Walking Day triumphs
over a bomb threat
by David Skentelbery
TWO World Wars may have caused minor interruptions in the long history of Warrington Walking Day but a terrorist bomb scare did not.
Even on the day that a car packed with explosives was found in central London, the discovery of a suspect vehicle parked in Museum Street, Warrington, did not stop the Walk.
Police simply organised a slight diversion of the route and the procession of some 3,500 people ? mostly children ? marched on undeterred.
It was the 173rd Walking Day ? the annual act of Christian Witness originally founded as a counter-attraction to the evils of drink and gambling.
More than 30 churches and schools took part in the procession, led by a contingent from Warrington Parish Church. Most denominations with a church in the town were represented.
They started from the Town Hall to the music and several marching bands. The Mayor, Coun Celia Jordan, her consort, Warrington South MP Helen Southworth and borough council officials ?took the salute? from a raised platform near the Golden Gates.
Mercifully, the rain which at first threatened to spoil the day, eased off and the sun, hesitantly, broke through.
As usual, the town centre was closed to road traffic ? a fact that made it easier for police to seal off the area where the suspect car was parked.
But they showed how seriously they were treating the situation by evacuating workers from offices in Museum Street.
A spokeswoman said there was no specific intelligence to suggest a terrorist threat to Warrington or Cheshire. But in the light of the heightened security arising from the London incident, police were taking no chances.
An Army bomb disposal was brought in to make the suspect vehicle safe.
Eventually, police announced the vehicle was safe. It had, it was revealed, been parked in the street for three days and aroused suspicion because of the number of fixed penalty notices it had collected from Warrington parking wardens.
Canal tragedy lane
closes for good
by David Skentelbery
THE country lane where two Warrington teenagers died in a tragic car crash two and-a-half years ago will be officially permanently closed from Monday.
Warrington Borough Council has made an order under the Road Traffic Regulation Act which is effective from July 2.
It prohibits driving on Stockton Lane, Grappenhall from a point 314 metres from its junction with Lumb Brook Road for a distance of 10 metres in an easterly direction.
However, refuse vehicles, emergency services, agricultural vehicles, cyclists and horse riders will still be able to use the closed section of the road.
Anyone who wishes to question the validity of the order must apply to the High Court within six weeks.
The closure has caused considerable controversy in the area.
Coun Mike Stansfield ? a member of Appleton Parish Council ? says the road should have been made safe, rather than closed.
He says the cost of straightening out the dangerous bend where the tragedy occurred has been put at ?100,000 ? although he thinks it would be much less.
However, the cost of putting in a necessary turning head to allow vehicles to avoid the closed section of road is likely to be about ?50,000.
Coun Stansfield says he believes most people believe Stockton Lane should remain open and those who have campaigned for its closure have done so for their own ?selfish and personal reasons.?
Food Fest kick
starts Festival
by Gary Skentelbery and John King
THOUSANDS of people packed into Lymm village for the annual “Food Fest” to help kick off Lymm Festival.
Crowds were entertained by various activities including the Bulls Hitters Percussion Band at the start of the 10 day event, which culminates in a picnic at Lymm Hall on July 7.
To see pictures from the event including The Egerton Group WI, who had a Cake Stall, the Bulls Hitters Percussion Band and the The Ringheye Morris Team
For more information on events visit www.lymmfestival.co.uk
Health club members
?1,000 tribute to friend
by John Hendon
FUNDRAISERS were put through their paces at a Warrington hotel in memory of a former employee who died from a rare form of leukaemia.
Visitors to the health club at The Village Hotel raised more than ?1,000 for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital where 17-year-old Michael Mason, from Appleton, died in May.
Participants paid ?2 to take part in a range of specialised fitness classes raising money for a new computer system that keeps young people in the hospital’s isolation unit in touch with the outside world.
Michael?s mother, Susan was overwhelmed by the turn out and was particularly moved by club member David Dickenson who raised more than ?700.
She said: “I’ve been a member since it first opened and when I asked if there was any way we could do a fundraiser there they were very accommodating about it.
“I was really pleased with the event. I did the step class and the atmosphere was one of such positivity.
“Most of the people there knew my son had been ill and so it wasn’t like just another event – it was really positive and very up beat. The focus was on raising as much money as possible and that seemed to be reflected everywhere.”
Health club manager Scott Davies said: “Because Susan is well known here and people knew Michael from his time working here there was a real energy and buzz about the event.
“It’s looking like we’ve raised about ?1,580 so far which makes it one of the best fundraisers we’ve done.”
Mr Dickenson, of Bruche, Warrington, raised ?738 in sponsorship from family, friends and colleagues and is thrilled to have helped support the hospital.
He said: “I met Susan in a spinning class and was very moved by the story and this motivated me to take part in the event.”
Former Bridgewater High School and Sir John Deane’s College student Michael died on May 16 after being diagnosed with bone marrow disease in January.
A keen catamaran sailor, he passed his driving test, despite being unwell, studied for his A-Levels while in hospital and even took his first set of exams in January.
“Lift off” challenge for
schools and colleges
by Lesley Wilkinson
MORE than 450 students from Warrington and Cheshire had the chance to set off water rockets as part of an innovative science project.
The event, at Chester racecourse, was part of the Daresbury Laboratory lift-off challenge – a practical way for students to learn about forces, physics and space.
Pupils from primary and secondary schools and sixth form colleges took part in the challenge to design and build a rocket from a soft drinks bottle. Bottles were partially filled with water and pressurised air before being launched across the racecourse, with the best flying more than 200 metres.
Warrington schools taking part were St Barnabas CE Primary, Everlyn Street Primary, Longbarn Primary, Penketh Primary, Sankey Valley C of E, Penketh High School, Woolston High School, Great Sankey High, St Gregory’s RC High, William Beamont High School and Lymm High School.
The event, supported by Daresbury Laboratory, Chester City Council, the University of Chester, Chester racecourse and Warrington Borough Council’s schools science advisory team, involved 300 primary school pupils and 150 secondary school and college students.
There were also a range of hands-on physics activities and a talk about the UK space programme.
Daresbury spokesman Tony Buckley said: “The lift-off challenge provided a spectacular and memorable way to get across some important concepts in science to school pupils. I hope the day illustrated the excitement of science and inspires school pupils to take their interest in it further.”
Younger pupils built rockets to see which could fly the furthest and t
he secondary and college students had to build a rocket to carry an egg the greatest distance without it breaking upon landing.
The winning pupils and schools received prizes.
Residents get a chance
to meet local police
by John Hendon
RESIDENTS of Warrington?s East Orford area can have a say on policing at a community action meeting next week.
Police Community Support Officer Hayley Moss is urging all residents to attend and help play a part in deciding the priorities for local officers for the next 12 weeks.
The meeting takes place at Orford Library on Monday (July 9) at 7.30pm. There will a police surgery for 30 minutes at the end of the meeting for anyone who wants to discuss individual concerns with officers.
It will be the second community action meeting to be held in East Orford. Nuisance youths, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage have been issues officers have focused on recently ? and during the meeting officers will be giving feedback on what they have done to target those issues.
Residents will also have the chance to talk to officers and representatives from partner agencies about any issues or concerns in their area.
PCSO Moss said: “I’d like to thank everyone who came along to the first meeting and took time out to talk to us.
“We want to target the issues that are really affecting the local community and this is the chance for everyone to come along and have their say.”
