Murder hunt after
woman found stabbed
by David Skentelbery
POLICE launched a murder hunt at Warrington today after a woman was found stabbed to death.
A 22-year-old woman was discovered by paramedics at a house in Whittlewood Close, Birchwood in the early hours of this morning.
She was rushed to hospital but was found to be dead on arrival.
Police sealed off the area and are searching for a 31-year-old local man, Barry John Stone. He is believed to be her ex-partner.
It is understood there was an incident at a nearby pub shortly before the woman was stabbed.
Emergency services were told of a disturbance at the pub.
Afterwards, the woman was thought to be returning to the house in Whittlewood Close.
Police say Stone was last seen on the A49 at Warrington, near McDonald’s. They have issued a picture of him and warned members of the public not to approach him.
Anyone with information about the incident, or the whereabouts of Stone, is asked to call police on 0845 458 0000.
Closed lid policy
for bins a “success”
by David Skentelbery
WARRINGTON?S controversial ?closed lid? policy for bins, which caused a storm of protest across the borough when introduced, has been judged a success ? by the woman who introduced it.
Head of environmental management Paula Darlington says the successful campaign was introduced without the need to issue a single fixed penalty notice for depositing waste at the side of a bin.
Only a small number of Section 46 notices were posted under the Environment Protection Act.
Ms Darlington refers to the policy in a report to the borough council?s sustainable environment regeneration overview and scrutiny committee on the work of her department?s recently established enforcement unit.
The closed lid policy ? under which refuse collectors were instructed not to collect waste left at the side of bins and not to empty bins if the line was not properly closed ? was the first high profile task the five-strong team was instructed to target.
Although the team have all undergone an intensive training programme it is not yet fully operation in all aspects of the Clean Neighbourhoods Act (CNA).
Ms Darlington says if the enforcement unit is to achieve a reduction of environmental crime, several systems, databases and appropriate policies need to be in place.
If used correctly, the CNA will ensure prosecutions in court are successful and the issuing of fixed penalty notices will be upheld if challenged.
The team is currently concentrating on commercial or trade waste generated by retail outlets, visiting each outlet to check they have a current trade waste agreement. Aim of the exercise is to minimise illegal dumping of commercial waste across the borough.
Since July, the team have carried out 86 investigations, including a very successful exercise in partnership with the DVLA to remove nuisance vehicles from the highway.
By November, the team will start an educational awareness campaign targeting littering offences by members of the public, leading eventually to fixed penalty notices being issued to offenders.
Although the ?closed lid? policy has produced no recognisable income, a reduction in the amount of waste deposited on landfill sites will result in a saving for the council.
?The enforcement unit will be a great asset to the borough in combating environmental crime,? said Ms Darlington.
Garden party to celebrate
a home’s 100th “birthday”
by John Hendon
GLAZEBURY residents Peter and Delia Caswell turned back the clock 100 years when they held a garden party at their home, Lea Hurst, on Hurst Mill Lane.
The event marked the centenary of their house, which was built by Delia’s grandfather and took place 100 years to the day after an earlier party he had held to celebrate the naming of the house.
Villagers, many dressed in Edwardian costume, attended the event which was, as far as possible, a recreation of the original party.
Glazebury Male Voice Choir and a brass band provided musical entertainment and guests were served strawberry teas.
Among those attending was Barbara Glover, granddaughter of the architect who designed the house.
The garden party raised funds for Glazebury Methodist Church’s Phakamisa Project, which raises money for orphaned children and their carers in South Africa.
Hospital denies use of
“stolen” body parts
by David Skentelbery
WARRINGTON Hospital has not used body parts allegedly stolen in the United States – despite being included in a list of UK hospitals believed to have received the bone graft tissue.
A spokesman for North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust said: “We have not ordered anything from the companies involved since 2003 and have not received anything recently from them.
“There is no possibility of any of the tissue involved being used at Warrington.
More than 40 British patients are believed to have been implanted with tissue from allegedly stolen body parts, according to the BBC, who obtained the information using the Freedom of Information Act.
The bone graft tissue is used as a filler in orthopaedic surgery such as hip replacements and jaw construction.
A US company is alleged to have exported body parts taken without relatives’ permission.
More than 1,000 body parts were reportedly plundered by gangs in New York and then sold for transplants.
It was originally thought 77 parts had been sent to the UK, but this has now been increased it 82.
The body parts were distributed in this country by a British company. There is no suggestion the body parts were infected in any way. Risks are said to be “negligible” because of stringent testing in this country.
Wanted: actors with
the “scare factor”
by staff reporter
ACTORS with the ?scare factor? are being recruited ? to help scare the living daylights out of visitors to a Warrington farm.
Auditions were taking place at Apple Jacks Farm, Stretton today (Tuesday) for actors to take part in ?Spooky World? ? a Halloween festival running from October 14-31 at the farm.
Farmer David Fryer said: “During October we will be hosting a unique festival to celebrate Halloween.
“We are looking for at least three actors to take part in the event. Ideally we would like an older man to read ghost stories around the campfire and then two other actors who will scare and frighten visitors.”
Attractions at Spooky World include the Haunted Hayride, Field of Screams, Haunted House, Pumpkin Carving, Ghost Stories and Halloween Fancy Dress Parades.
Coronation Street star
backs local charity
by staff reporter
CORONATION Street star Helen Flanagan is backing a Warrington charity which has saved police ?1 million by preventing children from running away from home.
Helen – whose character Rosie Webster is involved in a running away from home story line – is supporting the Talk…Don’t Walk campaign run by Warrington-based The Relationships Centre.
She said: “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.”
Talk…Don’t Walk provides support, advice and information to young people who have or who are thinking about running away from home.
Cheshire Police say the campaign has saved them more than ?1 million over the last two years – the cost of the time they would have had to spend searching for runaways and retur
ning them to their families.
Det Cons Alison McCausland – who is also the Talk…Don’t Walk 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 as I’m sure many can identify with her character.”
Hospital delivery
workers on strike
by staff reporter
A SECOND 24-hour strike by NHS delivery workers is taking place today (Tuesday).
Hundreds of workers are involved in the stoppage ? which follows a similar one last week.
Staff who work for supply agency NHS Logistics are angry that their jobs will be privatised when the agency is handed over to a German transport company next month.
Last week?s strike had no impact on Warrington Hospital, according to North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust ? despite fears the walking might leave hospitals and GPs short of equipment. But union chiefs say today?s action could have accumulative effects.
The union has agreed emergency plans to cover life-saving equipment during the strikes.
