.
From April 24, a new automated ‘phone service will be launched. This will enable Choice Based Lettings customers to bid for homes any time of the day or night.
They can ‘phone free on 0800-648000: mobiles should ring 01925-430159.
Customers with housing enquiries can call free on 0800-252627. This number includes repairs and rents issues.
The service operates between 8.00am-6.30pm: mobile users should ring 01925-443535.
Motor cyclist “critical”
after collision with car
by David Skentelbery
A MOTOR cyclist was taken to hospital at Warrington in a “critical” condition after his machine was in collision with a car on the A56 at Lower Walton.
The crash occurred in Walton New Road at its junction with Hillcliffe Road.
A silver Ford Ranger 4×4 was in collision with a Triumph Daytona motor cyclist.
The motor cyclist was thrown from his machine and taken to hospital by ambulance.
Police sealed off the road for four hours while accident investigations went on
Witnesses or anyone who has any information about the crash is asked to call police on 01244 613813.
Fashion fund-raiser
by John Hendon
Models will take to the catwalk in Warrington on April 27 to give a funding boost to the Mayor’s adopted charities – the Butterfly Project NCH and Home-Start Warrington.
A wide variety of clothes displayed at the fashion event in Alford Hall, Manchester Road, will be for sale.
There will also be a raffle, with a luxury bath set and trolley suitcase prizes.
Tickets to the show, which starts 7.45pm, are ?3. They are available from Janet Peake, 01925-442130.
Grey skills
rewarded
by Terry Johnson
“GREY skills” have won an Age Positive award for Coca Cola Enterprises, which has a regional sales and service vending base in Warrington.
The soft drinks bottling company is recognised as an ‘Employer Champion’ ahead of Age Positive Week(May 8-12).
The Department of Work and Pensions’ campaign aims to raise awareness of workplace age discrimination and promote the business benefits of age diversity in work.
CCE believes its diverse worker mix has achieved a stable and outstanding working environment and culture.
Council to consider
design statement
by staff reporter
A MOVE to prepare a village design statement, to influence development and help protect the character of the area, is to be considered by Stockton Heath Parish Council.
A resident suggested the area should have a document laying out future design for the parish.
Members agreed to consider the option.
Chairman Coun Maurice Leslie said he would invite a representative of Lymm Parish Council, which has already drawn up a design statement, to address the meeting.
