No change at
town hall
by Gary Skentelbery
THERE was no change in the overall control of Warrington Borough Council following yesterday’s local elections with just two seats changing hands.
The Lib Dems took one seat from Labour while Labour gained one from the Tories, resulting in no change in the overall picture, with the Lib Dem Tory Alliance retaining control of the council.
The biggest shock of the election came at Bewsey and Whitecross where former Mayor Jeff Richards, a long standing member of the Labour party was heavily defeated by Lib Dem Bob Timmis.
But Labour did make a gain from the Conservatives at Woolston and Rixton where sitting councillor Roger Rankin was dethroned by Paul Bretherton.
There was nearly a major upset at Penketh where the town’s Mayor Linda Dirir was re-elected by less than 100 votes in a close run battle with Tory Paul Campbell.
Meanwhile in Stockton Heath Independent Patrick Mullee, who resigned from the Lib Dems over the Stockton Heath Primary School proposed demolition saga, polled a creditable 509 against Deputy Mayor Celia Jordan who was re-elected with 1050, pushing the Conservatives and Labour into third and fourth respectively.
Council leader Ian Marks said he was pleased with the overall result and hadn’t expected any major change but was obviously delighted to take the target seat of Bewsey and Whitecross from Labour.
Labour leader Terry O’Neill said he was disappointed with the loss of Jeff Richards, who he felt had suffered from a Lib Dem campaign making it appear Coun Richards had been responsible for the PCT controversy surrounding doctor’s surgeries.
Tory leader Keith Bland said he was “very disappointed” with the loss of Roger Rankin but pleased that his wife Sue Bland had increased the Conservative vote in Culcheth and Glazebury.
Appleton
*Ray Hancock (Lib Dem):2432
Gloria Jefferson (Lab):241
Paul Kennedy (Con): 1119
Bewsey & Whitecross
Sonia Boggan (Con): 123
*Jeff Richards (Lab):797
Bob Timmis (Lib Dem):1249
Birchwood
Chris Fitzsimmons (Lab):1145
Christopher Hepworth (Lib Dem):566
David Ward (Green):174
Andrew Wilson Smith (Con):929
Burtonwood & Winwick
Val Allen (Con):415
Philip Chadwick (Lib Dem):441
*John Joyce (Lab):771
Culcheth & Glazebury
*Sue Bland (Con):1991
Merril Cummerson (Lib Dem):624
Tony McCarthy (Lab):674
Fairfield &Howley
*Yvonne Fovargue (Lab):1393
Ileyne Hutchinson (Con):404
Hasan Kazi (Lib Dem):388
Grappenhall & Thelwall:
*Mike Biggin (Lib Dem):2036
Dorothy Carter (Con):757
Helen Dutton (Lab):328
Great Sankey North
Stephanie Davies (Green):92
*Roy Smith (Lib Dem):984
Adrian Wildman (Con):273
Tony Williams (Lab):335
Great Sankey South
Jan Davidson (Lab):659
*Alan Litton (Lib Dem):1084
Mike Stansfield (Con):502
Latchford East
Julian Craddock (Con):105
Lyndsay McAteer (Green):66
*Hans Mundry (Lab):993
Eddie Sloane (Lib Dem):661
Latchford West
Kevin Bennett (Lab):543
Gwyneth Craddock (Con):185
*Ted Finnegan (Lib Dem):1283
Lymm
James Ashington (Con):1281
Chris Ferguson (Lab):288
*Ian Marks (Lib Dem):2134
Orford
Barry Burton (Lib Dem):353
*Kate Hannon (Lab):1238
William Jackson (Ind):42
John Leslie (Con):232
David Whitehouse (Green):122
Penketh & Cuerdley
Paul Campbell (Con):1040
Linda Dirir(Lab):1121
Veronica Hudson (Lib Dem):429
Poplars and Hulme
Joan Hall (Lib Dem):307
Brian Lambert (Con):254
Steve Roberts (Lab):1203
Eric Verdon (Ind):97
Poulton North
Francine Leslie (Con):332
*Colin Oliver (Lib Dem):1306
Alan Simcock (Lab):639
Rixton and Woolston
Edward Bibby (Ind):169
Paul Bretherton (Lab):1077
Peter Edwards (Lib Dem):356
*Roger Rankin (Con):799
Stockton Heath
Thomas Forster (Con):330
*Celia Jordan (Lib Dem):1050
Peter Kenny (Lab):220
Patrick Mullee (Ind):509
Kenneth Wilson (Green):79
Whittle Hall
Peter Carey (Lab):510
Carl Roberts (Con):514
*Judith Wheeler (Lib Dem):950
Bold Denotes elected councillor.
*Denotes sitting councillor.
warrington-worldwide’s readers poll gave the Conservatives 11 per cent of the vote, Lib Dems 22 per cent, Labour 28 per cent, none of the above 30 per cent and not voting 10 per cent from 828 votes.
A new poll has now been started asking: “How do you rate the performance of Warrington’s new parking attendants.”
Cast your vote now on the front page.
Jack says thanks
for saving his life
by Lesley Wilkinson
A HIGH Legh man has helped raise ?500 for Warrington Hospital as a thank-you to staff for saving his life.
Jack Stant, 73, of High Legh, suffered heart failure last year and was admitted to the hospital where he was cared for in the Coronary Care Unit.
Jack, who was chairman of High Legh Bowling Club when he suffered the attack, got support to raise money from the club. He is also a freemason and a Masonic Lodge also helped raise the total.
The money was presented to North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust and will go to help patients.
Jack said: “The money is the way that I can show my appreciation to the hospital. I was so impressed with all the staff on the unit, they were really excellent – nothing was too much trouble.”
Pyjama girls sought
after street attack
by David Skentelbery
POLICE are trying to trace two girls seen wearing pyjamas in the street late at night in Warrington who may have witnessed an assault on a local teenager.
The incident was in Longshaw Street, Dallam , close to the shops in Harrison Square on the evening of Saturday, April 21.
An 18-year-old man was attacked from behind and struck twice ? once on each side of his face. He suffered a broken jaw and had to go hospital in Liverpool for emergency surgery.
Police say two girls, aged about 18 or 19, both wearing pyjamas were seen nearby. Both had long dark hair tied in ponytails.
A police spokesman said: ?They were obviously rather distinctive, wearing pyjamas in the street at about 10.15pm. We think they may have seen the attack and may be able to help us identify the offenders.?
Anyone who can help is asked to call DS Caroline Smith on 0845 458 0000.
Police officer “adopts”
battered puppy
by Lesley Wilkinson
A PUPPY battered by its owner in Warrington was “adopted” by one of the kind-hearted police officers who were first on the scene after the attack.
The one-year-old Brindle Staff Bull Terrier- renamed Poppy – suffered two broken back legs in the incident when it was kicked and punched eight months ago.
But the animal has made a remarkable recovery since it was adopted by PC Dawn Akrigg.
She said: “She’s such a happy dog now. You would never guess the level of abuse she was subjected to by her former owner.”
Last month the owner was jailed for four months at Warrington Crown Court for the attack on the puppy, which took place at a petrol filling station in Warrington. He was banned from keeping animals for 10 years.
PC Akrigg was one of the first officers on the scene that night.
She said: “When I first saw Poppy I was convinced she was dead. She was completely lifeless and I couldn’t believe she was capable of surviving such a violent attack. But then she moved and we knew we had to get her to a vet as soon as possible.”
Officers took the animal to an emergency vet who took x-rays and found she had fragmented fractures of both hind legs and some swelling and bruising around her left eye.
The puppy was given various drugs and fluids to help make her mo
re comfortable and the next day she was handed over to a veterinary centre, who continued to monitor her condition until she was stable enough to be operated on.
Surgery was performed on Poppy’s hind legs, with pins and wire used to help stabilise the fractures. She also had splints and dressings applied. Poppy has since undergone two further operations to remove the pins and has x-rays on a regular basis.
Heather Eubank, practice manager of Rees Veterinary Centre, said: “We were sad to see her go but are very happy that she now has the wonderful loving home she deserves.?
PC Akrigg said: “Her recovery has been amazing. She is really happy and playful and, despite what she has been through, loves to be around people – I think she just likes to be fussed over.”
Betting shop approved
– despite local objections
by David Skentelbery
PLANNING chiefs have given the go-ahead for a betting shop at Fearnhead, near Warrington ? despite strong local objections.
Poulton-with-Fearnhead Parish Council and local borough councillor Colin Oliver opposed the proposal for the conversion of a corner shop within the Fearnhead shopping centre, off Insall Road.
Main issue for the borough’s development control committee to decide was the likely impact of the change of use on the vitality and viability of the centre.
Officers said the existence of a Co-op store, pharmacy, post office and bakers meant the change would not undermine the vitality of the centre ? and members of the committee agreed with them.
Coun Oliver argued that the development would be incompatible with the retail nature of the shopping centre.
He said: “It represents a significant departure from the existing amenities on site. There is no need for a further bookmakers, as there is one within 75m of this address sharing the same car park.”
The parish council objected on the grounds of he loss of a retail unit and a replacement out of keeping with the retail element of the shopping centre.
Attempted robbery
at newsagents’ shop
by David Skentelbery
TWO would-be robbers fled empty handed after threatening a newsagent in his shop at Warrington.
The pair – both smelling of drink – went into the shop in Froghall Lane and threatened the shopkeeper with a broken bottle.
They tried to climb the counter and grab money but eventually ran off without taking anything. No-one was hurt.
One man was in his mid-50s, about 5ft 6 inches tall and was unshaven, with short dark hair. He wore a lumber jacket, dark trousers and gloves. The other was in his early 20s, about 6ft tall and stocky, also with short dark hair. Both men wore safety glasses.
It is believed the two men may have been loitering outside the shop for about 10 minutes prior to the attack on May 1 at about 4.15pm.
Anyone who can help police is asked to call DC Jackie Daniels on 0845 458 0000.
Travel and tourism
students take a trip
by Lesley Wilkinson
TRAVEL and tourism students from Warrington experienced the thrill of travel on a trip to Bruges in Belgium.
The youngsters from Priestley College took part in the trip to enhance the skills learned in the classroom.
They took a mini cruise from Hull to Zeebrugge on the Pride of York liner. After the crossing they visited the historical sites of Bruges, where activities included a canal cruise and a tour of the city by horse and carriage.
The trip linked with the module of study based on European travel destinations, which requires them to be familiar with a historical and cultural destination.
Travel and Tourism tutor Vicky Turner said: “The feedback received from the students was very positive indeed. They enjoyed the opportunity to visit Belgium for the first time as well as the other aspects of the trip including overnight travel.”
She said that Priestley continues to be a pioneer in the area of overseas study trips. Every student on campus is offered at least one foreign trip as part of their studies.
