Council to be quizzed
on tax collection record
by David Skentelbery
WARRINGTON Borough Council?s corporate services chief is to be quizzed on why the authority?s performance at collecting council tax is the 16th worst out of 43 in the North West.
Coun Jim Regan, (Lib-Dem) from Great Sankey South, will put the question to Liberal Democrat Coun Peter Walker at tonight?s meeting of the borough council.
The public services union GMB revealed last month that nationally councils had been unable to collect ?760 million council tax in the last financial year.
In the North West, the figure was ?92 million ? and Warrington?s performance was the 16th worst out of 43 authorities, with more than ?1.5 million uncollected.
Coun Regan will ask Coun Walker to comment on the GMB report and explain how the council performs nationally in collecting council tax and paying benefits.
Finance chiefs at Warrington say the union?s figures are not a fair reflection of the council?s performance.
They claim Warrington has one of the best collection rates in the region at 97.6 per cent and is better than the national average.
Although there was an increase of ?78,000 in the uncollected figure year on year, this was out of a total of ?68.9 million.
The union says councils are inefficient and the fact that ?760 million is uncollected nationally is a ?serious issue.?
The sun shone on
cricketers – for once!
by staff reporter
THE wettest summer for years washed out cricket for six weeks at Glazebury Cricket Club’s Hurst Lane ground – but the sun shone for the club’s annual Fun Day in the garden of the Chat Moss hotel.
Members and their families manned a variety of stalls and attractions and the crowds turned out in force for the club’s main fund-raising event of the year.
Youngsters were invited to “hook a duck” – not something normally recommended at a cricket club – there were plate-smashing and archery stalls, laser clay pigeon shooting, tombola, beat the goalie and numerous other attractions.
The fun day is the club’s biggest social event of the year and raises money for development of the ground and pavilion and to purchase equipment – particularly for the thriving junior teams.
Despite the weather, Glazebury’s teams in the Cheshire Cricket Alliance have enjoyed considerable success on the field and look certain to finish comfortably in the top half of their respective divisions – despite losing a total of nine games to the weather between them!
Elderly woman dies
in canal bridge plunge
by David Skentelbery
AN elderly woman whose body was recovered from the Manchester Ship Canal at Warrington is believed to have jumped to her death.
Police are trying to identify the woman, aged 65-75, who apparently jumped from the high level Cantilever Bridge at Latchford.
The incident is believed to have occurred shortly before 4am yesterday (Sunday).
The woman is described as being slim, about 5ft 4 inches tall with white hair. She was wearing a cream and white nightdress.
Anyone who can help police is asked to call 0845 458 0000.
Police say there are no suspicious circumstances.
Airlines cheating passengers
according to town’s Euro MP
by John Hendon
AIRLINES are cheating passengers and deliberately flouting EU regulations, according to Warrington-based Euro MP Brian Simpson.
Mr Simpson, a Labour transport spokesman on the European Parliament, says many air passengers are unaware of their rights ? and the airlines are happy to keep them in ignorance.
Since 2005, airlines have been obligated to provide passengers with meals and refreshments in cases of delays and monetary compensation if they are ?bumped? off overbooked flights.
But Mr Simpson says in many cases, the airlines are ignoring their obligations.
He said: ?I have had a number of incidents reported to me recently where passengers who were delayed over two hours were offered no refreshments or a meal.
?In one instance involving Jet2, the passengers concerned were travelling with young children and were delayed at Alicante for three and a half hours and were offered nothing. Frankly this is totally unacceptable and a dereliction of duty of care on behalf of the airlines.?
Other incidents brought to Mr Simpson?s attention include passengers on a First Airways flight from Kos, Greece to Cardiff, which was delayed more than 17 hours and although refreshment vouchers were eventually given, the one cafe at the airport had no food, and was closed.
He said: ?I would like airline passengers to know exactly what their rights are when it comes to delay, cancellation and denied boarding. This can be done by the airlines sending out a leaflet containing this information, when they send out their tickets.?
If flights are delayed more than two hours for flights of 1500 kms, or more than three hours for flights within the EU of more than 1500 kms, then passengers must be given a meal, refreshments and access to a telephone, fax or email. But this is not happening and Mr Simpson believes airlines are cheating on their passengers and believes this practice is widespread.
Three escape from
smoke-filled flat
by staff reporter
THREE people escaped from a smoke-filled flat at Warrington after fire broke out in the early hours of today.
The blaze was in Densham Avenue, Longford and involved an unattended cooker in the kitchen.
A smoke alarm aroused the occupants who escaped unhurt and fire crews, wearing breathing apparatus, tackled the blaze using a hosereel jet.
Fire damage was confined to the kitchen but there was smoke damage throughout the property.
In a separate incident, arsonists set fire to a Citroen AX car parked on a car park in Marsh House Lane, Warrington. The car was completely burned out.
Causeway to close
for resurfacing
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON?S Wilderspool Causeway will close for essential maintenance work between Bridgefoot and Brian Bevan Roundabout on two separate weekends this month.
Work will be carried out over the weekend Septembers 15-16 and 22-23 to replace the surface of the road.
Contractors resurfaced the road two years ago but health and safety inspections revealed that the surface did not meet standards required by the council. As a result, the contractor has accepted full responsibility for this and is carrying out the work again at no extra cost.
All work will be carried out overnight to avoid busy periods and to keep disruption to motorists, shoppers, businesses and public transport to a minimum.
Diversion routes will be signposted during the closures.
For more information contact Jim Turton on (01925) 44 2542 or email [email protected]
MP backs call for an
improved stroke service
by John Hendon
WARRINGTON North MP Helen Jones is backing a Stroke Association call for local people to get involved in a major Government consultation on the future of stroke services.
The standard of stroke services can vary across England and while a recent national survey has shown a general improvement in care, more needs to be done.
The Government is developing a new National Strategy for Stroke aimed at modernising stroke prevention, treatment and care and a consultation document called “A new ambition for stroke” has been published so that people can have their say on how services can be changed or improved.
The MP, who has a record of promoting improvements in stroke services, said: “There are many people in Warrington who have been affected by stroke.
?It is a devastating condition that can strike anyone at anytime and we need to increase public awareness of the symptoms and risk factors for stroke.
“The new National Strategy for Stroke will be much stronger if as many people as possible who have expe
rience of stroke or an interest in stroke services, take part in the consultation process. This includes stroke survivors, their carers, family members and health and social care professionals.”
Stroke is the third biggest killer in the UK and the biggest cause of serious adult disability. On average around 60,000 people each year are likely to die from stroke and at least 300,000 people are living with moderate to severe disabilities as a result of stroke. As the population ages these figures are set to increase.
For further information on how to get involved in the consultation process, contact The Stroke Association Campaigns Hotline on 0207 566 1510, e-mail [email protected] or visit the Campaigns section of The Stroke Association website at www.stoke.org.uk
The consultation ends on October 12.
