The true spirit
of Christmas!
by Gary Skentelbery
CHRISTMAS could be cancelled in a Warrington village after “Grinch like” licensing chiefs slashed the number of nights they would authorise street collections for the annual Rotary Club Santa float.
Members of Lymm Rotary Club, who have been bringing joy to children in the village for more than 30 years with their Christmas float, have been told they will have to reduce the number of collection nights from 17 to eight – three of which are unavailable to the club.
Without consulting the club, who applied for the licence in September, Warrington Borough Council licensing officers decided to split the licence with Warrington Brass Band, who have also requested a collection.
Now council leader Ian Marks, who lives in Lymm and remembers the enjoyment the Rotary float brought to his own children, has stepped in to try and resolve the problem with a “common sense approach.”
He said: “I am very angry about this because there was no consultation. It would have been quite easy to talk with the organisations involved and come to an amicable agreement.”
He has been backed up by fellow local councillor Sheila Woodyatt who is also seeking an amicable solution.
“I am sure the float could continue as planned – it just means the Rotarians will not be able to ask for money. But they could still accept donations!”
Rotary Club secretary John Beard said members were devastated by the news after being told they could only have eight collection nights, instead of the usual 17. One of these was on the same night as the club’s annual Christmas party, and the others were on non collection nights of Friday and Sunday.
“We have already advertised our collection nights and a lot of children will be left disappointed. We obviously don’t want to break any licensing laws but there must be some way around the problem.
“This is our biggest fundraiser of the year and always brings in over ?4,000 for local good causes. It helps pay for our annual old folks party in February, which we would not be able to organise without sufficient funds.” Three years ago members of the club considered stopping their float after Santa had eggs thrown at him by local youths in the village centre – but after much heart searching they decided to press on rather than allow the minority spoil the enjoyment of many.
High school pupils share
South Africa experiences
by Mark Hemmings
PUPILS from Lymm High School spent their summer holidays meeting and working with pupils in South Africa shared their experiences with local primary school children at a conference in Lymm.
They showed the youngsters a DVD made during their visit ? and organised a number of workshops to explain the advantages of twinning arrangements between schools.
The conference at the Statham Lodge Hotel was organised by AfriTwin, the charity founded by South African-born Jayne Martin, who now lives at High Legh, which ?twins? schools in this country with disadvantaged schools in South Africa.
Lymm High has been twinned with a school in the African township of Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape since 2002 ? and believes there are benefits for both schools.
A spokesman for the school said: “Our aim in joining the AfriTwin scheme four years ago was to ensure that our students are educated as global citizens not just to pass their exams.
“We are keen to promote AfriTwin to local primary schools too so that children as young as four or five can begin to experience global citizenship for themselves.
“Next year we would really love to see primary schools in Lymm taking part in this life changing trip.”
Twenty two High School pupils met with primary school youngsters at the conference.
Rebecca Overton, 18 said: “This was a totally perspective altering experience for me – to make friends on the other side of the world, with who I am in regular contact with, and which I hope will be a long and lasting friendship.”
Marie-Claire Oziem, 18, added: “The trip had a big impact on me and has influenced my decision on which university course I intend to choose.?
Jayne Martin said: “Our partnership with Lymm has enriched the life experience of all the students and staff involved with us.
“The project has allowed both schools to understand, respect and celebrate the cultural differences and similarities between them.”
Pictured are Rebecca Overton (left) and Marie-Claire Oziem, two of the Lymm High School party which visited South Africa.
Good Samaritan
motorist robbed
by David Skentelbery
A MOTORIST who stopped to help a man he believed was in difficulties at Warrington was threatened with a knife and robbed.
The incident was in Sandy Lane, near its junction with St Stephen’s Avenue at Orford.
A 23-year-man was driving along Sandy Lane when he saw a man, in his 20s, attempting to stop cars and carrying a set of jump leads.
The motorist stopped and let the man into his car – only to be threatened with a knife. The offender demanded cash and then made off.
Police are appealing for witnesses of the incident or who saw the man carrying jump leads in the area on the evening of November 10.
Anyone who can help should call DC Helen Ratcliffe on 01244 613835.
End of the road for
community bus
by staff reporter
A COMMUNITY bus which has taken elderly people on shopping trips twice a week for the last four years is making its last run today (Friday).
The 14-year-old bus will not get through its MOT, has mechanical problems and needs new seat belts so members of the Latchford West Community Forum have decided to take it off the road.
John Taylor, chairman of the Forum said: ?I?m afraid it is not viable for us to spend money on the bus now.
?We hope to get another bus in the New Year, but in the meantime we will have to suspend our service. We do apologise to all our clients.?
Passengers have never been charged fares to use the bus, although donations have always been accepted. But it would take several thousand pounds to keep the old bus going.
In addition to the twice weekly shopping trips, it has been used for taking pensioners to whist drives, bingo sessions and other trips.
Mr Taylor added: ?The bus will be sorely missed by people who find it difficult to get out and about, but we hope to get another bus soon. We will probably have to seek help from local businesses.
300 illegal adverts
removed by council
by staff reporter
MORE than 300 unauthorised advertisements have been removed across Warrington following a crackdown by council enforcement officers.
Some were taken down following negotiation, but others by direct action by officers.
A significant proportion were attached to street furniture or within the highway and could have posed a road safety hazard.
Initially, the town centre and inner areas of the borough were targeted as a reflection of corporation objectives for environmental improvements in those areas. But the work is now spreading across the borough.
The development control enforcement service also dealt with 280 complaints of alleged breaches of regulations over the last seven months.
After full investigation, 102 cases were found not to be breaches and no further action was necessary. Of the 178 cases which were breaches, 129 were resolved ? 98 per cent of them through negotiation.
Four enforcement notices were served.
MP welcomes new
banking system
by John Hendon
WARRINGTON South MP Helen Southworth has welcomed a new system of banking which will allow consumers to make and receive payments more quickly and will speed up the cheque–clearing process.
The plans, approved by the Government and hailed by consumer groups, will come into force next year, and will mean that the time it takes to make a payment over the internet, phone or
by standing order will fall from three days to a matter of hours, with new time limits for the cheque clearing process meaning that interest will be paid after no more than 2 working days.
In addition, customers will have to wait no more than four working days before they can withdraw against cheques paid in.
Mrs Southworth said: “This is good news for bank customers and businesses here in Warrington who will benefit from almost instant electronic payments and much greater certainty when paying in cheques – these changes will make managing your finances much simpler.
?Increasingly we rely on electronic banking, and we should be getting all the benefits – including having prompt access to our own money instead of unnecessary delays. These changes will soon be in place to make sending and receiving funds easier and safer.”
Petrol station
to be demolished?
by staff reporter
PLANS have been submitted for the demolition of a town centre petrol station at Warrington ? And erection of flats on the site.
The Crosfield Filling Station, in Crosfield Street would make way for a block of 19 flats with underground parking if planners give approval.
Its demolition would result in the number of petrol stations ? other than those at supermarkets ? near the town centre being reduced to less than half-a-dozen.
News in brief
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 3, 6, 9 and 13. One winner claimed the ?509 jackpot prize.
Cafe plan
PLANS for a static catering unit to be used as a cafe at the Stretton Green Distribution Centre, Langford Way, Appleton, have been submitted to Warrington’s planning department.
Driving ban
A TEMPORARY prohibition of driving will come into force from Monday, December 11 in Birchdale Road, Stockton Heath, while maintenance work is carried out on the existing sewer. It is expected the work should be completed within five days.
Restaurant refusal
A PLAN to change the use of a shop in Walton Road, Stockton Heath, Warrington into a wine bar and restaurant have been rejected by borough planners.
