All-women cab firm
goes into administration
by David Skentelbery
PINK Ladies, the innovative all-women cab company launched at Warrington last year, has gone into administration.
But the distinctive, pink cabs are still operating in Warrington, due to a restructuring of the business and founder Andrea Winders says the firm ?continues to expand.?
The company has been involved in talks with transport minister Dr Stephen Ladyman at Westminister over a change in the law which could threaten to put them out of business.
The Road Safety Bill lays down that taxi operations like Pink Ladies ? which style themselves as a members? club ? should be licensed like any other taxi or private hire company.
Warrington Borough Council and other local authorities are concerned about issues such as public liability insurance and criminal record checks on drivers.
Pink Ladies argue that because they are a private members? club they do not need to be licensed.
Other taxi firms have been angered over the situation ? but the Warrington firm is also facing problems from people who have bought ?Pink Ladies? franchises in other parts of the country.
Two franchises, in London and Carlisle, have ceased trading. A number of others have not even started.
Businessman John Ottaway claims to have purchased the Hull area franchise for ?22,000 only to discover that the business plan was flawed.
He said: ?Recently the London and Carlisle franchised branches have ceased trading after only trading for a few months and suffering unsustainable losses.
?I never even commenced trading.
?Myself and the London and Carlisle franchisees all had law suits lined up against Pink Ladies Ltd. On November 1, my solicitor served 14 days notice for repayment of the franchise fee or we would commence proceedings without further notice.
?Five days later on November 6 Pink Ladies Ltd went into Receivership.?
Mr Ottaway said he and the former London franchisee were approaching the administrator with a view to buying what remained of Pink Ladies? assets and trying to salvage the jobs of their employees?
But Andrea Winders said: ?Pink Ladies has re-structured its business, without any interruption to services for members or inconvenience for staff.
?The closure of the Carlisle and London offices involved issues outside the control of Pink Ladies Warrington.
?Pink Ladies continues to expand while upholding the high standards of service provided, and plans to keep looking for better ways that Pink Ladies can work with members and staff.?
Students to work
with needy orphans
by staff reporter
A PARTY of 20 students from Warrington’s Priestley College is to travel to Romania next year to work among deprived and often uncared for orphans.
They will spend 10 days in Bucharest in July on what is likely to be an eye-oipening experience and which, for many, will be their first chance to see what life is like outside the UK.
Among the students will be class-mates Suzanne Rhodes, Kayleigh Livesey, Camilla Brown and Amie Barnes who are all anxious to “make a difference” to enrich the lives of children who have lacked care in the past.
The quartet of teenagers all started their courses relating to Child Care and Health and Social Care this year and became friends having met in the same tutor group.
Each student needs to raise ?670 to take part in the trip and the group are coming up with a range of fun filled exercises in order to raise the cash including a pyjama party, a drama day and the sale of football cards.
It will be the first time that Priestley has visited Romania and the trip will allow students to gain work experience in a field many are planning to pursue careers in. But similar trips have been made to Prague in the Czech Republic.
Student Suzanne Rhodes said: ?I think our voluntary roles within the orphanage will be a great experience all round and will probably be a big shock for most of us.
?Although we are on placements in nurseries in Warrington, I?m sure the conditions we are going to encounter in Romania, will be a different world.?
University pyjama party
FUNDRAISERS at the Warrington campus of the University of Chester staged a pyjama party in aid of Children in Need.
Babies and toddlers at the campus nursery joined in the fundraising antics and parents donated ?1 each.
Nursery manager Kerry Bewley said: “The day went really well. We managed to raise ?35. Both staff and children enjoyed themselves – there was a real party atmosphere.”
Altogether, the university collected almost ?1000 for disadvantaged youngsters with a wide range of activities.
40 firefighters
tackle blaze
by John Hendon
FIRE crews were called to a warehouse blaze off Langford Way, Appleton Thorn near Warrington.
Up to eight fire engines and around 40 firefighters were involved in the operation at the peak of the blaze ? plus an aerial appliance.
The fire involved a building approximately 75 metres by 50 metres and crews began attacking the fire using two main jets and two covering jets and using six breathing apparatus sets. A high volume pumping unit was called for in case additional water supplies were needed.
But crews were able to get the blaze under control and the number of pumps was reduced in phases.
The cause of the fire is being investigated.
An exhibition to
stimulate curiosity
by Mark Hemmings
A NEW free exhibition will stimulate everybody’s curiosity at Warrington Museum when it opens on December 9.
“Natural Curiosity” explores all themes of natural history, dating from the times of pioneering Victorian explorers and their groundbreaking discoveries to the latest research and modern preservation of the natural world.
The exhibition similarly delves into the very pertinent matters of endangered species and habitats and encourages visitors to play a part in preserving and educating themselves and each other about it.
Visitors will be encouraged to fondle some fossils and other exciting items from the handling collections or classify different species of bugs, animals and lots of other creepy crawlies.
A section of the exhibition focuses upon the part played by Warrington Museum in shaping early stages of natural history.
The museum was formed in 1848 when Warrington’s Natural History Society was formed and collected and contributed to the vast and varied collection at the museum today.
Among its members were William Wilson, John and Anna Blackburne and P.P Carpenter – all naturalists of the 18th century well known outside of the town.
Principal museum manager Janice Hayes said: “Working with The National History Museum in London has made us realise just how important Warrington Museum’s natural history collections are.
“Everyone who has worked on Natural Curiosity hopes that it will encourage our visitors to come and be nature detectives themselves.”
Coun Roy Smith, the borough council?s executive member for Community Services said: “This exhibition gives everybody a wonderful chance to see a unique aspect of Warrington’s history. I do hope that everyone will take advantage of it come along to see it.”
Local group joins
national coalition
by John Hendon
WARRINGTON-based project Talk..Don’t Walk, which provides support to young runaways and their families, has become a founder member of the UK Coalition on Runaways.
The coalition was formally formed in October with Alison McCausland, project manager, Talk..Don’t Walk and Pam Arnold, director of services at The Relationships Centre representing the Warrington community, along with Helen Southworth MP for Warrington South.
The MP?s “10 minute rule” bill regarding protection for children who run away or go missing from home, was an important milestone in forming the coalition.
The bill’s main purpose
is to establish a simple co-ordinating mechanism to identify and implement best practice, monitor what is happening and make sure that it works. The UK Coalition on Runaways will work with smaller charities such as The Relationships Centre, larger voluntary organisations and Government to establishment a national strategy, safeguard runaways and missing children and provide for the collection and reporting of information about runaway and missing children.
Ms McCausland said: “With around 100,000 children running away each year, we are pleased to report that Talk..Don’t Walk has already successfully reduced the number of runaways within Warrington by 37 per cent.
Home extension
turned down
by staff reporter
PLANNERS have for a second time refused proposals to extend a semi detached house at the corner of Pepper Street and Fairfield Road, Lymm.
Warrington’s development control committee decided the proposed single storey front and part two/part single storey side extension would damage the street scene because of inappropriate design, scale and proportions.
A planning department spokesman said: “This property is situated in a prominent corner position with an established residential area. The two-storey element is an incongruous feature that does not relate well with the original dwelling and has a detrimental impact on the surrounding street scene.”
An earlier scheme was turned down last June.
Clean Team’s
first birthday
by staff reporter
THE Warrington Clean Team celebrates its first birthday on Sunday ? and will mark the occasion with a litter pick at the spot where they started a year ago.
Members of the team will be collecting litter in Barrowhall Lane at Great Sankey.
Clean Team founder Coun Trudi Wood said: ?I would like to thank all the wonderful people who have been out in all weathers, at locations all over Warrington and collected more than 150 sacks of litter. I am extremely proud of you all.
?With any luck the weather this December will be slightly warmer than last year.?
The litter pick will start at the Great Sankey Leisure Centre car park on at 2pm.
News in brief
No winner
THERE was no winner in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital. Winning numberswere 2, 4, 5 and 15.
Hall extension
PLANS for a single storey rear extension at Grade 2 listed Myddleton Hall, in Delph Lane, Houghton Green, Warrington have been given the go ahead.
Puffin crossing
WARRINGTON Borough Council proposed to make an order to enable a controlled pedestrian crossing (Puffin crossing) on the A57 Manchester Road, near to its junction with Greymist Avenue. Anyone who wishes to object must do so in writing by December 21.
Children’s centre
PLANS for a children’s centre in an extension at Birchwood CE Primary School, in Admiral’s Road, Birchwood, Warrington have been approved.
