Girl student knocked
to ground and robbed
by David Skentelbery
POLICE at Warrington are hunting a thug who knocked a girl student to the ground and stole her iPod.
The attack took place in busy Wilderspool Causeway in broad daylight as the 17-year-old girl walked to Priestley College.
After snatching the girl?s distinctive, red iPod Nano, the offender ran off in the direction of Stockton Heath.
A police spokesman said: ?We are appealing for witnesses. This happened on a very busy road at a busy time when there were plenty of people around, on foot and in passing cars. Someone must have seen something.?
The girl was attacked from behind at about 11.15am on Tuesday (March 27). She was pushed against a wall and fell to the ground.
Her iPod also fell to the ground and the attacker snatched it and ran off.
He was about 6ft 2 inches and dressed all in black, with a hood.
The iPod was inscribed on the back with ?From Mum and Dad? and is worth about ?100.
Anyone who can assist police is asked to callPC Joyce Hudson on 0845 458 0000.
Mum celebrates
health diploma
by Gary Skentelbery
A WARRINGTON mother of two who acted as a voice for other student nurses at regional NHS meetings is celebrating after passing her Diploma in Higher Education.
Sharon Wright, a University of Chester Warrington campus graduate was a representative at Strategic Health Authority meetings ? forwarding the opinions and views of other student nurses.
Sharon, aged 29, who has received a DipHE in Adult Nursing said: ?I feel really proud of what I have achieved. I?m quite a confident person, so it was good to speak for students and have the opportunity to put across our views and thoughts.
?During the meeting we would cover many aspects of healthcare and look at ways of improving health services in the local area.
?It was hard juggling this with work, study and my two little boys Shaun, eight, and Louis, four, but I have a very supportive family who helped me all the way.?
Sharon now works as a Staff Nurse in Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery in a High Dependency Unit at Manchester Royal Infirmary.
She added: ?I love my job, it is so rewarding. I feel my time at the University has served me well for my career ahead. The support network you receive as a student is fantastic.?
Sharon now hopes to build on her Diploma and embark on a BSc in Adult Nursing at the University.
Residents fear big
tip expansion plan
by John Hendon
WORRIED residents are opposing plans for a major expansion of a big tip site near Warrington.
Biffa Waste Services Ltd, of Moss Side Farm, Silver Lane, Risley are seeking planning consent for an eastern extension of the Risley Landfill site off Silver Lane.
The application is to go to a meeting of the borough council?s development control committee on April 4.
Residents ? and nearby farmers – have lived uneasily with the Silver Lane tip for years.
There have been complaints of smells, noise and litter, including plastic bags, being blown across adjoining farm land from the tip.
Culcheth residents opposed plans for a northern extension of the tip and won a battle to stop a concrete batching plant on the site.
People living in Risley have frequently complained of smells caused by escaping methane gas.
Silver Lane runs parallel to the M62 and an easterly extension of the tipping area would take it in the direction of Glazebrook.
Planning officers are recommending the scheme be rejected.
The same day, planning chiefs will be considering proposals for commercial dog kennels at Brookside Farm, Lady Lane, Croft. Again, officers are recommending the scheme be refused.
Comic gorillas to star
in Easter entertainment
by Lesley Wilkinson
A COMEDY act featuring two people dressed as Mountain Gorillas which appeared on a popular Ant and Dec television show – is one of the attractions at Golden Square shopping centre at Easter.
The gorilla act – which featured in the comic duo?s “Saturday Night Takeaway” show – will visit the centre on Easter Saturday.
Looking and behaving like real Mountain Gorillas and complete with comic “explorer” they will entertaining visitors to the shopping centre. Also during Easter young visitors to the centre will be encouraged to get creative with a 12-day bonanza of craft activities.
Budding artists will get the chance to design t-shirts and baseball caps as well as make puppets, badges and Easter cards in a range of workshops in the centre’s Old Market Place.
Ian Cox, the centre’s marketing manager, said: “There is absolutely no reason for children in the area to be bored this Easter holiday. We’re expecting the arts and crafts workshops to be a huge success and the arrival of the two Mountain Gorilla’s to be a real crowd puller.”
Cyclists wanted – to
train as instructors
by Lesley Wilkinson
CYCLING fans are being sought to train as instructors as a new proficiency scheme, Bikeability, hits Warrington schools.
The project, led by BikeRight of Manchester, will give children the chance to learn how to cycle safely on the town’s busy roads.
It consists of three levels, Level One is off-road training ensuring balance and control skills are in place. The next level is on-road, teaching safe signalling, right, left and u-turns. Level Three is whole journey training, giving skills to enable a safe home-to-school journey.
Training is free to the children, and is funded from the Local Transport Plan. This will provide 47 Level One and Two courses. Organisers are seeking additional funding to enable every primary school to provide at least one course for 10 year olds annually, and to expand the scheme to other age groups.
Anyone interested in training as an instructor can find more details on Warrington Council’s website www.warrington.gov.uk/jobs/vacancies.asp#Other or by contacting Lesley McAllister on 01925 443249.
Unsigned bands
bid for award
by staff reporter
MUSIC fans will be gathering at a Warrington venue on Saturday when three unsigned bands take part in a heat for the Red Stripe Music Award 2007.
The national competition, sponsored by the Jamaican beer company, hits the WA1 Venue Bar in Warrington. Local bands The Straize, Bill Davro and the Popes, and Zen Cohen will be fighting for the chance to play at the final in London in May.
National winner will have the chance of securing a record deal and playing at two of the UK’s most prestigious summer festivals – The Great Escape in Brighton and Jersey Live.
Tickets are available from the bar and doors open at 7.30pm.
Police hunt for
bus “flasher”
by staff reporter
POLICE are searching for a sex pervert who exposed himself to a schoolgirl on a bus at Warrington.
The girl was on an 8A bus heading towards Bridgewater High School, Appleton at 8.20am on March 12 when the man, aged about 40, exposed himself in front of her.
He is described as being about 5ft 10 inches tall, chubby, with short grey hair, a red face and clean shaven. He was wearing a dark, waterproof jacket and blue jeans and carrying a green and black holdall.
Anyone who can help police is asked to call PC Graham Davies 01244 612635.
Challenging scheme helps
develop new skills
WORKERS from a property consultancy firm joined a group of nine Warrington people with learning disabilities for a challenge similar to the Duke of Edinburgh Awards.
Staff from the North West region of GVA Grimley took part in the Gateway Award Scheme to publicise their partnership with Mencap and the charity’s work with people in the region, including Warrington.
The group trained for the award scheme in Manchester’s Debdale Park.
The nati
onal company has teamed up with Mencap, and they have a joint fundraising target for the year of ?50,000, which will go towards the charity’s Gateway Award scheme for youngsters and adults.
The scheme helps people to develop new skills and confidence towards independent futures. Funds raised will enable an extra 1,000 people with a learning disability across the region to take part in the scheme.
Jonathan Pritchard, 35, from Stockton Heath is part of the Warrington Gateway Club.
He said: “It was exciting and enjoyable. I just loved the day – seeing everyone enjoying the activities.”
The participants at Debdale Park took part in orienteering, camp cooking, first aid training, as well as building a campsite.
Police probe fire
on industrial estate
by staff reporter
POLICE are investigating a suspected arson attack on the Phipps Industrial Estate at Burtonwood, near Warrington in the early hours of today.
The blaze involved a derelict industrial unit. A fire appeared to have been started in the doorway and spread to the roof joists.
Two fire engines from Warrington were called to the scene and firefighters soon had the blaze under control.
A Fire Service spokesman said: “We strongly suspect the fire was started deliberately.”
