Woman, 67 and teenage
girl in armed raid ordeal
by David Skentelbery
A 15-year-old girl and a 67-year-old woman were left badly shocked after being held at gun point when two masked men raided a Co-op store at Burtonwood, near Warrington.
The raiders got away with cash from the shop in Mercer Street after threatening staff and customers with a hand gun.
Police said the teenage girl was receiving counselling and support from specially trained officers as a result of the trauma she had suffered.
The raiders, wearing masks and carrying a black holdall, arrived outside the shop at about 8.45pm on Friday, March 2. They produced the gun and forced the girl, who was standing near the entrance to the shop, to go in, pushing her in with the gun in her back.
Inside they threatened staff and customers, including a 67-year-old woman who had the gun pointed at her face.
Afterwards they left on foot, heading in the direction of Clay Lane. Both men were wearing dark clothing and spoke with Merseyside accents.
Police are appealing for witnesses. Anyone who can help is asked to call DS David Griffiths on 01244 615842 or the Crimestoppers line, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Can the historic heart
of town ever be restored?
by David Skentelbery
WARRINGTON?S Church Street Conservation Area ? formally defined 23 years ago and covering some of the most historic parts of the town ? has lost so much over the years that its continued designation may be questionable.
This is stated in a review of the Church Street and Buttermarket Street conservation areas to be considered by the borough council?s executive board.
Council chiefs will be asked to approve a management strategy for the two areas, including a number of amendments to their boundaries.
Church Street ? with the St Elphin?s Parish Church, built in 650 AD and the oldest building in Warrington, the 17th century Grade 2 listed Tudor Cottage and several other old buildings ? is the historic heart of the town.
But it has suffered over the years ? and the report to be studied by councillors states: ?The extent of the loss and damage to Church Street Conservation area over many years has been such that it may be questioned whether its designation remains justifiable.?
However, the document concludes that designation should remain.
?Damaged townscape can be repaired over time b y the consistent application of conservation, design and development control policies.
?For example, recent development has attempted to address the weakened street frontage that used to be in place when the Conservation Area was designated 20 years ago.?
The report recommends sympathetic redevelopment of ?gaps?, tackling unauthorised alterations, etc and ensuring that highway repairs and other works are carried out in an appropriate manner.
Street ?clutter? should be reduced and consideration given to reducing the volume of traffic. Development proposals should be accompanied by design statements showing how the special qualities of the area have been considered ? and the street should be monitored through regular photographic study.
Similar suggestions are made in respect of Buttermarket Street ? and it is suggested that the modern New Town House should be excluded from the Conservation Area.
Cadets take
to the air
by James Balme
YOUNG air cadets from Warrington took to the air in a Hercules to give them a fascinating insight into the giant air transporter.
?Fantastic,? ?Amazing?, ?Brilliant? and ?Awesome? were just some of the comments made by the air cadets from 1330 Warrington Squadron Air Training Corps when were given an exciting opportunity to enjoy the experience of a flight in an RAF Hercules courtesy of 70 squadron based at RAF Lyneham.
The plane flew into Liverpool John Lennon Airport and took cadets from Warrington, Croft and Lymm squadrons for a flight over the Northwest giving them an insight into how the large transport aircraft operates. The Hercules crew showed the cadets around the cockpit and explained the various pieces of equipment that are used when in theatre of operations.
Flt Lt Glen Wrigley of 1330 Squadron (Warrington) said: ?The Hercules aircraft is used by special forces and although many of the specific missions are secret we couldn?t help but notice the sand littering the floor of the ramp at the rear of the fuselage which suggests service either in Afghanistan or Iraq. Cadets were strapped into the seats, which ran either sides of the aircraft and as each of the four engines started up the noise built up to a deafening level. The Hercules slowly taxied out onto the main runway and within a few hundred metres it was airbourne.?
After the flight the cadets were able to inspect the aircraft from the outside and also discuss points of interest with the aircrew who were happy to answer all of the questions asked.
The Air Training Corps offers opportunities like this to boys and girls from the age of 13 years upwards. Anyone interested in flying, gliding, adventure training and improving leadership skills should contact Flt Lt Glen Wrigley at 1330 (Warrington) Squadron Air Cadets on 07957 680455 to find out how to join them or why not visit one of their parades at squadron Headquarters on Old Road Warrington just off Wilderspool Causeway.
Meetings take place every Monday and Thursday from 7pm.
Pensioner rescued
from blazing flat
by David Skentelbery
POLICE are investigating a fire in which an elderly man was rescued from a smoke-filled flat at Warrington.
The blaze was at the Anchor Court sheltered housing complex in Ford Street.
Firefighters found the blaze well established when they reached the scene after being alerted by an automatic fire alarm and a 999 call from another resident who said there was a strong smell of burning and that someone was in the top floor flat.
A spokesman said the cause of the outbreak was being investigated by police and fire experts.
The occupant was carried out of the smoke-filled flat by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus.
Woman seeks funding
for Africa mission
by Gary Skentelbery
A YOUNG Croft woman is bidding to raise ?2,000 to help travel to South Africa to work on a school project helping children orhpaned by AIDS.
Hazel Addison, 22 and four colleagues from the Carphone Warehouse in Warrington have been given the opportunity to travel to South Africa for 10 days to help with building work or education in a small village.
To show their commitment they have been asked to raise ?2000 for two chosen charities “TreeHouse” and “Get Connected”.
Hazel said: “I have already begun by organising a charity gig and collecting donations in work. Any donation from a shirt to a cheque would make a big difference!”
She added: “I like to have a personal challenge every year. Last year I ran in the Manchester Race For Life. This year the opportunity arose to join other members of staff on a trip to South Africa where we will spend five days trekking around the Cedarberg Mountains and the remaining five days working on a school project for children who have been orphaned by AIDS.
“I believe that this will be a very rewarding experience that will push me to achieve beyond my own expectations.”
Please send any correspondence to Carphone Warehouse, Kelvin Close, Birchwood WA3 7PB or feel free to donate on www.justgiving.com/hazeladdison
Glitzy awards ceremony
for market’s TV stars
by John Hendon
MARKET traders at Warrington will stage their own glitzy awards ceremony ? to honour stallholders who have found fame in their new adverts filmed especially for the brand new plasma TV screens around the market.
All traders will get the chance to watch the adverts in a special premiere, before settling
down for the official handing-out of the MAFTA awards ? Market Awards for Traders Adverts.
Awards will be for best actor/Actress, best director and best advert.
A Marilyn Monroe look-alike will be on hand, along with other ?celebrities? will be there mingling with the traders and presenting the awards on Wednesday (March 7)
Afterwards there will a party with dancing to a live band.
The new plasma screens and sound system in the market are part of many improvements currently being implemented by the borough council.
Others to be introduced include upgrading parts of the building, a trial scheme offering limited free parking for market customers and the re-launch of the market ?shopping with confidence? scheme, which highlights the exceptional customer service offered by market traders.
Market manager Steve Pickering said: “The awards are a great way of celebrating the hard work of all of our traders, who are completely committed to making the market the best it can be.”
“It has been really difficult to choose who deserves individual awards – all of the adverts of a really high standard!”
Charity in search
for ghost hunters
by staff reporter
LEUKAEMIA charity the Anthony Nolan Trust is looking ghost-hunters to spend the night at Warrington?s ?haunted? Walton Hall.
A guided tour of the hall on Friday, April 20 will detail real-life experiences and historical information followed by a ghost-hunting workshop with an experienced team of paranormal investigators, psychic experiments, mediumship and s?ances.
Walton Hall is the remnant of a much larger estate of the Greenall family, famous for their brewing industry. The hall itself was built in the Elizabethan style during the 1830’s and in 1927 the family were admitted into the peerage, the then Sir Gilbert becoming the first Lord Daresbury.
He died in 1938 and unfortunately left the family owing ?500,000 in death duties. This led to the sale of Walton Hall and park to Warrington Council, who still care for them today.
Ruth Carter, area manager for the Anthony Nolan Trust said: ?There have been many sighting of spirits within the walls of Walton Hall. These include a lady seen walking the main staircase of the building – said to be the spirit of Lady Daresbury.
?Curtains have opened on their own in the former library and those who spend time in Lady Daresbury’s bedroom often complain of hearing furniture being dragged and an air of sadness in the room.
“This is a superb location with classic ghost stories and recent activity. This night is not for the faint-hearted and promises to be an evening you will never forget.”
Participants will be asked to raise sponsorship of at least ?125 to help research into leukaemia.
The Anthony Nolan Trust is an independent charity and relies on financial support from individuals and companies to fund its work. It costs the charity ?70 to tissue-type each new donor to its register.
MP wants town to back
campaign for World Cup
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON South MP Helen Southworth is urging the town to back a bid for the next World Cup in 2018 to be held in the North West.
She made the rallying cry at a Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) ?Treasures of the North? exhibition, which included the football Sir Geoff Hurst used to score his legendary hat-trick in the 4-2 win over West Germany in the 1966 World Cup Final.
She said: “Clearly there are no guarantees the World Cup’s coming to England so we need to show FIFA how much passion there is for football in the North West.
?As the home of more than a third of Premiership clubs, the North West leads the way in English football. By showing the tremendous support for the World Cup that exists here, we can send the message that football should be coming home.”
The football was among nine objects being showcased by the MLA to celebrate the rich culture and history of the North and show how it is being preserved for future generations with funding from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport?s ?Renaissance in the Regions? programme.
