Battle looming over
future of club site
by David Skentelbery
A NEW planning battle looks likely over the future of the disused Glazebrook Country Club, near Warrington, following the decision by planning bosses to reject proposals for retirement flats on the site.
Applicant Christine Lucas says she will appeal against the decision ? but as a fall-back position also press on with plans to re-open the club.
She said: ?I cannot allow this site to remain unused indefinitely. I have poured thousands of ?s into it over the years and it must be brought back into use.?
The once-popular nightspot has stood unused for several years and has suffered from vandalism, arson and invasions by travellers.
Mrs Lucas believes the site will continued to be plagued by problems until it is redeveloped and brought into use.
Nearby residents and Rixton-with-Glazebrook Parish Council were among those who opposed to the flats plan.
Planning officers said the scheme would have a damaging visual impact on the Green Belt and there would be traffic problems arising from the narrowness of Bank Street.
Glazebrook Country Club once draw people from a wide area. Latterly it was a sports club offering squash, badminton, table tennis, etc until it was forced to close following an electrical explosion.
Mrs Lucas says if she cannot get permission to re-develop the site for residential purposes she will re-open the club, offering social and education opportunities for youth groups including the Air Training Corps.
Katie bounces back
by Gary Skentelbery
MODELS take many knocks during their careers but none quite as painful as the one 19-year-old Katie Cleminson suffered while dancing at Warrington Wolves.
Katie was the dancer who fell awkardly and ended up being stretchered off with a broken collar bone in front of thousands of Wolves fans.
Fortunately Katie has now bounced back from the accident, which as well as suffering a broken bone, also left her feeling a little red faced.
Katie, aged 19 from Cinnamon Brow, Warrington has danced for indepenDANCE for 7 years both as a dancer and gymnast which is still is a big part of her life. But now she wants to input modelling into her portfolio.
She said: “My modelling ambitions are to carry on helping out at local camera clubs and I would eventually like to become a full time model and I would love the opportunity to represent my home town in as many ways as I can.”
Katie has obviously become a big fan of the Wolves and also gets a great thrill from dancing in front of large crowds.
Police still hunt
doorstep thugs
by staff reporter
POLICE have issued an efit picture of one of two men who attacked a Warrington man on his own doorstep.
The attack ? reported in Warrington-Worldwide last week ? took place at a house in Fleetwood Close.
A window was smashed at the house and the victim was left with a broken nose.
It was on Friday, February 16 that the victim, who was alone in the house at the time, answered a knock at the door. Two men were outside and one asked for “John.” The victim said there was no John at the house and pointed at another house in the street. But the second man struck him a single blow to the face, breaking his nose.
He slammed the door shut and dialled 999 and one of the men smashed a front window before running off. One the men was about 5ft 10 inches tall, of stocky build with a round face, dark eyes and dark eyebrows. The other was about 5ft 7 inches tall and slim. Both were in their mid-20s and wearing dark, hooded tops.
Anyone who can help police with their enquiries is asked to call DC Ian Hampson on 01244 613831.
MP and bed company
in “intimidation” row
by John Hendon
WARRINGTON North MP Helen Jones received the backing of Leader of the House of Commons Jack Straw, and support from MPs from all sides, when her right to criticise a bed company was challenged by the firm?s boss.
Ms Jones raised the issue in the Commons after receiving complaints from residents of Woolston about tree felling carried out by bed company Dreams around their store at Woolston.
She said she had been trying to secure constructive dialogue with the company after receiving complaints and a petition signed by more than 100 people.
Residents claimed they had been told by a company chief that if they continued to complain, they would paint their premises pink.
In a letter to the MP Dreams chief executive Mike Clare accepted that the company had threatened to paint the building pink and suggested she should not be pursuing an issue brought to her attention by a ?one sided petition?.
Mr Clare added: ?The local council is in danger of becoming vindictive and using every petty rule, regulation and law they can scrape the barrel with to thwart us.?
He accused the MP of ?badgering and intimidating? the company and acting unfairly.
Ms Jones said: ?I am astounded that a company such as Dreams plc should seek to address the legitimate concerns of local people in such a cavalier way.
?Far from me intimidating Dreams plc, I think Mr Clare?s letter to me is an attempt to bully and intimidate me out of pursing the matter. He is clearly ignorant of the democratic process and of the fact that MPs have a duty to raise matters of concern to their constituents and that he ought to take that seriously.
?The day big business secures a veto on what MPs can raise will be a very sad day for democracy indeed. I can assure Mr Clare that I will not be put off from representing my constituents by his aggressive threatening tone.?
The MP raised the attitude of Dreams plc at Business Questions in the House of Commons. The Leader of the House Jack Straw responded by saying: ?I congratulate her on doing her duty by her constituents, and I hope that Mr Mike Clare considers the perils of calling the privilege of Members of Parliament into question.?
Ms Jones said: ?It is important that big companies, or indeed anyone else, realise that they cannot intimidate MPs when they don?t like the issues they raise – particularly when they are representing the genuine concerns of their constituents. I was pleased that the Leader of the House made that clear and I hope Mr Clare now understands that he should not call the privilege of MPs into question. It was also pleasing that MPs from all parties expressed their support on this issue.?
Warrington-Worldwide has tried to contact Dreams plc but has been unable to get a comment from them.
Grants provide
kitchen re-fit
by Martin O’Neill
CULCHETH Methodists and user groups are celebrating new kitchen facilities thanks to two grants.
Church member Daphne Eastburn, centre, is pictured with members of Mums and Tots, and ABC Pre-school groups, all of whom will benefit from the new facilities, courtesy of a ?3,100 grant from Awards for All, and ?150 from Opal telecom, Birchwood.
Charity to host
an open day
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON-based charity ? which provides support to people affected by unhealthy relationships – is to hold an open day on Thursday March 8.
The event will be at its offices at The Gateway on Sankey Street, Warrington between 11.30am and 2.30pm with lunch and refreshments available.
Spokeswoman Marissa Hankinson said: “If you would like to know more about the work of The Relationships Centre, we urge you to come down and have a chat to us.”
Anyone who would like to attend should call 01925 246910.
