Residents warn of
lake’s hidden danger
by Lesley Wilkinson
SILT, dredged from a lake and piled on the banks as part of a major improvement plan, could contain a hidden danger, residents of Stockton Heath, near Warrington, have warned.
The silt, taken from beauty spot Ackers Pit, may contain broken glass and metal which could pose a safety hazard, they claim.
De-silting of the attractive lake ? a haunt for anglers and wildlife enthusiasts ? has already started with excavators removing tonnes of material from the drained lake.
But residents are worried about safety aspects, the impact on wildlife and the time the operation is taking.
The plan is to leave the silt to form a new surface on the banks, rather then remove it from the site.
Resident Stephen Taylor told a meeting of Stockton Heath Parish Council: ?I am concerned that silt is to be piled on the site, not taken away. There are broken bottles and metallic objects in there, and I am concerned about the health and safety of people going round there.”
He believed that as the silt settled and rain washed it away, hazardous debris such as broken glass, could come to the surface.
Mr Taylor queried whether the Environment Agency had given permission for the silt to be dumped on the site ? but clerk Peter Briggs confirmed that it had.
The council was told the contractors working on the site were specialists in that type of project.
Chairman Coun Graham Roughsedge said contractors were putting a firm surface on top to prevent erosion.
He explained that the work was taking longer than expected because the lake had filled up again after heavy rain. The contractors also believed land drains from nearby houses might be discharging into the lake.
Residents were also concerned about the effect on wildlife. Patrick Mullee said many residents had reported ducks and birds from the site were nesting in their gardens.
But the council was told visitors were still feeding the ducks which had encouraged them to stay. If they stopped, the ducks would go elsewhere.
“Buy British, buy local,
says town’s Euro MP
by David Skentelbery
EURO MP Brian Simpson is urging Warrington people to buy British ? and, if possible, local ? when out shopping this weekend.
The Warrington-based Labour spokesman on agriculture in the European Parliament says the consumer can help UK farming, which is currently struggling.
He said: “I’m sorry to say we in Britain show no loyalty to our own produced food, preferring instead to buy processed foods and ready made meals, most of which do not come from Britain.
“I know in the past we have had problems with BSE and Foot and Mouth, but I firmly believe we now have some of the safest food in the world and of a higher quality.”
UK farming is at present struggling to recover from a number of set backs, including lower prices and reduced export markets, which means the home-grown market now has a crucial role to play in sustaining not only the farming industry, but our rural communities also, says Mr Simpson.
He said: “Look for the red tractor mark, look for the country of origin on the packaging, buy local fruit and vegetables and buy British dairy products. I don’t apologise for making this buy British produce call, because I know in other countries, their nationals buy their food, but it appears we are happy to buy ready meals containing Brazilian chicken, or Argentinean beef.”
A recent survey found that in the dairy sector alone, 16 per cent of farmers plan to leave farming in the next two years because they are losing 3p per litre of milk produced.
So the MEP has a message to supermarkets and the food processing industry.
“Stop ripping off our farmers. Pay them a reasonable rate for their products and cut your profits.
?But there is little chance of that unless consumers use their buying power to bring about change.”
School’s green
fingered pupils
by Lesley Wilkinson
YOUNGSTERS at a Warrington primary school have set up Green Fingers, an after-school gardening club to inspire them to look after their own environment.
Bruche Primary School staff organised the club to help pupils learn new skills and gain an interest in gardening.
The school has also started an eco-school council, which has achieved a bronze award and is now working towards its silver award. They hope the new gardening group will help them achieve this.
ASDA Cockhedge has adopted the school’s projects as one of its community projects for the year.
The store’s community projects scheme makes donations of equipment including spades, forks, seeds etc, and colleagues donate their time.
Picture shows (left to right) Eunice Peters of ASDA, Matthew Baldwin, Emma Bellis, Eleanor Thilwin, Jack Williams, Mrs Haines school secretary and Green Fingers Club organiser.
Hospital radio’s 50
years of broadcasting
by John Hendon
CELEBRATIONS to mark the 50th anniversary of hospital broadcasting at Warrington start next month with an open weekend.
Radio General will be throwing open its modern, purpose-built studios to visitors, including hospital patients and staff and former members who would like to see how the station has progressed since its early days.
Members of the public will be able to visit the studios on Friday, June 1 between 6pm-8.30pm, Saturday June 2 between 10am-8.30pm and Sunday, June 3 between 12pm-8.30pm.
Visitors will be able to have a behind-the-scenes tour of the studios and also pass on their best wishes to anyone they know in hospital.
Radio General broadcasts 24 hours a day from its studios in the hospital main entrance and a patient’s record request show is broadcast every day.
The station can be contacted on 01925-662122 or by email to [email protected]
Unsigned bands
get their chance
by staff reporter
UNSIGNED bands from across the North West are being given a chance to make a name for themselves by music students from Warrington.
‘The Showcase’ is an annual event organised by commercial music production students from the Warrington Campus of Chester University.
It?s part of a final year project to find, promote and present the best unsigned musical talent in the North West in the hope of getting them signed by music industry executives.
The Showcase is the climax of this project and is tipped to be a great success.
Held at the Liverpool Barfly on Tuesday May 15 at 7.30pm, the night will consist of performances from no fewer than seven unsigned bands which will be followed this year by three award winning Manchester DJs until 2 am.
More information is available from Ellie Jones on 07849844143 or email at [email protected]
Fire near
school
by staff reporter
FIRE crews from Warrington and Stockton Heath were called to a blaze involving a derelict building in St Augustine?s Avenue, Latchford.
The fire was in a building opposite St Augustine?s School and crews wearing breathing apparatus tackled it with a hose reel. No-one was hurt and the cause of the outbreak is being investigated.
New chairman
by staff reporter
NEW chairman of Stockton Heath Parish Council is Coun Graham Roughsedge.
He was voted in at the annual meeting of the council and, as his first job, thanked retiring chairman Coun Celia Jordan for her work during the past year.
Coun Maurice Leslie was appointed deputy chairman.
