Raiders grab cash
from security van
by David Skentelbery
FOUR men have escaped with a substantial amount of cash after an audacious raid on a security van at Warrington.
The men gained entry to the armoured vehicle while it was parked outside a supermarket and its crew were inside the store.
They were last seen pushing away a trolley laden with red and blue bags thought to contain the money.
The raid was in Cockhedge Way, Warrington, outside the Asda store, on Wednesday (April 9) at about 10.20am.
Hundreds of shoppers are thought to have been in the area at the time.
Police say the van crew were in Asda when the four men struck.
One was wearing a blue polo shirt, a grey hooded top and black trousers. Another was dressed all in black while a third was wearing a blue coat. The fourth man, who had short ginger hair, was also dressed all in black.
A witness saw the four in Orford Street pushing a trolley laden with red and blue bags towards Buttermarket Street.
Anyone who witnessed the raid, or who can help police in any way, is asked to call DC Gary Smith on 0845 458 0000.
Brothers to run
for charities
by Lesley Wilkinson
TWO Appleton brothers, who are past and present junior captains of a golf club, are doing a sponsored run for charity.
Tom Gillibrand, 15, of Teddington Close, is current junior captain at Antrobus Golf Club, and has chosen the RNLI as his charity for the year.
He is a pupil of Bridgewater High School and plans a series of fundraising events for the year including a recent Ladies Quiz and taking part in the Manchester 10k run on Sunday May 20.
His brother Jonathon, 17, a student at Sir John Deane’s College, Northwich, was junior captain last year. He will be taking part in the run to raise funds for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.
Their parents Elaine and Paul are proud of the boys’ achievements and say they are both training hard for the run, and looking to attract sponsorship. Anyone who can help should contact them on 602174.
Elaine said: “Both boys are working hard for the race and are pleased to support their charities.”
Laptop computer
stolen from school
by John Hendon
A LAPTOP computer containing confidential medical information about pupils at a special school at Warrington is believed to have been stolen.
The computer, owned by Warrington Primary Care Trust, went missing at Green Lane School, Padgate.It is believed to have been stolen.
A PCT spokeswoman said: “The laptop was used by our school health adviser, based in the school.
“Police have been notified and have advised that in most cases where laptops are stolen the hard drive is wiped clean for resale. While the information was password protected, as a precaution we are contacting all parents and guardians within the school.
“We are fully investigating this matter and reviewing Trust procedures to ensure we take every step to prevent this happening again.”
She added: “We would like to express our sincere regret for any concern that this may have caused for the families involved.”
A helpline is available to parents or guardians who want to discuss the matter further in confidence.
The number is 0800 389 6973.
School project starts –
and so do the complaints
by Lesley Wilkinson
WITHIN weeks of contractors moving on site at Stockton Heath Primary School nearby residents were complaining about traffic nuisance and noise.
A deputation complained at the annual meeting of Stockton Heath Parish Council.
Brian Buckley, of Egerton Street, who lives adjacent to the school, said problems started when contractors arrived to remove the old school canteen building.
“Work men have been on the site after 7pm on both Saturday and Sunday,” he said.
“On Thursday and Friday they were parked outside my house and I could not get out of my house. If they parked vehicles on the site, there would not be a problem.”
Coun Maurice Leslie said: “They are only supposed to be on site between 8am and 6pm, five days a week. They should not be working at 7.30pm.”
Patrick Mullee said contractors’ vehicles were not keeping to the approved routes for entering and exiting the site. Complaints had been reported to Warrington Borough Council.
He produced copies of pictures residents had taken of contractors’ vehicles parking on double yellow lines, blocking roads and opposite busy road junctions.
He said: “Pictures show West Avenue being blocked for nearly half an hour by a low-loader removing a JCB from the school site. It miraculously managed to squeeze between the parked cars only to find it had to take an equally difficult route back after being unable to turn on the small side streets once loaded.”
Residents fear that the current disruption will escalate once the full demolition and construction work starts.
Councillors win
an apology
by staff reporter
THE man who successfully moved a vote of no confidence in Stockton Heath Parish Council has apologised ? to five members of the council.
Former parish councillor and unsuccessful independent candidate in last month?s borough council elections Patrick Mullee apologised at the council?s annual meeting to councillors Sonia Boggan, Wendy Emsley, Tom Forster, Christine Jones and Marilyn Timmins.
The no confidence vote had been passed 15-5 the previous month when angry residents opposed to the demolition of Stockton Heath Primary School had slated local councillors who failed to support them.
The parish council, by a majority vote, had backed borough council proposals to demolish the school and replace it with a new building. But some members had supported the residents? view that the old school should be refurbished ? and it was they who received the apology.
Mr Mullee said he wanted to apologise to them because they had been wrongly included in the vote of no confidence.
A chance to quiz police
chief – on video link
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON residents will have a chance to quiz Cheshire?s police chief and the chairman of the police authority through a special online video link.
The special question and answer session will be filmed next week and the video will be then be made available on the internet so anyone can view it.
A transcription of the entire session will also be made available for people who are not on the web.
Chief Constable Peter Fahy said: “We have been running these question and answer sessions on the website for the past four years, but they have always been text based.
?Now that web connections have improved, and with the advent of video sharing sites like YouTube and MySpace, we wanted to offer people the chance to see us answering their questions directly.
” The questions will be put to the Chief Constable and the chairman by a broadcast journalist in a “Question Time” style arena. Questions already received are on topics as diverse as the need for capital punishment, call handling, yellow line parking and illegal immigrants.
Police authority chairman Peter Nurse said: “We are looking forward to hearing the issues and concerns of the people. It is by hearing the views of the people about the police service they receive that helps the authority to make improvements to the organisation.”
To ask a question, e-mail it to [email protected] or telephone 0845 358 0555 and leave it as a message.
The deadline for questions is Monday, May 14.
School wins top
basketball rating
by Lesley Wilkinson
PUPILS at Culcheth High School who want to learn basketball are in the right hands – for the school has received a national award for the sport.
The school has been awarded a two star accreditation “BasketballMark,” by England Basketball under its scheme for schools.
It recognises the provision of basketball
to its students both within the curriculum and in the extra-curricular opportunities it offers.
The school has previously been awarded a level one accreditation.
To achieve the level two award the school was assessed on a number of criteria including teaching, quality of courts and competitive opportunities both inside the school and against other schools. The school also needed to have at least one person, a teacher or non-teacher, who is a qualified coach for extra-curricular sessions.
Staff said that since achieving the one star award last year they have made extra effort to include the girls’ side of PE into the basketball programme. Staff have also completed additional training, and are working towards the level three accreditation.
