Parking tickets cost
motorists ?150,000
EXCLUSIVE by Gary Skentelbery
JUST three months after being launched Warrington Borough Council’s clampdown on illegal car parking in the town has cost motorists an estimated ?150,000 in fines.
Parking attendants are well on the way to issuing 6,000 tickets, although nearly 1,000 have been recinded on appeal.
Warrington Borough Council insist the new parking enforcement measures are not a money making venture, with the contractors working on a fixed contract. The aim is to make the town’s highways safer.
But any profits made will be ploughed back into transport improvements.
Warrington Borough Council took over responsibility for issuing parking tickets on February 5 this year, employing contractors APCOA.
Phil Johnson, Head of Service for Transportation, said: “Since the council took over responsibility for parking enforcement, 5,806 parking tickets have been issued, of which 2,449 have been appealed against and 941 have been recinded.
“We have received comments from the public about the positive impact that the new parking arrangements have brought including freeing up spaces in the town centre and surrounding areas.
“We are, of course, looking to further improve the system and we will be reviewing the guidelines and training procedures to ensure that we provide a fair service.
“I can confirm that any revenue generated from the scheme will be directed into providing transport improvements in accordance with the requirements of the Road Traffic Act 1984.”
Developer’s ?200,000
for affordable housing
by David Skentelbery
DEVELOPERS who want to build 53 flats for the elderly on land off Rushgreen Road, Lymm have offered a ?200,000 contribution towards the provision of affordable housing if the scheme goes ahead.
The offer is just one aspect of the controversial proposals which will have to be considered by members of Warrington?s development control committee next week.
Lymm Parish Council and local councillors Ian Marks and Sheila Woodyatt are opposed to the scheme, submitted by McCarthy and Stone. Neighbouring residents are split almost 50-50 on the plan.
But planning officers are recommending it for approval.
The plan would involved the demolition of the long-established Rushgreen Service Station and shop and an adjoining house.
Committee members have already carried out a site inspection after deciding they could not reach a decision the first time the plan came before them.
The scheme envisages ?sheltered? flats with communal facilities and an on-site manager. The building would be part three storey and there would be a 26-space car park.
Planning officers say existing policy is to restrict new housing, because of the current oversupply of housing land in the borough. But they say an exception could be made because of the contribution offered towards affordable housing.
The parish council says the scheme would be an over-development of the site, and detrimental to the street scene. A three-storey building would be out of character with the area and overbearing in the situation. They point out there is already sheltered accommodation for the elderly in Lymm.
Ten residents have objected to the scheme and point out the filling station offers the only retail facility on the eastern side of Lymm. But nine others argue that the development will look more attractive than the existing filling station. They say a new Co-op store to be built as part of the nearby Heatley Mere development will serve local needs.
Classroom skills put
to practical use
by Lesley Wilkinson
BIOLOGY students from Priestley College, Warrington, enjoyed field trips off site to put their classroom skills to practical use.
Second year students headed for Formby Point to learn and apply a range of practical ecological techniques to the study of the environment. The visit tied in with their module of focussing on ecosystems and the party took soil samples of the area.
First year students headed for a hands-on workshop in Manchester based on the subject of molecular genetics at the Nowgen Centre. The students looked into DNA extraction and activities including analysing results and a discussion of social and ethical issues.
Biology tutor Dr Louise Norbury said: “It was great to be able to look at these issues of biology via organised trips.
?The second year students took a great deal from their visit to Formby Point at a time when their course is coming to an end, whilst we were very privileged to get a place in the Nowgen Centre which is usually booked up a year in advance.”
Drivers ready for
3,000 mile rally
by staff reporter
DRIVERS will definitely not be having one for the road when they set off from a Warrington pub for a 3,000-mile rally across Europe.
Ten people in five cars will leave the Ring O’Bells pub in Warrington at 1pm on June 14, in a bid to raise more than ?2,000 for Age Concern.
Directors and friends of Russley Care Homes Group, which has an office in Appleton, will be donning their driving shoes and caps for the trek.
The Russley Road Rally teams will set off from the pub in five-minute intervals. They will take the overnight ferry from Hull to Zebrugge.
Financial director Bradley Jones said: “The route has been carefully planned to cover a vast area of Europe, taking into account distance, scenery, safety and accommodation.
“Along the way drivers have the choice to record various check points by way of a digital photograph, receipt, etc and for each one successfully submitted, up to one hour will be deducted from the total travelling time.”
The route will take drivers through the UK, Belgium, France and Spain – with driving days of up to 10 hours.
Choir flies out
for peace concert
by Lesley Wilkinson
WARRINGTON Male Voice Choir – accompanied by patron Terry Waite ? will set off on Thursday May 24 for an eight-day concert tour of Canada.
Fifty five members of the choir, one of England’s oldest, fly out to Montreal with family and friends.
During the visit the choir will perform several concerts. A highlight of the tour will be the “Peace One Day” concert for international peace, in Christ Church Cathedral on Saturday May 26, during which Terry Waite will address the audience.
The day before, the choir will perform in Notre Dame Basilica, Montreal.
Other concerts include an event to recognise members’ work to promote peace and reconciliation in Ireland when they sing before and after evening mass at St Patrick’s Basilica.
Members will also travel to the rural mountain country north of Montreal for a joint concert with Shawbridge Acapella Choir and Montreal Welsh Male Voice Choir in St-Sauveur Parish Church, Quebec Province.
Finally, on the eve of their flight home, Wednesday May 30, the choir will perform at St John’s United Church, Point-Claire, West Montreal.
Supporting the choir will be Quintessential, a group of four singers which although only recently formed is already building a good reputation.
Choir chairman Barrie Johnson said: “It’s fantastic that after almost two years in the planning the tour is getting underway. During the planning stages we have already made a great many Canadian friends and that’s before we even arrive.
“I’m confident that once our music starts to drift through the air and people spot our distinctive blue blazers we will make many more friends.”
He said it is the choir’s first visit to Montreal, but the second visit to Canada. The choir received a warm welcome when it toured Toronto in 1993.
Barrie added: “We are particularly pleased that Terry Waite has taken time out of his very hectic schedule to join us for the first part of the tour. He has been our patron for some 10 years and has played an active part, particular in our efforts to promote peace and reconciliation on th
e island of Ireland.
“We are looking forward to a very enjoyable tour; so enjoyable in fact that some members have already extended their stay after the main party leaves.”
Passengers evacuated
as fire hits coach
by David Skentelbery
TWO lanes of the M6 near Warrington were sealed off after fire broke out on a coach on the southbound carriageway.
Passengers were evacuated from the coach as fire and ambulance crews raced to the scene.
The incident was near Junction 20.
Queues of traffic built up as emergency services dealt with the incident.
Police said the fire was caused by an engine fault. No-one was hurt.
Highways Agency workmen had to deal with damage to the road surface before the motorway could be fully re-opened.
Family fun day
for hospice
by staff reporter
CLAIRE House Children’s Hospice – which cares for seriously ill youngsters from a wide area including Warrington – is to hold a Family Fun Day at Wirral Rugby Club on Sunday, June 10.
Attractions include stalls, a fair ground, refreshments, Morris Dancing, face painting, laser clay pigeon shooting, a climbing wall and much more.
The event starts at 12 noon and continues until 5pm. Admission is ?3 per car, including a programme.
Claire House is Warrington-Worldwide’s Charity of the Year, following a vote by readers.
