Taxi crashes after
driver beaten up
by David Skentelbery
A TAXI driver was attacked and beaten up by three men in a late night incident in Warrington town centre.
The cabbie suffered head injuries in the attack in Winwick Road, near to Central Station and was forced to abandon his vehicle and flee on foot.
Later the taxi was abandoned in Longford Street after crashing into a lamp post.
Police are appealing for witnesses of the incident which took place around 11.20pm on March 20.
They are particularly anxious to speak to anyone who may have seen the taxi being driven between Winwick Road and Longford Street.
The drama started with a 999 call to police from the taxi driver who fled from his cab to the Tesco store on Winwick Road, where he was helped by security staff.
He said he had picked up three men in Winwick Road but was then attacked by them and was force to flee from his own vehicle.
A few minutes later police received a second call, stating that the taxi had been seen to crash in Longford Street and that the occupants ran away.
About ?40 was stolen from the cab.
Anyone who can help police should call DC Jess Jarvis on 01845 458 0000.
Second bid for homes
on distillery site
by David Skentelbery
DISTILLERS G and J Greenall are set to make a second bid to win planning consent for major housing developments at Warrington.
The borough council?s development control committee will consider three applications from the company on April 4.
One involves 300 homes on the site of the distillery in Loushers Lane, off Wilderspool Causeway and another involves housing on land adjoining the Ship Inn, in Chester Road, Warrington.
The third involves an area used for car parking off Loushers Lane.
Councillors have already deferred a decision on the three plans once, because of fears about traffic and access issues.
They are also worried about adding to Warrington?s existing over-supply of land for housing.
The company has already been given the go-ahead for a new distillery at Risley to replace the Loushers Lane site.
This has secured more than 80 jobs which might otherwise have gone out of Warrington.
School picks up
two top awards
by Lesley Wilkinson
A WARRINGTON school has won two prestigious awards presented at the Young People’s Parliament in Birmingham.
Culcheth High School scooped both the Grand Prix Panasonic KWN UK National Award and the Grand Prix Panasonic KWN European Award.
More then 200 students and teachers attended the day to celebrate achievements and compete in the contest. A total of 10 schools took part from the UK and 51 from Europe.
Students had to produce a four-minute documentary on the theme of social responsibility, and subjects included Cyber Bullying, Auschwitz Hero, Disaster at Lockerbie and Cleaning the Streets.
When the competition was launched in October the students received two days training in camera work and the making of a news report.
The Culcheth team consisted of Year 9 students James Atkinson and Daniel Jones and Year 10 students Charlotte Forshaw, Jennifer Gibson, Talia McGuire and Helen Roddy.
Their film, Bin It, Don’t Stick It, tackled the problem of chewing gum on Manchester’s streets.
Presenter Jennifer said: “I hope that we have been able to communicate a message to other students about being responsible with their chewing gum.
“A simple solution to a difficult problem. I have learnt a variety of skills in participating in the program and have had a lot of fun doing it.”
Tories name their man
for key Parliamentary seat
by staff reporter
THE Conservatives have chosen their candidate to fight the key Warrington South seat at the next General Election.
Rugby fan David Mowat has been named as the Tory Prospective Parliamentary candidate for the seat, following an extensive selection process.
Mr Mowat, (pictured) of Wilmslow who is married to Nicky and has four children, beat seven other short-listed candidates.
A full day selection process was held at Penketh Conservative Club and involved a set speech, a series of small group question and answer sessions and an extended on stage question and answer session.
Mr Ken Scates, chairman of the Warrington South Conservative Association, said: “I was delighted both with the quality of the candidates and the rigour of the process. This was the first time that we have used a community panel, in addition to party members, to assist in selecting a candidate who will appeal to all sections of the Warrington South electorate.”
Mr Mowat studied civil engineering at Imperial College London, before qualifying as a chartered accountant. He then worked for Accenture, a worldwide technology and consulting firm, where he was a global-industry managing partner.
For the past two years he has been chairman of Fairbridge, a Salford based charity working to improving the life chances of disadvantaged young people. He is also governor of a local state school, and enjoys rugby, golf and chess.
He said: “I am honoured and delighted to have been selected and looked forward to working with the association to re-claim Warrington South for the Conservatives.”
Marianne, 90, is to
meet the Queen
by Lesley Wilkinson
A WARRINGTON woman will be meeting the Queen at the annual Maundy Money ceremony – this year held at Manchester Cathedral.
Marianne Jones, 90, of Warrington Road, Glazebury, will be among the 81 elderly men and 81 elderly women – the number chosen as it is the Queen’s age – to receive the traditional gift.
She said: “I am really looking forward to the day, it is really exciting.
“It is something I never thought would happen, it was absolute surprise.” Marianne, who is a member of Glazebury Methodist Church, was nominated by the Minister Rev Paul Martin. She heard she had been chosen when a letter from Buckingham Palace dropped through her door.
She is a member of Glazebury WI and helped set up and conducted the former Glazebury Choir. She is also a member of the WRVS and used to help at the luncheon club and Over 60s clubs.
Marianne has been widow since 1966, her husband Robert was a Minister in the Congregational Church – now known as the United Reformed Church.
She has a son David, who lives in Normandy, France, and daughter Edith, of Croft, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Edith will be accompanying her to the Cathedral on Maundy Thursday (April 5).
Forget Easter Eggs –
rescue a greyhound!
by Lesley Wilkinson
PEOPLE in Warrington are being urged to take the “low fat” alternative over Easter and sponsor a rescue greyhound instead of buying chocolate eggs.
Su Wooffitt, spokeswoman for Greyhound Rescue West of England, which covers Cheshire, said: “The greyhounds are getting set to give the Easter bunny a run for his money.
“The terrible plight of many greyhounds has been well documented over the past year. We are dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of abused and abandoned greyhounds.”
The charity is dependent on public donations to pay the cost of caring for the dogs. It has a number of dogs available for sponsorship and money goes towards care and medical treatment.
One of the dogs, Freya, lives at Croft, near Warrington, with her carer Lorraine Matthews. To sponsor her for a year costs ?12, and Ms Wooffitt said this would make a unique Easter gift.
She said: ?Freya is a small girl who may have spent the first two years of her life shut away where she was physically abused. Freya is still too frightened to let strangers touch her but with lots of care and rehabilitation it is hoped that she will eventually find that elusive confidence and start to realise that not all people are bad.
“If you choose to sponsor Freya as the alternative and low fat Easter gift, you will rece
ive a certificate and a picture of her as well as regular updates on her progress throughout the year.”
Hotel extension
Major extensions at the Chat Moss Hotel, Glazebury have been given the go-ahead by borough planners at Warrington.
The Warrington Road pub ? a section of which once formed part of the old Glazebury railway station ? has been given permission to build an extension to form a dining area and to create hotel rooms on the second floor.
