Villagers lose battle
to block homes plan
by David Skentelbery
VILLAGERS have lost a battle to block plans for more than 40 homes ? some three storeys high ? on land adjoining the Manchester Ship Canal at Thelwall, near Warrington.
Planners have given the go-ahead for the development by Wainhomes North West on the former Thelwall Road Industrial Estate.
A similar proposal on the same site was refused permission earlier this year.
Grappenhall and Thelwall Parish Council had opposed the scheme and 11 nearby residents had also lodged objections.
They claimed the site would be overdeveloped and that the scale and design of the properties would set an unacceptable precedent for development of other parts of the industrial estate.
Existing properties would be overlooked, local roads would have to cope with more traffic and there would be a loss of light to nearby homes and gardens.
In particular there was opposition to an apartment block within the scheme providing ?affordable? homes.
Planning officers recommended the scheme be approved and pointed out that none of the three-storey dwellings would be close to existing homes.
The developer would be contributing 20 per cent towards the cost of a pedestrian crossing in Thelwall New Road and there would also be a new pavement along the site?s Thelwall New Road frontage.
A play area will be provided within the site.
Hospices say thanks
for community help
by Mark Hemmings
ST ROCCO?S Hospice and Claire House Children’s Hospice have said a big thank you to the people of Warrington.
A team of fundraisers from the Fearnhead Community Partnership and several Warrington residents? associations led by local parish councillor Mick Curran have successfully raised ?1200 – exceeding their original target of ?1000, meaning that not just one, but two charities will now benefit.
A charity football tournament raised the cash, with ?1000 donated to Claire House and the excess going to St Rocco’s.
Beth Eccles, Matron at St Rocco’s said: “These links with the community are priceless to us, and show how important the work of local groups are to the future of hospices around the country.”
Post Office to move
“round the corner”
by David Skentelbery
LYMM Post Office is to move to a new location – literally just round the corner.
It will move from the purpose-built post office building in Bridgewater Street to Harrison’s stationers in The Cross – probably in January.
A Post Office spokeswoman in Manchester said: “It is hoped the move will take place during January, but we do not have an exact date yet.
“We have to move because the building is not owned by the Post Office and the lease is about to expire.” Two years ago, planning permission was granted to convert the post office into a restaurant.
Earlier this year, Mike and Jackie Flack, who had run the post office for years, announced they were to retire. They said they had been trying to sell the post office business for five years, without success.
Post Office bosses said they were looking for other suitable premises in the village.
The Bridgewater Street office has remained open, run by a temporary sub-postmaster.
A question mark still hangs over the future of the sorting office at the rear of the premises, where 18 Royal Mail staff are employed.
The Post Office says Royal Mail have been searching for alternative premises for some time, as the present sorting office is not big enough. They are still searching – but there should be no affect on postal services in Lymm nor on the jobs of postal staff.
Parish councillors have expressed concern that the sorting office could be moved out Lymm – perhaps to Altrincham or to Warrington.
They fear such a move could result in a poorer postal service in the village.
Estate agents celebrate
double award boost
by staff reporter
INDEPENDENT estate agents Gascoigne Halman, with branches in Lymm and Stockton Heath, are celebrating after not only being nominated for a prestigious national award but also achieving the rare accolade of principal account status from one of the UK?s largest providers of specialist services to the lettings industry.
The company has been placed on a shortlist of four agencies in the running for the Cartus Cup, an annual presentation made by the Home Sale Network. The cup is awarded to the Home Sale Network member that has achieved the most outstanding results throughout year.
About 750 estate agents are involves in the award scheme.
The second boost was for Gascoigne Halman Lettings who have been recognised Homelet ? a leading provider of home insurance to landlords. The accolade of principal account status went to only 25 agencies out of more than 6,000 nationwide.
Councilllors will study
homes plan again
by John Hendon
A LONG-running planning battle over proposals for new homes on land adjoining the Methodist Church at Glazebury is due to come before councillors again on November 8.
The scheme involves a pair of semi-detached houses, three terraced houses and two garage buildings almost opposite the George and Dragon public house.
It has already been before the borough’s development control committee but was deferred to enable councillors to visit the site.
Outline permission for residential purposes was granted four years ago but a subsequent detailed plan for seven three storey dwellings was thrown out by the borough council and later rejected by a planning inspector because of their “damaging visual impact”.
The new proposal has been amended to try and meet previous objections – but Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council, Glazebury Methodist Church, the Rambler’s Association and 27 nearby residents are still opposing the scheme.
Four residents support the scheme however.
Objectors say the two semi-detached houses would still be of three storeys and would dominate the church and adjoining houses. They would also have a damaging impact on adjoining green belt land.
They claim only minor, “cosmetic” changes have been made from the earlier, rejected scheme and that too many houses are being squeezed onto the site.
Planning officers say the scheme overcomes the weaknesses of the earlier one, however and are recommending it be approved.
son attack on
empty house
by staff reporter
FIRE crews fought for three hours to control a blaze on an unoccupied house in Warrington Road, Penketh near Warrington.
The large detached house has been empty and boarded up for some time, but intruders forced their way in and started a number of fires in different parts of the property.
A Fire Service spokesman said: ?There were several seats of fire and although there was not much property in the house, most of what was there was destroyed.?
News in brief
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 5, 7, 8 and 11. One winner claimed the ?542 jackpot.
Sure Start
PLANS for a two-storey detached building at the Kalgarth Grange Day Nursery in Manchester Road, Paddington, Warrington, have been given the green light. It will be used for a Sure Start programme.
Classroom plan
GREAT Sankey High School has been granted planning consent for a single-storey modular class room building.
Speed limit
WARRINGTON Borough Council is proposing to make an order introducing a 30mph speed limit in Tan House Lane and Farmers Lane, Burtonwood, following concerns from local residents about the speed of vehicles using the road.
