Council steps up drive
for low cost housing
by John Hendon
TOWN Hall chiefs at Warrington want to step up the drive to provide more low cost housing in the borough.
They hope to enlist the support of the town?s two MPs, Helen Southworth and Helen Jones.
A resolution is to be put to the next meeting of the borough council by deputy council leader Coun Keith Bland and Coun Sharon Wilson.
The resolution reads: “The recently published Housing Green Paper emphasises the provision of social housing. In view of the large demand for affordable housing in Warrington, this council calls upon our two MPs to work together to support bids for funding for this much needed housing provision and to lobby the appropriate authorities to ensure the borough’s needs are met”.
Despite the high level of housing development in Warrington in recent years and the efforts of planners to insist that builders include affordable homes within new developments.
Often, builders put forward the argument that low cost homes cannot be provided within a development but pay over a sum of money in lieu of affordable housing.
The idea is that the affordable housing is then provided elsewhere ? but often no site can be found.
The problem can also be compounded by the fact that Warrington is said to have an over-supply of housing land.
Lions clubs raise ?610
for narrow boat fund
LIONS Clubs who took part in a sponsored canal walk raised ?610 which was presented to Warrington Disability Partnership’s wheelchair accessible Wizard narrow boat.
Representatives from Lymm District, Urmston, Stretford and Sale Lions Clubs took part in the walk in May.
The cheque was received by WDP’s operations manager Jayne Horton and finance officer Doreen Crossley.
Jayne said: “This generous donation from the Lions Clubs will ensure that our Wizard narrow boat will continue to provide accessible day trips for disabled people and organisations from across the region.”
Prison officers join
national pay strike
by staff reporter
PRISON officers at Risley, near Warrington, were among those who took part in a surprise national strike yesterday (Wednesday).
The stoppage – originally intended to last 24 hours from 7am – was called off last night after the Government obtained a High Court injunction against the Prison Officers Association.
No advance warning was given of the strike which meant prison managers were not able to make any preparations.
Prisoners had to remain locked in their cells at Risley and at other prison across the country.
Talks were taking place today to try and resolve the dispute, which is over pay.
It was the first-ever national strike by prison officers and was an indication of the strong feelings of officers who claim their pay is lagging behind inflation.
Police forces provided overnight accommodation in cells for prisoners who had made court appearances but were unable to return to prison because of the stoppage.
Memorial service for police
officers who gave their lives
by Lesley Wilkinson
POLICE officers who gave their lives in the line of duty are to be remembered at a special church service in Warrington.
The Cheshire Police Memorial Service will be held at St James Church, Wilderspool Causeway, Warrington, on Sunday September 23.
Former police officer and organiser Peter Wroe said: “Officers of the police forces throughout the UK have to put themselves at risk for our benefit, and tragically, some give their life in the line of duty.
?Fortunately there is now a way to show our appreciation at the Police Memorial Service.”
Members of the public are invited to attend the 10.30am service and celebrate the lives of 52 officers of Cheshire Constabulary and its constituent forces who gave their lives. Other police forces from across the North West will be represented.
A national police service of remembrance is held each year and will this year be on September 30 at Edinburgh International Conference Centre in Scotland.
Guests at the Warrington service will include the Mayor of Warrington, Coun Celia Jordan, the High Sheriff of Cheshire, Mr Nicholas Bromley-Davenport and deputy Chief Constable of Cheshire and former Warrington police chief Graeme Gerrard
Other guests will include retired and serving police officers and the families of police officers who have given their lives in the line of duty.
Rev Tom McNaugtan-Owen will give the welcome. Also taking part will be Bishop William Pwaisiho, Rev Rex Buckley and Rev Tony Hunt.
Cheshire Police Band will play, with senior pipe major Don MacKenzie and church organist Brian Carter.
Mr Wroe said: “The police force in this country serves the community in an exemplary fashion and deserves the recognition that this annual service offers, not least to the widows, families and colleagues who mourn their loss the most.”
27 taken to hospital
from music festival
by David Skentelbery
TWENTY seven people were taken to the accident and emergency department at Warrington Hospital from the Creamfields music festival.
This is slightly down on last year ? when the figure was 35 ? but a hospital spokesman said there had been more problems this year because the cases were more serious.
Twenty patients required admission to a ward, compared with just two last year.
?This is quite an additional strain on emergency beds,? the spokesman said.
The majority of patients were allowed home the following day.
Eighteen of the admitted cases were related to substance abuse and two were from a road traffic collision.
Police say there were no reports of serious incidents during the festival.
But 22 people were arrested for alleged offences of possessing drugs, drink driving and deception.
Another 22 received street cautions, mainly for drugs offences and 104 people received cautions inside the festival arena, mainly for drugs offences.
Numerous ?bladed items? were seized at search points outside the venue, police said.
Bungalow demolition
plan angers residents
by staff reporter
PLANNING chiefs are to visit the site of a contentious application to demolish a bungalow and replace it with a detached house at Stockton Heath, Warrington.
Neighbours claim there would be a loss of privacy, overlooking and a loss of character to the area because the modern house will not blend in with surrounding Victorian terraced properties
. Stockton Heath Parish Council has lodged objections on the grounds it will result in an overuse of the site and too small a distance between the new house and neighbouring houses.
But planning officers reject their concerns and say the design of the house is consistent with the character of the majority of nearby houses.
They claim the existing bungalow is more at odds with the existing properties.
Members of the borough’s development control committee are visiting the site before reaching a decision.
Hospice extensions
get the green light
by David Skentelbery
PLANS to extend Warrington?s St Rocco?s Hospice have been given the go-ahead by borough council planners.
The hospice, in Lockton Lane, Bewsey, will be able to build two extensions ? one single-storey and one two-storey ? and a new detached out-building.
There will also be additional car parking space, a new access road, landscaping and re-positioning of access points as part of the development.
Claire’s in training for
the Great North Run
by Lesley Wilkinson
A LYMM woman is training hard for her first half marathon, the BUPA Great North Run, on September 30.
Claire Evans hopes local people will sponsor her and help raise funds for the British Red Cross.
To start her fundraising Claire held a Red Tie Party at her home in Lymm, with fa
mily friends and colleagues.
The red, white and black themed party raised ?483 for the fund. Local businesses from the village helped support the event.
One of Claire’s supporters said: “Now the partying is over and it’s back to a tough training schedule, so if you see Claire out on her practice runs give her some encouragement!”
