Teenager rescued
from “danger” pit
EXCLUSIVE by Lesley Wilkinson
A SENIOR fireman has dubbed Ackers Pit a “dangerous” site following a dramatic rescue from its silted banks.
Fire crews from three stations – Stockton Heath, Birchwood and Warrington – rushed to the scene after the alarm was sounded when a teenager was trapped up to his thighs in mud.
Twenty firemen turned up at the scene following the Saturday night 999 call and three firefighters used ladders to crawl across the mud and pull the young man out of the water.
Stockton Heath fire station watch manager Gerry McCabe, who was one of the rescuers, said the incident occurred on the Ackers Lane/Ackers Road edge of the site.
He said: “Ackers Pit is dangerous and people should not use it as a short cut, because of this danger.” Angry residents have complained over several months to site owners Stockton Heath Parish Council that the partly drained lake was dangerous. At several meetings people voiced fears that someone could drown.
After the incident on September 29 fences were erected around the site.
Mr McCabe said earlier this year when fire chiefs heard the pit was to be drained, officers visited the site.
“We formulated a strategy on what to do because of the risk. We knew there was mud on the site, and drew up a plan of action in case of an incident. This made the operation very professional and it was satisfying to know that our strategy worked.”
Mr McCabe said: “We arrived to find a young man up to the top of his thighs, stuck in the mud, clutching a bottle of alcohol.
“He had been stuck in the mud for about 30 minutes and was very cold and shivering.”
The fire crew laid out ladders and climbed across them, to spread their weight and avoid sinking in the mud. The youth was taken to hospital for a check up and was later allowed home.
Student Kelly is “vocal
artist of the year”
by James Parr
A WARRINGTON student has overcome all the odds to be named as outstanding vocal artist of the year at the Access to Music Awards.
Kelly Sykes, 22, from Orford, was forced to give up a career in hairdressing three years ago because of Epilepsy.
Pop Idol judges also ironically turned her away at the audition stage when she attempted to gain a place on the TV show in its first series.
But now Warrington Collegiate student Kelly has defied the odds to find success in the music world and will receive her Access to Music Award at a ceremony hosted by Radio 1 DJ Edith Bowman.
Kelly, who gave up her job for fear of causing injuries to herself or her clients, is now delighted to be following her dream at the Collegiate.
She said: “My epilepsy came as a complete shock and the first year was really hard as I was having so many attacks each day. I never would have enrolled at the Collegiate had it not been for my condition but singing is something I have always wanted to do.”
Success at the Access to Music awards is a sweet prize the Collegiate has tasted before as former student Alison O’Toole claimed the same award in 2005-2006.
Sue Quin, Kelly’s tutor at the Winwick Road campus, said: “She is an outstanding vocalist and person and really deserves this award. I am so proud of her and am looking forward to going to London to share the ceremony with her.”
The Access to Music awards ceremony will be held at London’s Mermaid Theatre on December 5 and Kelly can’t wait to get her hands on the award.
She added: “I was really shocked when I found out I had been nominated for the Access to Music award and I can’t believe I have won. I am so excited and am really looking forward to going to the ceremony to collect my award. I am just made up.”
Tip expansion plan
under scrutiny again
by David Skentelbery
A CONTROVERSIAL bid to expand a giant landfill site onto adjoining farm land is to come before planning chiefs at Warrington again.
Members of the borough council?s development control committee will study the proposals to enlarge the Risley Landfill site, off Silver Lane, Risley at their meeting on Wednesday, October 17.
Officers are recommending the scheme, submitted by Biffa Waste Services, be approved.
But there has been massive opposition from residents of the Culcheth, Risley and Glazebrook areas and from the Ramblers Association and Council for the Protection of Rural England.
Birchwood Town Council, Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council, Croft Parish Council and Rixton-with-Glazebrook Parish Council have formally lodged objections.
As a result, members of the committee decided last month to go and visit the site before reaching a decision.
Borough planners threw out an earlier scheme in April – and the objectors claim the new one is virtually identical.
The existing, approved landfill site covers some 20.5 hectares and the plan involves extending the tip onto adjoining farm land, much of which is classed as the best grade.
Currently, landfilling operations are due to end in October next year. But increasing the size of the tip would extend its life to 2010, with another year for restoration.
Municipal, commercial and industrial waste would be tipped on the site. It would be restored to woodland, scrub, rough grassland and wildflower areas. A footpath and Silver Lane Brook would be realigned.
Ironically, parts of the site no longer used for tipping, provide a habitat for the brown hare, whose numbers are in decline, and have been designated as a sanctuary for the animal.
Residents – and nearby farmers – have lived uneasily with the Silver Lane tip for years.
There have been complaints of smells, noise and litter, including plastic bags, being blown across adjoining farm land from the tip. An easterly extension of the tipping area would take it in the direction of Glazebrook.
Arson attack
on hotel
by staff reporter
ARSONISTS made a determined attempt to start a serious fire at a Warrington pub during the night.
A piece of blazing cardboard was pushed under the door at the Howley Hotel, in Parr Street, Howley and a wheelie bin was pushed against the door and set alight.
The door was set alight and the pub filled with smoke.
The landlord, who was asleep upstairs, awoke other members of the family and tackled the blaze before fire crews could reach the scene.
A number of people suffered slight smoke inhalation but no-one required hospital treatment.
Police are now investigating the incident.
Policeman in World
soccer tournament
by James Parr
A WARRINGTON police officer is taking part in the World Police Soccer Tournament in Holland this week.
Det Con Ian Hampson (pictured) is part of the Cheshire Constabulary team taking part in the seven-a-side competition at Eibergen, on the German border.
It is the 25th anniversary of the competition, with 170 teams competing from all over the world and the Cheshire side are hoping to better last year?s performance when they finished sixth in the contest.
Competition for silverware will be tough, but Ian is ready for the challenge.
He said: “We are confident we can beat the opposition.”
This particular tournament is seven-aside football with a difference. The players use a smaller, heavier ball and are not allowed to make contact with the opposition during the 15-minute games. This set of rules is known as Futsal and Ian added: “It?s a real eye opener that takes a lot of getting used to.”
Most of the players are taking something with them to promote their home town and Warrington Borough Council has donated a shield bearing the town crest and a letter on behalf of the people of Warrington to the Mayor Eibergen.
Ian added: ?I hope to be back with a trophy.?
Competition over
the garden wall!
by John Hendon
TENSION won’t be the only thing building at Warrington Collegiate today (Thursday) as a
Skillathon contest gets under way.
Year 10 pupils will be competing to build a garden wall competition in a set time, which the Collegiate is holding to mark National Construction Week.
Competitors are all set to start a two-year construction programme at the college and this event, which is run in partnership with ConstructionSkills, will showcase some of the craft areas on offer at the Winwick Road campus.
Director of Construction and Technology at Warrington Collegiate Mike Scott said: “Our programme for local schools will give them a taste of the industry so they can make an informed choice of their preferred career path when they leave school. It is also important that we make learning fun for our students and that we support National Construction Week.”
All the projects will be judged on the best mix of teamwork, approach, health and safety considerations and standard of finish, with the winner being announced at 2pm.
There will also be brickwork, joinery, painting and plumbing on display between 10am and 2.30pm.
“Green” team will deal
with growing problem
by James Parr
WARRINGTON Borough Council is setting up a specialised team to deal with the growing problem of land maintenance after being overwhelmed by around 3,000 complaints from residents.
The new unit, which is currently being assembled, will be responsible for ensuring the councils’ policies and programmes are delivered in line with their Green Initiative Fund.
Areas such as woodlands, public parks and green space are where work will be carried out and the council believes this will calm safety fears and improve the quality of life for residents.
Currently there are around 5,000 residents living adjacent to the types of land up for improvement and already 3,000 of them have submitted unresolved complaints.
The council also have further re-generation programmes and schemes to come out in the new year, so that all the hard work this time around is not lost.
