Voting begins in most
crucial election for years
by David Skentelbery
VOTERS are going to the polls in Warrington today (Thursday) in what could be the most crucial council elections for years.
Labour ? who have controlled the borough council since the early 1980s ? could lose overall control if they lose just two seats.
If they lose around five seats, they would no longer be the largest party.
Both Labour and the Liberal Democrats are contesting all 19 seats at stake and the Conservatives will be fighting 18 seats.
There will be four Green candidates, one from the UK Independence Party and one from the Community Action Party ? the former Labour leader of the council Mike Hughes.
Local campaigner John Mulhall is also standing as an Independent.
At present, Labour hold 30 seats ? an overall majority of just three. The Liberal Democrats have 21 and the Tories six.
Labour are defending 10 seats, the Liberal Democrats seven and the Conservatives two.
Key seats for Labour are at Great Sankey South and Latchford East, where they have lost seats to the Liberal Democrats in recent years, and Rixton-and Woolston, where the Tories have made a gain.
The Fairfield and Howley contest promises to be an interesting one, with former Labour finance chief Paul Kenny bidding to hold the seat against a challenge from his uncle, the former Labour leader Mike Hughes who now represents the Community Action Party.
While the CAP have yet to make an impact in Warrington, they have made major inroads in the Labour stronghold of Wigan and are currently the second largest party on the borough council there.
Another ward to watch is Penketh, where solicitor Fiona Bruce who gained a seat for the Tories at the last election, is fighting to hold on in what for many years has been a Labour stronghold.
Other interesting names to figure in the lists are former borough council finance director Peter Carey, standing for Labour at Appleton, Paul Kennedy, who stood as an Independent in Warrington South at the last General Election, who is standing as a Tory at Appleton, and former Labour education chief David Keane, who was “deselected” by Labour but is now fighting for them again at Penketh and Cuerdley.
The full-line up is as follows.
Appleton: Peter Carey (Lab), Paul Kennedy (Cons), Judith Walker (Lib-Dem).
Bewsey and Whitecross: John MUlhall (Ind), Robert Timmis (Lib-Dem), William Woodyatt (Cons), Patricia Wright (Lab).
Birchwood: Jill Bolton (Lab), Phil Chadwick (Lib-Dem), Christine Rankin (Cons).
Culcheth and Glazebury: Constance Cummerson (Lib-Dem), Les Hoyle (Cons), Anthony McCarthy (Lab).
Fieldfield and Howley:Mike Hughes (CAP), William Jackson (Lib-Dem), Paul Kenny (Lab), Vida Lambert (Cons).
Grappenhall and Thelwall: Mike Biggin (Lib-Dem), Sonia Boggan (Cons), Christopher Bolton (Lab), Thomas Forster (Cons), Michael Jackson (Green), Wendy Johnson (Lib-Dem), Joanne Losh (Lab).
Great Sankey North: John Critchley (Cons), Stephanie Davies (Green), Les Street (Lab), Trudi Wood (Lib-Dem).
Great Sankey South:Kevin Bennett (Lab), Christine Pathmarajah (Cons), James Regan (Lib-Dem).
Latchford East: Julian Craddock (Cons), Lyndsey McAteer (Green), Edwin Sloane (Lib-Dem), Stephen Wright (Lab).
Latchford West: Gwyneth Craddock (Cons), Colin Grime (Lab), George Welborn (Lib-Dem).
Lymm: Philip Bachmayer (Con), Robert Barr (Lib-Dem), Chris Fitzsimmons (Lab), Kenneth Wilson (Green).
Penketh and Cuerdley: Fiona Bruce (Cons), David Keane (Lab), Alfred Roberts (Lib-Dem).
Poplars and Hulme: Joan Hall (Lib-Dem), John Kerr-Brown (Lab), Brian Lambert (Cons).
Poulton North: Mick Curran (Lab), Lilian Houghton (Cons), Scott Wilson (Lib-Dem).
Poulton South: Valerie Allen (Cons), Iona Gillis (Lib-Dem), John Kirkham (UKIP), Karen Mundry (Lab).
Rixton and Woolston: William Brinksman (Lab), Paul Campbell (Cons), Edgar Davies (Lib-Dem).
Westbrook: Peter Hamel (Lab), John Long (Lib-Dem), Stephen Pathmarajah (Cons).
Whittle Hall: Keith Gleave (Lib-Dem), Kelly Simcock (Lab).
New appeal for bus
sex attack witnesses
by David Skentelbery
POLICE have issued a new appeal for witnesses following an incident in which a 12-year-old school girl was indecently assaulted more than two months ago.
They have also issued a CCTV picture of the man who is alleged to assaulted the girl on a Warrington bus on the morning of Friday, February 10.
The girl, who was on her way to school, got on the bus at Callands with a friend and her sister. The man got on at the same stop.
He sat between the girls and then sat on the victim?s knee and indecently assaulted her.
Police are asking people if they recognise the man from the CCTV picture and, if so, to contact Warrington Police on 01925 652222.
Is village “soft target”
for car hijackers?
by John Hendon
CAR hijackers have struck at least five times in Culcheth, near Warrington in as many weeks.
In one case, a man who tried to intervene had a car driven at him and had to leap for his life.
Now villagers are wondering if car thieves believe Culcheth is a “soft target.”
One resident said: “Five similar car hijacking incidents in five weeks seems rather a lot for it to be a coincidence.”
In one case, a woman motorist was pushed aside by two thugs as she was posting a letter in the village.
The offenders drove off in her car and when a passerby tried to intervene they drove the car at him, forcing him to leap aside.
In another case, a car owner was busy in his garden when he saw a complete stranger get into his car. He jumped into the car with the thief but eventually “baled out” when the vehicle was driven off at speed.
Another motorist had his spare keys stolen and decided the easiest way to ensure his car was not stolen was to sell it!
A police spokesman said nationally there had been an increase in “car hijacking” as distinct from ordinary car theft.
This was believed to be because of improved car security devices.
He said: “It has become easier to steal a car when the owner is present than when it is locked and immobilised. It is particularly easy when motorists leave engines running, keys in the ignition or on view somewhere in the house.
“Our advice is not to leave cars unlocked even for a second, no matter how tempting it may be to do so.Do not leave cars keys on view anywhere – and be alert to the possibility of criminals approaching your car at traffic lights.
“Another trick is to bump you from behind at traffic lights.
When you get out to remonstrate the offenders jump into your car and make off in it.”
Schools’ chance to win
autographed cricket bat
by Lesley Wilkinson
SCHOOLS in Warrington have the opportunity to win a cricket bat signed by the England team in a national charity fundraisier.
Pupils have to raise a ?50 donation to enable their school to enter into the draw for the bat, signed by England captains Michael Vaughan and Freddie Flintoff and their team-mates.
The bat was given to six-years-old Connor Shaw, of Manchester, after the team heard he was treated for a heart condition at Alder Hey Hospital, Liverpool.
His family decided to donate the bat to raise funds for the hospital’s Imagine Appeal. The winning school can then use the bat for its own fundraising.
The deadline is Thursday May 11 and the draw will take place during England’s first Test Match, which is against Sri Lanka at Lord’s, May 11-15.
A chance to win dinner
date with beauty queen
by Lesley Wilkinson
A BEAUTY Queen is giving Warrington’s eligible bachelors the chance to win a candle-lit dinner date with her as a novel charity fundraising event.
Miss Warrington hopeful Brogan Backhouse, 17, a student, hopes to raise more than ?2,000 for Warrington Disability Partnership, who supported her family when her br
other died from a rare disabling disease called Reyes Syndrome.
Brogan, who is taking media studies at Warrington Collegiate, said: “My brother Nicholas lost his life to Reyes Syndrome and would have turned 21 this year.
“The charity gave my family lots of support, not just in what they did for him, but also with my dad who’s had a stroke. I want to give something back to them so they can continue the work they do,” she added.
Brogan, who will compete for the Miss Warrington title later this month, said: “I know the contest will be really good fun, I’ve met some lovely people and I’m proud to be competing. If I win I hope to use the title to boost awareness of the Disability Partnership.”
Eligible bachelors interested in winning a date with Brogan are asked to write to Rossiter Media, Warrington Business Park, Long Lane, Warrington, with details of what they are willing to donate to the charity and why they should be chosen.
The lucky winner will be invited to dinner at the Collegiate’s in-house restaurant.
New police chief for
town centre area
by staff reporter
INSPECTOR Alex Kane is the new man in charge of the Warrington Central Neighbourhood Policing Unit (NPU).
He takes over from Insp Damien Smethurst to lead a team of officers who make up the Community Action Team (CAT) and Investigation Team (IT) covering the town centre as well as Bewsey and Dallam, Fairfield, Howley, Orford and Whitecross.
Insp Kane said: “Having spent several years policing, not only in the town centre but in all other areas across the borough, I’ve built up an understanding of the problems affecting each neighbourhood.
?I’ve also got a good knowledge of the criminals who come to Warrington to commit offences.
“It’s this knowledge I will be sharing with my team to identify offenders and work pro-actively to reduce the number of anti social behaviour incidents occurring here in Warrington Central.” Inspector Kane is keen to increase the contact between the public and his PCs and PCSOs in conjunction with partner agencies so that local people get to know their local bobby and feel confident in approaching them with information.
Alex Kane joined Cheshire Constabulary in 1991 as a uniformed PC in Warrington having previously served four years in the London Metropolitan Police. In 1993 he became a Detective Constable – a role he performed for nine years before becoming a Crime Trainer for other detectives in 2002 based at police headquarters.
During his time as a DC he was awarded a Chief Constable’s Commendation for the investigation into a double murder at Latchford which resulted in a man from the south of England being convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
In June 2004 he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and was responsible for the Risley Community Action Team (CAT). Following the restructuring of the Force in April, 2005 he became a DS on the Warrington Central NPU Investigation Team (IT) and is now looking forward to leading the Warrington Central NPU in his current role as Acting Inspector.
Insp Smethurst has been promoted to the rank of Chief Inspector and is now responsible for training delivery in the Learning and Development department at Winsford HQ.
Thugs in raid
on betting shop
by John Hendon
TWO thugs got away with cash from a Warrington betting shop after threatening staff.
The men burst into the Bet Fred shop in Long Lane shortly before 9pm.
One man jumped over the counter and grabbed cash. Both then ran from the premises.
No-one was hurt but staff were left badly shocked.
Police said one of the men was aged in his early 20s, 5ft 9 inches tall and of medium build. He had blue eyes and cropped blonde hair and spoke with a Liverpool accent. He had a scarf over his lower face.
The second man was about 20-30 of medium build with brown hair. He was slightly smaller than the first man and was scruffy in appearance.
Anyone who witnessed the raid is asked to call PD David Walsh on 01244 613730.
