Distinctive watch may
lead police to raiders
by David Skentelbery
POLICE have issued photographs of a distinctive watch stolen in a terrifying raid on a luxury home at Lymm, near Warrington.
They believe the watch ? which bears an inscription on the back reading ?Sir Alex Ferguson Testimonial 11th October 1999? ? could lead them to the offenders.
The raid was in tree-lined Lakeside Road, Lymm on February 1.
Members of the family, including young children, were threatened by a gang of four masked men who burst into the large, detached house and demanded cash and jewellery.
All four men were wearing balaclavas and one was wielding a machete.
When the householder refused to hand over property they subjected the family to a terrifying, 20-minute ordeal as they ransacked the house. Eventually they left, taking the family’s blue Mini Cooper.
No-one was hurt, but the children became distressed during the ordeal.
A police spokesman said: ?The offenders are still at large and we are anxious to track them down.
?The distinctive watch could help us with our enquiries.?
Anyone who is able to help police is asked to call DC Helen Ratcliffe on 01244 615859 or, anonymously, the Crimestoppers help line 0800 555 111.
Company scoops top
national export award
by business staff
AN innovative Warrington company, which has recently broken into two of the most difficult export markets with its revolutionary ink grinding mill, has been crowned with a prestigious award.
Local entrepreneurs John Allen and Alan Taylor, who head Cheshire Dispersion Company (CDC), have won the North West Passport to Export Award 2007.
The award is in recognition of the effect of exports on their business following participation in the UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) programme, which helped them to tackle the notoriously difficult USA and China markets.
Five sub-regional county winners from Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire and Cumbria received the accolade, but CDC Microtron, of West Quay Road, Warrington were crowned overall winners in the North West.
Researching and visiting relevant locations in the US to establish testing laboratories and identify potential joint venture partners has now resulted in an agreement and first orders with one of the world?s leading manufacturers of printing ink and chemicals.
With export turnover now up to 20 per cent, CDC Microtron is looking to UKTI teams in Germany and Russia to locate potential distributors.
John Allen said “We are thrilled to win this award, and would like to thank UK Trade & Investment. Thanks to their help we are now two years ahead of where we would have expected to be with our business. UKTI helped us into China and America and we are now looking to expand the business in Russia and Germany.”
A “friendly”
parking ticket
by David Skentelbery
COUNCILLORS at Lymm are slapping tickets on illegally parked cars – to do the drivers a favour.
The “parking tickets” warn motorists that they are parked illegally and that if they are caught by a parking warden they will get a fixed penalty fine of up to ?60.
Lymm Parish Council decided to print their own unofficial parking tickets in the light of the activities of Warrington Borough Council’s new team of parking wardens.
The wardens have already been active in the village and a number of erring motorists have been “booked.”
Coun Sheila Woodyatt said: “We decided to issue our own tickets as a friendly gesture. We are doing motorists a favour really. We are certainly not condoning illegal parking – we are simply warning of them of the consequences if they carry on doing it. “Members of the parish council are carrying a supply of the tickets around with them and putting them on cars they see illegally parked.”
People who park improperly on the village’s car parks will also be targeted by the wardens. Cars may only park in the marked spaces and anyone who parks elsewhere is likely to get a fixed penalty ticket.
Firms object
to parking ban
by John Hendon
SIX businesses have lodged objections to a proposed parking ban on part of St Peter’s Way, Orford, Warrington.
They claim they will suffer from the ban because customers and staff will have difficulty parking near their premises and deliveries will also be affected.
The businesses involved are Capri Business Supplies, North Cheshire Glass, Rocking Chair Antiques, Paul Martin Pine, Motorcare, and Warrington Restorations.
A petition signed by the owners of the six businesses will be considered by the borough council’s traffic committee on Wednesday (March 21).
They claim earlier traffic management schemes in St Peter’s Way – speed ramps and earlier yellow lines – were imposed against their wishes and without them being given an opportunity to be heard.
If the proposed additional yellow lines are introduced, the businesses will be unable to cope, they claim.
The new restrictions are proposed because of claims by nearby residents that obstructive parking is denying them access to parking bays opposite their homes.
Traffic officers say up to 29 visitors to the businesses can use the parking bays at any time other than on match days at the Halliwell Jones stadium. In addition the south west side of St Peter’s Way is generally unrestricted and there is a free public car park off nearby Cobden Street.
Deliveries will not be affected as vehicles are allowed to wait on double yellow lines for loading and unloading.
Residents alarmed
by shops plan
by staff reporter
PLANS to build two shops, with a car park for 13 vehicles on a recently cleared woodland site at Lymm have alarmed nearby residents.
The plan for land at the junction of Grammar School Road and Longbutt Lane has been submitted to Warrington Borough Council.
Only recently there was uproar when contractors moved in and felled dozens of mature trees on the site which is immediately adjacent to the Green Belt.
Now the planning application has shocked residents.
Coun Sheila Woodyatt said: ?I can?t see this application being approved. It is not a suitable site for retail units.
?There would be traffic implications, parking problems and also a detrimental impact on the Green Belt.
?Even if the shops were ever built, I do not think it would be a suitable place for business. I would be surprised if anyone was prepared to take it on.? “I am advising all nearby residents to object – and most of them didn’t need any encouraging.”
The proposal will come before Warrington?s development control committee in the near future.
Volunteers wanted for
village spring clean
by Lesley Wilkinson
VOLUNTEERS are needed to help Stockton Heath Parish Council with its spring cleaning.
Members are planning a litter pick on Saturday April 14 for two hours.
Anyone interested in helping is invited to meet them in the Lower Forge Car Park at 9.30am. Organisations in the village are being invited to help.
Three sites have been selected – St Thomas’s Church graveyard, Alexandra Park and Mill Lane playing field.
World premiere
by staff reporter
THELWALL based Bridgewater Players will be staging a world premiere of the play “Whispers”, a ghostly thriller by local playwright Ian Hornby at Thelwall Parish Hall from April 19-21.
Doorsopen 7.15 for a 7.45 start and tickets cost ?3.50 and are available from 0845 331 3516.
The play is about Linda who is wheelchair-bound. She also cannot conceive, and feels total guilt about not being able to provide husband Sean with an heir.
Accidentally breaking an antique photograph one day, she unleashes the ghost of Belle, a resident of the house in the 19th Century, who haunts the nursery they’d made before Linda discovered she was barren, and making sure Linda has less des
ire than ever to go into that haunted room.
