Villagers asked to help
rescue beauty spot
by Lesley Wilkinson
VILLAGERS are being asked to roll up their sleeves, pull on wellies and get stuck into the rescue plan for Warrington beauty spot Ackers Pit.
Residents of Stockton Heath ? particularly those living near the lake ? are being invited to take part in a big ?Dig Off? on Saturday.
They will be asked to clear tonnes of debris and rubble from land surrounding the lake to enable landscaping to take place the following day.
Anyone interested in helping can join Stockton Heath parish councillors at 10am at the Mill Lane path.
Anglers who use the lake have volunteered to plant grass seed and carry out landscaping on Sunday.
Parish council chairman Graham Roughsedge said people could help prepare for the landscaping by helping on Saturday.
He said: “We want people to come along from 10am and spend an hour or more helping to clear the Mill Lane path and bank of debris and rubbish.
“People don’t need to be a Percy Thrower – just bring willing hands, your own spades, forks, rakes and sturdy footwear. The sooner this is done the sooner the path can be opened for pedestrian access. A good turnout could see some of the other banks cleared as well.”
Work on a ?48,000 de-silting and landscaping scheme was abandoned in May after problems with the contractors and more silt than expected being found in the lake. Meetings were held between the parish council, anglers and contractors to look at ways of moving the project forward.
Work re-started in August on a four-week project to re-distribute the silt along the banks.
Future work includes laying footpaths, more landscaping and thinning of existing trees.
Council’s improved
debt recovery policy
by David Skentelbery
TOWN Hall chiefs at Warrington have approved a review of the borough council?s nine-year-old debt recovery policy to bring it into line with current ?best practice.?
One of its aims is to reduce the number of payments made to the authority by cash or cheques ? the methods of payment most expensive to administer.
In 2005-6, 29 per cent of the council?s total income was received in cash or by cheque.
Current policy, approved in April 1998, was agreed with a consortium of debt collection agencies in the town, including the housing department, Citizen?s Advice Bureau, Money Advice and Law Centre.
The main services now concerned with income collection and debt recovery are the council?s Revenues and Benefits Service and Golden Gates Housing and the main income sources concerned are Council Tax, Business Rates, Rent, overpaid Housing Benefit and miscellaneous sundry debts, including social care charges.
Collection performance is monitored on a regular basis, with realistic but challenging collection targets being set at the start of each financial year.
In 2006-7, 97.59 per cent of council tax was collected successfully, 98.79 per cent of business rates, 98.56 per cent of housing rent, 98 per cent of sundry incomes and 95 per cent of Housing Benefit overpayments.
Consultation has taken place with all the partner agencies, resulting in positive feedback and suggestions which have been incorporated in the updated policy which aims to set out the council?s standards, improve service and value for money and show how the council will respond to vulnerable customers.
Sex attacker who
terrified teenage girl
by Lesley Wilkinson
POLICE are urging the public to help in the hunt to find a sex attacker who terrified a teenage girl at Warrington.
And to assist in the search they have issued an e-fit of the suspect.
The incident was first reported by Warrington-Worldwide last month.
A 15-year-old girl was walking along Alder Lane, near Winwick Road at about 4.10pm on Wednesday, September 26 when she was approached by a man aged 19-21.
He spoke to her, but when she refused to go with him, he indecently assaulted her. She screamed and he walked off.
Police say the man was about 5ft 7 inches tall, slim and clean shaven. He had short blonde or brown hair.
He was wearing a red, hooded jacket, blue jeans and white trainers.
Anyone who saw the incident or noticed someone answering the description in the area is asked to call PC Jane Drum on 0845 458 6379.
Villagers’ chance to
to quiz the police
by James Parr
RESIDENTS are being invited to have their say at a Police Community Action Meeting at Rixton-with-Glazebrook, near Warrington.
The meeting takes place on Wednesday, October 17 at St Helen’s Primary School in Birch Road, Hollins Green, Rixton.
Locals will also be asked what issues they want the police to target over the coming weeks as well as giving them the chance to discuss any issues or concerns they may have themselves.
Police Community Safety Officer Bethan Roberts said: “The meetings enable people to get involved in identifying and solving issues, which are having an impact in their community and it is a great opportunity to talk to us face-to-face about the issues that are affecting you.”
Residents can also contact the Warrington East Community Action Team by calling 0845 458 6390. This number has a voicemail facility and all messages are regularly checked and responded to.
PCSO Roberts added: “We can then look at what problems we need to focus on and where we go from there.”
Road works may
cause disruption
by John Hendon
MOTORISTS have been warned to expect disruptions when work starts on resurfacing Longshaw Street, Dallam, Warrington.
Work is due to start on November 1 and is expected to last for eight weeks.
If necessary the scheme will close over the Christmas period and re-start early in the New Year.
Various road closures and diversions will be necessary to allow for the reconstruction of the worn out parts of the road between Harrison Square and Lilford Avenue, and the junction at Folly Lane.
But to minimise disruption to the travelling public, residents and businesses, the works will be broken down into smaller phases.
If possible, works to on Longshaw Street between Hawleys Lane to Lilford Ave will be undertaken under temporary traffic lights. However, a full closure may be necessary for a relatively short period of time to carry out final surfacing works.
The work will be carried out in two phases starting with Harrison Square to Hawleys Lane and following on with Hawleys Lane to Lilford Avenue.
Diversions will operate and will be signposted at the time.
A council spokesman said: ?We apologise for any inconvenience to the public, however, every effort has been made to minimise disruption to motorists and residents and maintain access to schools.?
A chance to learn
sign language
by James Parr
NEW courses offering an opportunity to learn sign language have been launched at Warrington Collegiate.
Organised by the British Deaf Association, the 30-week courses offer opportunities for beginners and those wanting to reach instructor level.
Collegiate deputy director Claire Johnson said there is still time for people to sign up and take part: “We do have a number of people registered to date but there are opportunities for others to learn this new communication skill.” Stage one of the course costs ?197 and Stage two cost ?199. Both prices include examination fees and registration.
For more information about the course, call the Collegiate on 01925 494 494 or visit their website at www.warrington.ac.uk
RSPCA fun night
by staff reporter
LIVE music, dancing, a bar and raffle will provide plenty of fun at an RSPCA fundraising night at Culcheth, near Warrington on November 25.
The event will be at Culcheth Sports Club in Charnock Road and doors will open at 8.30pm.
Music will be provided
by Martin Bennett?s Old Green River Band. Further details from 01942 677815.
