Binmen’s dispute: more
strikes still possible
by David Skentelbery
THE dispute between Warrington Borough Council and its binmen is still on-going ? despite a planned two-day strike earlier this week being called-off at the last minute.
Talks have taken place between the authority and unions representing the men but, according to the unions, the gulf between the two sides remains as wide as ever.
Union bosses will be meeting early next week to consider what steps to take next. One possibility is a rolling programme of further stoppages.
It is understood the unions are also seeking binding arbitration through the North West Provincial Council.
The dispute is over Town Hall proposals to modernise environmental management services ? the department which employs the binmen, street sweepers, parks and cemeteries workers.
Council chiefs say the changes will benefit the majority of workers, with improved pay and conditions, but the unions say some workers would be ?50-a-week worse off.
Two weeks ago, a one-day stoppage took place, disrupting bin collection across parts of the borough. But a second strike, planned for Wednesday and Thursday this week, was called off.
The unions say this was to allow further talks with the council with a view to reaching a settlement. But the council says the majority of workers withdrew their support for the stoppage.
A council spokesman said: ?The strike action was suspended or postponed. But the dispute has not been settled and we are aware there could be further strikes?
Union chiefs fear the council wants to renegotiate contracts to make the refuse collection service more attractive for a take-over by a private contractor.
Theatre expert backs
Mr Smith’s campaign
by Mark Hemmings
AN EXPERT from the London-based Cinema Theatre Association has visited Mr Smith?s nightclub at Warrington to lend his support to the campaign to get it re-opened as a theatre.
Richard Gray arrived to inspect the building while on a visit to the North West.
He was also visiting the Stockport Plaza ? which re-opened as a theatre six years ago following a successful campaign to have it converted back from a bingo hall ? and another cinema-theatre in Shropshire.
Mr Gray said: “The Mr Smith?s building is certainly worth keeping intact, not just for historical reasons but because it is an architecturally sound building too.”
The club is up for sale, following the death of founder John Smith, and an action group has been set up to campaign for it to be converted back into a theatre.
It is supported by Warrington?s Mayor, Linda Dirir, Deputy Mayor, Celia Jordan, Euro MP Brian Simpson and former Warrington MP Lord Hoyle.
Representatives of various performing arts groups across the borough are involved in the campaign and Warrington Borough Council says it has ?an open mind? on the issue.
But the council has its own plan to revamp the Parr Hall at a cost of ?7 million ? and claims this would result in the hall becoming suitable for theatre use as well as concerts.
The Cinema Theatre Association was involved in the fight to save the Stockport Plaza.
Mr Gray visited Mr Smith?s in company with Seb Farrell, of Penketh, leader of the group campaigning to change the club back into a theatre and David Poole, from Culcheth, one of the volunteers who helped transform the Stockport theatre.
Masked gang raid
designer lingerie shop
by Terry Johnson
A MASKED gang smashed their way into a designer lingerie shop in Culcheth, near Warrington and cleaned out Christmas stock worth thousands of pounds.
The raiders struck within 24 hours of specialist Debonelle Lingerie taking delivery of 10 ranges of designer clothing.
The shop was trading into its second Christmas and is the only one in the North-West to stock lingerie from top French and British designers.
Stephanie Leonard, who with her mother, Patricia, manages the shop, said: “The raiders struck shortly after 6.00pm on Thursday. Three men, their faces covered by balaclavas, were seen to get out of a silver car.
“They cut their way through a metal fence and broke down the shop fire door. They snatched virtually everything – they even took the display rails.
“The shop had only closed at 5.00pm. It is a shock to be targeted like this. We have a lot of Christmas orders which we now need to re-supply. We are endeavouring to re-open the shop next Tuesday, with new lines”.
Stephanie added: “I am appealing to anyone who may have seen this gang loading up or shortly before/after the robbery to contact the police”.
Items stolen included Freya and Fayre Form lines, including French designer bras priced ?84 and swimwear.
Homes scheme thrown
out a second time
by David Skentelbery
PLANNING chiefs have thrown out controversial plans for new homes on land adjoining the Methodist Church at Glazebury ? for a second time.
The scheme ? which had been recommended for approval by officers – involved a pair of semi-detached houses, three terraced houses and two garage buildings almost opposite the George and Dragon public house.
Outline permission for housing on the site 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 its “damaging visual impact”.
New plans were drawn up to try and meet the earlier objections – but Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council, Glazebury Methodist Church, the Rambler’s Association and 27 nearby residents are still opposed the scheme.
Objectors claimed 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 claimed changes made to the earlier, rejected scheme were only ?cosmetic? and that too many houses are being squeezed onto the site.
Adopt a ferret –
to help the zoo
by Mark Hemmings
ADOPT a ferret ? that?s the latest money-raising scheme dreamed up at the children?s zoo at Warrington?s Walton Hall Gardens.
Five furry friends ? named Cassidy, Ethan, Pod, Lennon and Carson ? are waiting for new ?parents?. They are all 18 months old and have spent a year at the zoo.
The Friends of Walton Estate have been offering animals for adoption for three years and keep receiving requests for more animals to be included in the scheme.
The ferrets are the latest to be included.
Adoption costs ?12 a year. In return, ?parents? have their name displayed on the adopters’ board at the zoo, have a photograph of their new pet and receive a birthday card each year.
A fact-pack, key ring, certificate and invitations to special adopters’ events at the zoo are also included.
Money raised from past adoptions has paid for improvements to security including the ornamental entrance gates, which were officially opened last year.
Coun Graham Welborn, the borough council executive member for Safer and Greener Communities, said: “The Children’s Zoo at Walton Hall Gardens is a great day out for families and the adoptions have proved very popular with visitors. The scheme is a wonderful way of sustaining the attraction and its improvements.”
More information on the adoption scheme is available on 01925 261957.
Discussing the
meaning of life
by Mark Hemmings
A 10-week course discussing the meaning of life and introducing the basics of the Christian faith is to be run at Birchwood Park, Warrington in January.
The Express Alpha course has been completed by two million people in the UK alone and is run in tens of thousands of churches around the world across all denominations.
It is estimated that around eight million people worldwide have completed the course.
The free course is open to anyone although is ai
med specifically at people working in the area and also provides an opportunity to meet people from neighbouring businesses.
It consists of a short talk or video presentation lasting around 30 minutes followed by a 30 minute discussion on the issues raised in the talk or video.
Organiser Gemma Hennings said: “The course discussions provide an opportunity to express individual opinions and ask questions without judgement, and confidentiality is maintained.
“Express Alpha is aimed at all types of people – people who would just like to know what Christianity is all about without any involvement in a church, people who have recently started to going to church and would like to learn about the basics of Christianity, or people who have been going to church for a long time and would just like a refresher course”.
Anyone who would like to attend, or to volunteer to help on the course should contact Gemma Hennings on 07734 739 234 or email [email protected]
