Storm breaks over
council’s new logo
by David Skentelbery
A STORM has broken over a decision to ditch Warrington?s historic coat of arms from borough council notepaper, buildings and vehicles and replace it with a modern logo.
The Mayor, Coun Linda Dirir has ordered a special meeting of all 57 members of the council after Liberal Democrat and Conservative members refused to debate the issue at a normal, scheduled meeting of the authority.
Labour leader Coun Terry O?Neill said: ?This is a very serious issue. I don?t think it is a political issue but to someone who was born and bred in Warrington it is very important.? The new logo, designed in-house for the council, has already appeared on council notepaper and will be gradually introduced on vehicles, buildings, etc. It replaces a coat of arms dating from 1974 ? when Warrington switched from Lancashire to Cheshire ? but incorporating parts of earlier crests including those of the Boteler family who were Lords of the Manor until 1586.
There was no mention of the change on the agenda for the normal meeting of the council but Coun O?Neill referred to it when chief executive Diana Terris mentioned it in her communications to the council.
He demanded to know when the decision to introduce the logo had been taken and what consultation had taken place.
Coun John Kerr-Brown, Labour, said there had been no consultation. When the Liberal Democrats had been in opposition, he said, they had continually been calling for more consultation. But now they were in power they were operating a dictatorship.
The meeting was told the issue could not be debated, under the council?s regulations, because it was not on the agenda. But Coun O?Neill said in the case of an emergency there was provision to suspend the regulations to allow a debate to take place.
Leader of the council Ian Marks, Lib Dem, said it was clearly not an emergency. He claimed there had been presentations about the new logo and branding for the council and that Labour members had been present.
Labour councillors forced a vote on suspending regulations to allow a full debate to take place but were defeated 30-20.
The Mayor pointed out she had the power to call a special meeting of the council.
?I feel I would be failing in my civic duty if I did not do my very best to enable this debate to take place. Accordingly I will call an extraordinary meeting of the council with this issue the only item on the agenda.?
She said the meeting would take place ?within the next couple of weeks.?
Police in hunt
for sex attacker
by John Hendon
POLICE at Warrington have released details of a sex attack on a woman which took place nearly two months ago.
The release has been delayed while police tracked down CCTV footage of the incident, which took place at the Pinner?s Brow Retail Park in the early hours of February 23.
A woman was walking home after a night out with friends in the town centre when she met a lone man in Bridge Street, outside Starbuck?s.
The pair continued walking down Horsemarket Street to Pinner?s Brow where the attack took place at between 2.50 and 3.15am.
Police said the man was aged about 40-44 with grey, balding short hair. He was about 6ft tall.
Anyone who can help police is asked to call DC Pam Hopkins on 01244 613875.
Vicar’s leap of faith
– for the Mother’s Union
by Lesley Wilkinson
A BRAVE vicar is taking a leap of faith to help the Mothers’ Union – by diving with sharks.
The Rev. Michael Burgess, of St Peter?s Church, Oughtrington, Lymm and St Werburgh’s Church, Warburton, will take the plunge at the Blue Planet Aquarium, Wirral, on Monday June 11.
He is taking on the challenge to raise the profile of the Mothers’ Union and branches throughout Cheshire will be sponsoring him.
Rev. Burgess said: “I have never done anything like this before – it was suggested by the Mothers’ Union.
“I was surprised when they suggested this, but I am quite willing to do it. Many people will be coming to watch.”
Sessions are regularly held at the aquarium on shark diving – including swimming with a 10 feet long sand tiger shark.
On the day of the dive, the vicar will be trained in diving and the event will be fully supervised by expert staff.
Trekking the
Inca Trail
by Gary Skentelbery
A LYMM woman is planning to walk the Inca Trail in Peru in aid of Breast Cancer Campaign.
Diane Maylor from Whitbarrow Road, will be joined by her sister in law to trek the Inca Trail in June and they have pledged to raise ?5,000.
They are funding the trip themselves so all money raised will be going directly to the charity.
The pair have already raised almost ?2000, by holding a Pink Party at Grappenhall and Thelwall British Legion.
They are also staging a “Ladies evening” at Lymm Rugby club on April 21 in association with the club’s panto team.
And they are also planning an auction of promises from various men from Lymm and Grappenhall.
The services will be things like – an taxi for an evening, a meal for 4 “cooked by one of our lovely men”, and full car valet, 4 hours french lessons, anf a one hour ride as a pillion passenger on a big BMW motorbike.
The evening will also raise funds for the Rugby clubs Grass Roots Appeal.
Other fund-raising activities include a Marquee party in May at Grappenhall on May 12.
Tickets for both events are available from 01925 753269 or 755391.
Two councillors
to step down
by staff reporter
TWO long serving Labour councillors are stepping down from Warrington Borough Council.
Former education chief and deputy leader of the council Paul Ross, who represents Birchwood and former deputy chairman of the planning committee Eric Bromley, who represents Poplars and Hulme, are not seeking re-election at the borough elections on May 3.
Tributes were paid to both men by colleagues at a meeting of the full council.
New President for
Probus Club
by staff reporter
DEREK Turner was installed as the new president of the Lymm Dingle Probus Club at their 21st Inaugural Lunch at the Lymm Hotel.
He was presented with the chain of office by Norman Bradbury, the immediate past president.
Derek and his wife Carole have lived in Lymm since 1978 and are looking forward to an active and enjoyable year with the club.
The club holds its annual and Christmas lunches at the Lymm Hotel and its regular fortnightly meetings on Thursdays at Lymm Baptist Church.
[ 20.04.2007, 12:02: Message edited by: DS ]
