Youth “critical”
after racist attack
by John Hendon
A YOUTH is critically ill in Warrington Hospital after suffering serious head injuries in an attack in the town centre.
Police say they are treating the incident as a racially motivated attack because of comments made during a fight involving a number of youths in Sankey Street.
The attack took place in the early hours of yesterday (Thursday) and two youths have been arrested.
It is believed it followed an earlier incident at the Bank Quay Social Club in Liverpool Road, Warrington.
Police were called to Sankey Street where they found a number of youths fighting.
One youth was taken to Warrington Hospital where his condition is now said to be “critical.”
The two youths arrested are still being questioned.
No details of those involved have been released.
Giant tip expansion
rejected by planners
by David Skentelbery
PLANNING bosses at Warrington have again thrown out a controversial plan to expand a giant landfill site onto adjoining farm lane.
Members of the borough council?s development control committee heard of strong objections from residents of the Culcheth, Risley and Glazebrook areas to the proposals put forward by tip operators Biffa Waste services.
There were also objections from the Ramblers Association, the Council for the Protection of Rural England, Birchwood Town Council and three parish councils.
Members of the committee visited the site before reaching a decision ? but decided the scheme could not go ahead.
A similar scheme was rejected in April and objectors claimed the new application was virtually identical.
The existing tip covers some 20.5 hectares and the plan would have meant extending it on to adjoining high grade farm land.
It would also have extended the operational life of the tip until 2010, with another year for restoring the site. Currently, tipping is due to end in 12 months? time.
A footpath and a brook would have had to be diverted.
Over the years there have been numerous complaints about the tip from nearby residents, including farmers.
These included complaints about smells, noise and litter, including plastic bags, being blown across adjoining farm land from the tip.
Officers had recommended the scheme be approved ? and there is a possibility of an appeal against the decision.
Baby squirrels are
zoo’s big attraction
by Lesley Wilkinson
VISITORS are flocking to see tiny baby red squirrels Warrington?s Walton Hall Children’s Zoo.
The youngsters, born in May, are the result of a breeding programme at the zoo, which has five adult red squirrels.
During the summer scores of people have seen the squirrel ?kittens? and staff say thanks to expert care, the youngsters are thriving.
The red squirrel population has dramatically reduced in Britain over the past century, following the introduction of the more aggressive North American grey squirrels.
Red squirrels can still be found in Scotland, the Lake District, on the Wirral and one or two other small communities, but the population is still under threat in the wild and they are mostly found in protected nature reserves.
Coun Brian Axcell, executive board member for environment services, said he was pleased the zoo was taking a leading role in a national campaign to preserve red squirrels.
The Children’s Zoo squirrel project is part of a nationwide breeding programme co-ordinated by the Welsh Mountain Zoo.
Youngsters urged to
help with “peace” mural
by James Parr
YOUNGSTERS in Warrington are being urged to sign up for a unique artistic display that will commemorate bomb victims Tim Parry and Johnathan Ball at the Peace Centre next week.
Internationally acclaimed artist Mohamed Ali is set to paint a giant mural that will carry a special tribute to the victims of the Warrington bomb.
Cheshire Police are responsible for organising the event and are appealing for teenagers aged 13 to 17 from across Warrington to take part in the two-day event.
Det Cons Lesley Price said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for young people and we want to ensure as many as possible have the chance to take part. To have the opportunity to meet other young people and to work with such great artists is truly wonderful.”
Mohamed Ali is gaining an international reputation for his fusion of dynamic graffiti style with spiritual messages inspired by his Muslim faith and will be working with fellow artist David James Brown during the event.
It is hoped the two pieces of art work the youngsters produce will be found permanent homes somewhere in the town.
The event takes place next week on Wednesday and Thursday, with the town’s teens being encouraged to sign up this week.
Tory slams “Big Brother”
taxes on pub quiz nights
by Lesley Wilkinson
TAX snoops using “Big Brother” tactics to levy extra taxes on pubs running quiz nights have been slammed by Warrington election hopeful David Mowat.
The Warrington South Conservative Prospective Parliamentary candidate was criticising new taxes on pubs revealed in a Valuation Office Agency document. It outlines plans to revaluate business rates, and has special guidance on how to value and tax pubs.
Mr Mowat said tax snoopers would visit pubs to record details of facilities including pool, darts, bowling greens, TVs and quizzes.
He said: “The requirement in the valuation handbook to collect information clearly means such attributes will be used in the calculation of the value of the property, penalising pubs with those features.”
He said inspectors will also look at whether pubs are “friendly and popular,” look at prices and classify pubs such as “student venue” or “village pub.”
Mr Mowat said unlike Council Tax, business rates are based on the “rateable value” of the property, so that if that increases so will its rates.
“Hence, if a pub’s value was increased by ?1,000 due to having quiz nights and a vibrant football team, then the business rates bill would rise by ?440 a year, over and above what the bill was already.
“Bland ‘vertical drinking’ establishments – the ‘clone pubs’ that dominate Britain’s high streets will hardly notice – but small, local pubs will be the hardest hit.”
He said the Government has spent ?13 million on building a new ?Big Brother? computer database for the Council Tax revaluation in England. Parliamentary Questions had revealed that a similar database is being planed for the rates revaluation.
Mr Mowat said the tax inspectors are already preparing for a Council Tax revaluation and want to enter people’s homes to tax conservatories and nice neighbourhoods.
He said: “In his usual sneaky way, Gordon Brown is planning a raid into the heart of middle England – to tax the traditional pub quiz.
“Labour and their Whitehall bureaucrats fail to understand that if pubs are charged extra taxes for supporting quiz nights, darts or a local football team, then many pub bosses will just scrap these social facilities to save cash. Conservatives will fight these stealth tax plans and stand up for the great British pub.”
Birthday party will
raise funds for charity
by staff reporter
A WOMAN from Lymm will be celebrating her 30th birthday with a difference by hosting a party to raise funds for the NSPCC.
Kate Lomas-Jones will be hosting the party at the Lymm Hotel on December 13 and will make a donation to the NSPCC Helping Kids in Crisis fund by holding a raffle and an auction.
Local businesses have already offered to provide raffle prizes and auction goods.
There will be a drag queen and live music from a local band. Tickets are now on sale and anyone wishing to purchase them can contact Kate at [email protected]
Airfield rumour
discounted
by staff reporter
FEARS that Stre
tton Airfield may be re-opened were allayed at a meeting of Appleton Parish Council.
At the previous meeting members were told that residents had heard the site was to be re-opened to accommodate Lancashire Aero Club, who were leaving Barton airfield in Manchester.
But clerk Peter Briggs said he had contacted the club, who were using another site in Manchester city. There was no evidence they were planning to move to Stretton.
News in brief
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 3, 6, 7 and 12. There was one winner for the ?1,588 jackpot prize and a hospital visitor took the ?25 consolation prize.
Burglary suspects
POLICE arrested two men at Risley after receiving tip-offs from members of the public. The pair had been spotted acting suspiciously and were subsequently arrested on suspicion of a number of burglaries.
Parish donations
CULCHETH and Glazebury Parish Council has agreed to donate ?100 to Glazebury Over 60s Club and ?150 to Culcheth Lions towards the cost of the annual Victorian Day in the village.
Bungalow plan
PLANS for the construction of a three-bedroomed bungalow on land at the rear of Grey Mist House, Manchester Road, Woolston, have been submitted to Warrington planners. They involve the demolition of existing outbuildings.
